Knicks Trades to Consider After 1st Wave of NBA Free Agency

Congratulations, New York Knicks, your long-awaited savior could be on the way.

Maybe.

Oft-discussed trade topic—and Empire State native—Donovan Mitchell might be on the move, and "some people" within the NBA think a Mitchell trade to the Knicks "is an inevitability," according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

How could a Mitchell blockbuster take shape for the 'Bockers? We'll explore that scenario and two other swaps New York could consider.

The Deal for Donovan Mitchell

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - APRIL 28: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in action during the second half of Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 28, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Trade Idea: Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Evan Fournier and three future first-round picks to Jazz for Donovan Mitchell

As soon as word leaked, via ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, that the Utah Jazz are now fielding offers for Mitchell, sirens should've been blaring inside Knicks headquarters.

They have patiently sat atop a small mountain of assets for this moment. This nucleus needs a legitimate star, and Mitchell qualifies.

The 25-year-old just booked his third consecutive All-Star trip. He didn't average fewer than 24 points, four assists or four rebounds in any of those campaigns. He also just finished his fifth consecutive season as the leading scorer of a Jazz team that averaged 48.6 victories and made five playoff appearances during this stretch.

It's hard to say whether that would be enough for Utah—it really depends how the franchise feels about Toppin or Quickley—but this is at least a starting point for negotiations and possibly the Knicks' springboard into championship contention.

Trading a Pick and Potential for Established Production

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DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 23: Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets on the court in the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on March 23, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

Trade Idea: Derrick Rose, Cam Reddish and 2023 first-round pick (top-10 protected, via DAL) to Rockets for Eric Gordon

The Knicks could use another reliable, two-way presence on the perimeter.

Gordon could be perfect for the gig.

The 33-year-old looks out of place on the rebuilding Rockets, but the Knicks would appreciate his consistency as a shooter, defender and in-a-pinch shot-creator. If he comes close to his efficiency from this past season (47.5/41.2/77.8 slash line), he could help New York's offense function more smoothly.

The potential tied to Reddish and a future first-round pick is admittedly rich, but it's possible neither winds up helping a team as much as Gordon could next season.

Future-Focused Shake-Up

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 2: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Charlotte Hornets drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 2, 2022 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

Trade Idea: Julius Randle and Cam Reddish to Hornets for Gordon Hayward, James Bouknight and future first-round pick

While the Knicks have the assets to broker a win-now blockbuster, they don't have to reach for the fast-forward button just yet. Their young nucleus has shown some promise, and a few more of their prospects can pop with expanded roles.

That gives this trade some addition-by-subtraction potential, which is helpful when it also includes the actual addition of a former All-Star in Hayward, a recent lottery pick in Bouknight (No. 11 pick in 2021) and a future first-rounder.

Moving on from Randle would clear a path to major minutes for Obi Toppin and free up a ton of developmental touches for all of New York's prospects. The Knicks might need to temporarily take a step back—though not necessarily if Hayward stays healthy—but it could deliver a big leap forward down the line.

Bouknight, by the way, is far from a throw-in. The Brooklyn native had a rough-go as a rookie, but the Hornets never gave him his sink-or-swim chance. He barely cracked 300 minutes. Giving him a fresh start with the chance of a significantly expanded role could help him find his NBA niche as a slippery scoring guard who can fill it up from all three levels.