NBA Trade Deadline: Why the New York Knicks Should Trade for Ramon Sessions

What ails the New York Knicks? They are missing an elite distributor.

Earlier this week, I wrote that New York should trade for Steve Nash.  But Nash would be difficult to acquire for two reasons: It would be nearly impossible to match contracts and the Phoenix Suns are still reluctant to deal their franchise icon.  

Ramon Sessions would a surprisingly effective second option for New York. Trading for him would be very easy: He costs only $4 million and the Cleveland Cavaliers would likely part with him for only a future pick and cash.   

The Knicks are a pitiful 8-15.  They have elite offensive weapons in Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire and a star defensive center in Tyson Chandler.  But they have no elite distributor, so there is currently no one on the roster who can take the keys to the car and drive New York to the playoffs.  

Few NBA fans know of Ramon Sessions, but he is a young, surprisingly effective point guard. 

Many die-hard fans consider him the most underrated guard in basketball.  Sessions broke out with Cleveland last year and posted an average of 13.3 points, 5.2 assists and three rebounds per game, with an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio while starting only 38 of 81 games.  

In those he did start, Sessions was impressive offensively and showed a knack for both penetration and particularly distribution.  

He is exactly what the Knicks need: a gifted young passer who can orchestrate Mike D'Antoni's offensive system and get the ball to Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.  

Sessions is not perfect.  Despite his evident offensive skills, teams remain reluctant to commit because he is an atrocious defender.  

But in this case, the positives far outweigh the potential problems.

Sessions is large enough to play both guard positions, which means he can play alongside a healthy Baron Davis and make sure the Knicks have an offensive orchestrator when Davis is (inevitably) injured.

The Knicks have plenty of talent but little on-court direction.  Acquiring Sessions will give them an offensively gifted point guard who can solve their distribution issues.

At this point, what do they have to lose?