The New York Knicks may be looking for trade talks as the season progresses. The Knicks put three games back from .500 off in a better position than most believed. Because the organization has been so bad over the past few years, head coach Tom Thibodeau has been working on a group of wrong toys. However, he did an excellent job of installing his system to get the best out of each player.
Even if the Knicks play above expectations, that does not mean they can no longer use support. Whispers indicated potential interest in the Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine guard. While it is highly unlikely that LaVine traded in Chicago, they should at least consider it if the Knicks offer a lot.
Other players have also been linked with New York in recent weeks, including Bradley Beal and Lonzo Ball. If President Leon Rose wants to explore these areas, he does have some ammunition he can drive.
Three players who can use the New York Knicks as a trading bait:
1.) Frank Ntilikina
The obsession with Frank Ntilikina is quite interesting to me. He is an elite defensive player who has essentially no offensive value. He has never scored more than 6.3 points per game, even if he had an average of 20.8 points last season. So far this year, he has only played in four games, averaging just 10.5 minutes on the field. He becomes a non-factor in the Knicks system and rotation; given its value and ripe age of 22, there may be a team that feels they can unlock its potential.
2.) Kevin Knox
Kevin Knox is another player the Knicks can use in a trading scenario. He played an average of 18.2 minutes in 20 games this year, but scored only 6.1 points per game. His offensive production is also questionable, and his defense is often weak. At 21, he was still very young, but NY might want to acquire more proven talent and he could be a good option to sell on.
3.) Dennis Smith Jr.
Smith Jr. is at this point more of a shoot-up as he was sent down the bench. He has appeared only three times this year, averaging 9.3 minutes. He is a player who has all the athletic tools but simply cannot put it together on the track. Whether it’s poor decision making or poor shooting, Smith Jr. did nothing to help himself. Despite working very hard to refine his talents, the Knicks are better off continuing from the DSJ era.