3 Trade Targets for Knicks to Consider Before Rumor Mill Picks Up

The New York Knicks have enjoyed a solid start to the 2023-24 NBA season.

If they want to make this campaign something special, though, they should consider pooling some of their trade assets to upgrade the roster.

While the Knicks have eight wins on the season, five came against clubs with losing records. New York is just 3-4 against .500-or-better opponents, which perhaps lends credence to the idea the Knicks are good but not great.

The trade market seems like the best place to try to make this leap, and New York doesn't need to wait for its unofficial opening on Dec. 15—when most free agents signed this offseason become trade-eligible—to start identifying targets.

OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors

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DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 8: OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 8, 2023 at the American Airlines Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Toronto came into this season as one of the league's most likely tear-down candidates, and its 6-7 start has done nothing to quiet that speculation.

If the Raptors are ready to reset around Scottie Barnes, then the Knicks should be ready to put a massive offer on the table for OG Anunoby.

The 26-year-old is a lockdown defender who seemingly always finds ways to improve his offensive output. This season, for instance, he's netting a career-high 2.6 triples per game and still connecting on those long-range looks at a healthy 37.1 percent clip.

He won't come cheaply, but New York has enough assets to potentially win an aggressive bidding war.

Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets

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BROOKLYN, NY - NOVEMBER 19: Dorian Finney-Smith #28 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 19, 2023 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

If the Knicks want to add an impact three-and-D wing but don't want to pay what it would cost to get Anunoby, then Dorian Finney-Smith looms as a rock-solid alternative.

The 6'7" swingman has long ranked among the league's most versatile stoppers. He's strong enough to bang with bigs, quick enough to chase around guards and long enough to pester big-wing scorers. This frontcourt could silence a lot of the NBA's top scoring threats if he joined All-Defensive-caliber center Mitchell Robinson on it.

With the 6-7 Nets struggling to gain traction, they might be willing to let some of their win-now talent go for long-term assets. And they are so deep at the wing spots that trading away Finney-Smith wouldn't necessarily be a sign of surrender. He's been awesome so far, but their depth could allow them to send him elsewhere without missing a beat.

If the Knicks needed more incentive to pursue Finney-Smith, his three-ball is officially back after a (likely fluky) one-year hiatus. After shooting just 33.7 percent from distance last season, he's suddenly splashing a personal-best 45.1 percent of his perimeter shots.

Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 1: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on November 1, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Donovan Mitchell has long been linked to the Knicks and with good reason. The New York native is one of the top offensive talents in this league, and he certainly has a chance to qualify as the star addition that could turn this team into a contender.

He's also perhaps less than two years away from reaching free agency—he has a player option for 2025-26—and the Cavaliers could get antsy about that situation if they don't get the sense he's keen on a long-term commitment. They haven't looked great this season and looked awful in last season's opening round loss to these very Knicks.

If they are remotely interested in even fielding offers for Mitchell, the Knicks would almost certainly make the first call. They have very good scorers, but none on the level of Mitchell, who's averaging a career-high 29.2 points on 48.6/39.3/88.7 shooting. And while there might be some skill overlap between him and Jalen Brunson, the fact the two have an established relationship could help them work that out.

"Donovan is a good friend of mine for a while," Brunson told The Athletic's Joe Vardon in August. "We were in the same high school class, our relationship goes back a long way."

Mitchell is probably a pie-in-the-sky type of target at the moment, but this is the perfect point on the trade calendar to dream big..