Knicks Trade Predictions Ahead of Thursday's Deadline

Thursday's NBA trade deadline could be the perfect time for the New York Knicks to strike.

While they haven't played their best basketball these last few weeks, it hasn't been all doom and gloom. In fact, the last two weeks alone have featured wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers, so the Knicks have shown a high enough ceiling to motivate this front office to buy.

Not to mention, New York has the resources—draft picks, prospects and mid-size contracts—to get something major done, should the opportunity arise.

Will the Knicks hear that fateful knock over the coming days, or is this deadline destined to be a dud? We'll explore that question and more while making three deadline predictions for New York.

Cam Reddish Will Be on the Move

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 31: Cam Reddish #0 of the New York Knicks warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2023 in New York City. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)

The Knicks have enough draft picks to not feel totally lost without the protected pick they parted with for Cam Reddish last season, but it sure would be nice to have that sweetener, since the fourth-year swingman has been unable to lock down a regular rotation role.

Look for New York to now send him out for some level of draft considerations.

The Knicks won't find a first-rounder given his stagnation, but they seem to have accepted as much. Last month, the going rate for Reddish was said to be a pair of second-round picks, per HoopsHype's Michael Scotto.

That feels like a reasonable request, if a touch optimistic. While Reddish remains more interesting in theory than he does in reality, it's hard to imagine the entire Association has abandoned hope of him turning the corner.

He was the 10th overall pick in 2019 and won't turn 24 until September. His age, pedigree and physical tools should be enough for New York to land either two second-rounders or one projected to fall early in the round.

Obi Toppin Will Be Aggressively Shopped

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 28: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 28, 2023 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

This won't be fun to hear for Knicks fans who have let their imaginations run wild ever since the franchise spent the No. 8 pick of the 2020 draft on Obi Toppin.

Still, it's obvious his roadblocks to floor time (Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson) are going nowhere, and it has limited the Dayton product's ability to make any kind of significant impact. His playing time is down from last season (17.1 minutes to 15.2), and his reduced role may be taking its toll, as his field-goal percentage has tumbled 10 points (53.1 to 43.0).

Toppin turns 25 in March. This might be his third NBA season, but the clock is already ticking for him to take flight. If that's not going to happen in New York, the Knicks need to trade him to a place where there is hope that it might.

Now, whether he stays or goes will likely hinge on the market itself. There might be reasons to argue for trading Toppin, but they're all contingent on a high-level target becoming available. Swapping him out for a back-end-of-the-rotation player would solve nothing.

Should an above-average starter or better shake loose, though, that would feel like the signal that it's time to trade Toppin.

Knicks Will Make the Best Offer for O.G. Anunoby

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 16: O.G. Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates his shot during the second half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 16, 2023 in New York City. The Toronto Raptors defeated the New York Knicks 123-121 in overtime. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)

As close as the deadline is, it's apparently still too early to tell whether the Toronto Raptors will be buyers or sellers.

The Raptors have reportedly informed teams they plan to "wait until the final hours" before making that call, per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer.

That's why this prediction stops short of calling for an actual O.G. Anunoby trade, since it's quite possible he won't be available. Still, that won't stop the Knicks from making calls and given his hand-in-glove fit on paper, they'll do their best to put a Godfather offer in front of Toronto.

The Knicks have already "shown a willingness to offer multiple first-round picks for Anunoby," per The Athletic's Shams Charania, and they can sweeten the pot with multiple prospects in the same package. Pair those firsts with Toppin, Reddish (or, if absolutely needed, maybe Immanuel Quickley) and salary-filler, and that's probably as good as the Raptors can do in this trade market.