Decisions the Knicks Should Already Regret from the Trade Deadline

The New York Knicks were, without question, one of the biggest winners at the NBA trade deadline.

Even if you exclude their late-December deal for OG Anunoby, they still managed to scratch itches for shooting and second-team scoring by adding both Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks. Even more incredibly, they managed to land all three of these players without coughing up a single first-round pick.

So, the day was clearly a smashing success, but could the Knicks have done even more? Absolutely. So, if the front office has any regrets about what happened—or, even more critically, what didn't happen—the following three items might be the biggest sources of any second-guessing going on in Gotham.

Neglecting the Second Unit's Shot-Creation

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ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic on February 14, 2024 at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

Give the Knicks 10 opportunities to do the Anunoby deal, and they might make that trade 11 times. That's how perfectly the two-way swingman fits this squad.

And yet, none of that makes the cost—specifically, the subtraction of Immanuel Quickley, any less significant. As soon as that deal was done, New York went from having a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate to lacking some offensive direction on the second unit.

While the Knicks recouped some scoring and shot-making in that deadline deal with the Detroit Pistons, they still didn't find an offensive initiator capable of keeping things humming when Jalen Brunson needs a breather. For all the strides Miles McBride has made this season, he doesn't have that element in his bag, either.

Given the absurd amount of depth on this roster, it might feel funny to pinpoint any problem with the bench mob. When the Knicks' reserves go searching for buckets, though, it still isn't clear who will be responsible for setting up those scoring chances.

Assuming Some Defensive Risk

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 10: Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the New York Knicks reacts during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on February 10, 2024 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 Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

Coming out of All-Star break, the 'Bockers are about as balanced as any team can be. New York's efficiency ranks on offense (eighth) and defense (ninth) are separated by just a single spot, per NBA.com.

It's fair to wonder, then, whether the Knicks may have veered a touch too far in the offensive direction with their deadline dealing. To put it politely, New York didn't add either Bogdanović or Burks with the intention of having them generate defensive stops.

The Knicks, of course, have stoppers at other spots, and few coaches navigate that end of the floor better than Tom Thibodeau. Still, the newest additions might force their teammates and skipper to work a little harder on that end.

New York may well be up for the challenge, but adding players who contribute on both ends of the floor would have afforded this group more lineup flexibility than it will have now.

Not Being Even More Aggressive

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HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 12: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks reacts against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on February 12, 2024 in Houston, 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 Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Do the Knicks have enough to win an NBA title?

Look, the mere fact we're presenting that question in a serious manner is a testament to the team this front office has assembled. But is anyone ready to say with certainty that yes, New York is in fact an inner-circle contender?

The Knicks are close to contention, sure, but that proximity perhaps should have nudged the decision-makers to do even more. Maybe that means making a separate swap to address other areas. Perhaps it could have entailed taking a swing at something bigger than bench buckets.

Now, by not tapping into its first-round pick collection, the Knicks are poised to take that bigger swing at a later date. Will the Eastern Conference ever appear so ripe for the taking, though? The Philadelphia 76ers won't re-enter the championship conversation until Joel Embiid is healthy and hooping at an MVP level again. Who knows if that's in the cards for this campaign? The Milwaukee Bucks have been a mess since hiring head coach Doc Rivers, whose team has dropped seven of its first 10 games under his direction.

The Knicks could reasonably conclude, then, that their chance to knock off the Boston Celtics is as good as anyone's. Opportunity is clearly knocking, but did the Knicks do enough to answer it? Stay tuned.