With only time ticking away till Thursday's 3 p.m. trade deadline, Knicks President Donnie Walsh has to make a move. The Knicks either need to make a play for a defensive minded frontcourt player, or a shooting guard such as the Chicago Bulls' Larry Hughes.
Hughes has been disgruntled all year in Chicago's crowded backcourt, which just got a lot more crowded with the acquisition of John Salmons, in a deal with Sacramento yesterday. Chicago is definitely looking for a suitor for Hughes and Kirk Hinrich.
Two possible deals involving Hughes, as reported by ESPN, involve sending Hughes back to the Washington Wizards for Mike James and Etan Thomas, while another scenario would send Hughes to the Knicks for Malik Rose's expiring contract of $7.6 million, along with little-used center Jerome James or forward Jared Jeffries.
Walsh should definitely try to acquire Hughes, because he adds another potent player who can score the ball and play defense for a weak Knicks backcourt that only includes Chris Duhon and Nate Robinson.
I just don't feel that Q-Rich is the Knicks best option at the shooting guard spot, while Robinson is better suited to come off the bench.
Hughes would take a lot of pressure off Duhon, who is fourth in the league in minutes per games. Best of all, Hughes's contract expires next season, which doesn't affect the Knicks' plans for free agency that summer.
It remains to be seen whether Walsh can strike a deal with the Bulls for Hughes, who are also fighting for the eighth seed.
But if Walsh does make the Hughes deal, it gives the Knicks a solid 10-man rotation, and a great shot at ending their five-year postseason drought.
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