Knicks Rumors: NY Wants Future 1st-Round Pick in Immanuel Quickley Trade
The New York Knicks are reportedly seeking a first-round pick in Immanuel Quickley trade talks.
Fred Katz of The Athletic reported the Knicks have made Quickley available but are determined to land a strong draft pick for the third-year guard. A 2020 first-round pick, Quickley has flashed occasional promise but has struggled to develop into a consistently effective player—particularly on the offensive end.
Quickley has never topped 40 percent from the floor during his NBA career and is currently shooting a career-low 30.9 percent from three-point range. He remains a significant part of Tom Thibodeau's rotation thanks in large part to his defense, and he's become a surprisingly adept rebounder as a 6'3" guard.
“I think the hardest breaks to stop are the ones that, when you study transition, where guards get the long rebounds and they just go with it,” Thibodeau told Katz. “You’re going to automatically have an advantage. Those breaks, I love when he busts out.”
It's unclear if any team will be willing to offer up a first-round pick for Quickley, whose lack of progression on the offensive end will be a concern. He will also be eligible for a rookie extension this summer, meaning a team may have to pay Quickley more for his potential than his on-court production.
The Knicks remain determined to find a trade for a star player after failing in their pursuit of Donovan Mitchell this offseason. They head into a short Thanksgiving break at 9-9, remaining in the no man's land of being too good to tank but not good enough to make a serious dent in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Trading Quickley for a draft pick would give the front office more firepower to work with and avoid a cap-clogging contract extension.
