Jericho Sims Trade Would Help Knicks Build for Future Amid Title Hopes, NBA Rumors

The New York Knicks are currently third in the Eastern Conference and a legitimate contender to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy this season. They also have the luxury of having an abundance of quality centers on their roster, including Karl Anthony Towns, a potentially returning Mitchell Robinson, Precious Achiuwa, and Ariel Hukporti.

Jericho Sims is another and Hoops Hype's Michael Scotto reported the 26-year-old is garnering interest around the league as the trade deadline approaches. Teams reportedly interested include the Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks.

Sims has seen just over 10 minutes of court time on average this year, thanks to the logjam at the position. Still, he has accounted for 3.3 rebounds per game and is shooting 60.9 percent from the floor.

The big man's raw athleticism is his greatest tool but he also possesses quality rim protection, something both the Lakers and Clippers could use as they fight through a stacked Western Conference.

Not only is Sims young, with a potentially high upside, should he have the opportunity to play more, but he is on an expiring $2 million contract, which means he would presumably be an affordable pickup for any of the teams looking to add him to their rosters.

He could likely be had for draft assets in the case of the Clippers and Bucks, while the Lakers would have the ability to package a player, probably Gave Vincent or Rui Hachimura, in any offer they make.

Whatever the case, trading Sims would allow the team to acquire some draft capital that makes preparing for the future while riding high in the present a real possibility. That is an enviable position, one that their biggest Eastern Conference rivals, the Boston Celtics, would love to find themselves in.

Using one young player with untapped potential to facilitate a draft pick or two is smart business by a front office that has gotten everything right over the last year and the type of championship move that has not always been associated with the long-suffering Knicks organization.

If the team can get a deal done, either for Sims or even Mitchell Robinson, who the Lakers reportedly have on their radar as well, it will be a significant off-the-court victory to go along with all that they have accomplished on it here in this 2024-25 season.