Fresh NBA Trade Deadline Deals for the New York Knicks to Consider
The New York Knicks' charge to the All-Star Break is more like a stumble. The latest costly loss to the Boston Celtics (97-89 on Monday) and the continuing unpredictable backcourt forces us to warm up the trade machine again.
Bleacher Report's resident dealmaker sits in an undisclosed location in the hinterlands of Michigan, wearing a throwback Kevin Garnett rookie Minnesota Timberwolves jersey, and doubles as B/R's Associate NBA Editor, Joel Cordes.
Today, we put the Joel Machine to the test. He will propose three trades involving New York, and I, as defender of the Knicks' best interests, will respond with delight or derision, as I see fit.
Let's see how he does.
1. Melo Goes Blockbuster
Knicks-Rockets swap
To Knicks: Ty Lawson, Trevor Ariza, K.J. McDaniels, Terrence Jones, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell
To Houston Rockets: Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon, Sasha Vujacic, Cleanthony Early
Cordes: Are the Knicks on the cusp of contender status, or just inching to respectable mediocrity while hoping Kristaps Porzingis' clock matches Carmelo Anthony's? If the answer is sober, those two stars may not line up, so why not clear the decks a little more and bring in future flexibility and upside?
Houston gets the Big Three they've always wanted, plus a rotation point guard who will get them the ball and knock down shots away from Harden. The Knicks get Ty Lawson's expiring deal (and a chance to kick the tires first), four very nice-looking prospects and Houston's 2017 first-rounder (which they can trade provided they make the playoffs, and they would via this deal). Trevor Ariza is there to help keep sanity, with Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez as veteran mentors.
Is it the best price they could ever hope for in an Anthony trade? Maybe not, but it's a fantastic "win later" package that allows a true contender to grow up around 'Taps.
Peters: You're too late, Cordes. You should have proposed this deal over the summer.
I might have hopped on this right after draft night. Rumors were Porzingis wouldn't be ready to start until his second or third season. Whispers were Anthony wasn't too pleased with the pick, Calderon's previous season had been a hideous shambles and I was desperate to unload him on any other team, for free even, when their backs were turned.
Trading away Melo for more young players would have sounded appealing then (as long as whoever got Melo took Calderon off our hands, too).
But that was then, and this is now.
Now Porzingis is a starter, and Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month three times running. Now Calderon is no longer a liability, but rather a capable veteran who's found his stroke and the respect of the locker room. Now Anthony has transformed into a true leader and is having his best year in a Knick uniform.
Melo leads the team in points (21.1) and assists (4.1). He and Porzingis share the top spot in rebounds (7.7) and, apparently, an unbreakable bond of brotherhood. As he said in December, via Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears, "I know what we have as teammates. Nobody can come between us, despite what anybody says. Nobody."
Nobody, Joel. Not Ty Lawson. Not Trevor Ariza. Not that quartet of talented youngbloods. It's not a knock on those players. Any other day, I'd love to have Ariza's skinny frame back in a Knicks uni, and I've been excited by Montrezl Harrell's energy and rebounding since his days in Louisville. Ty Lawson's been on the straight and narrow in Houston (his recent suspensions were for DUIs during his time playing in Denver), and I wouldn't turn my nose up at him, either.
But splitting up KP and Melo right now doesn't make sense. They seem integral to each other's evolution. Besides, after all of Carmelo's amazing development as a team leader, I couldn't in good conscience buy a deal that saddles him with the egos of James Harden and Dwight Howard. Sell.
2. Change of Scenery, in Triplicate
To Knicks: Brandon Jennings (DET)
To Detroit Pistons: Markieff Morris (PHX), Ronnie Price (PHX)
To Phoenix Suns: Jose Calderon (NYK)
Cordes: Do the Knicks want a look at Brandon Jennings badly enough to dump Calderon right at the moment he finally looks like a decent stopgap for their triangle offense? The answer should always be "yes," as a rejuvenated Jennings could give their shaky offense some real punch going forward.
If he doesn't work out, Jerian Grant is next in line at PG, along with whoever they can snag next season. The price is right, while Stan Van Gundy rolls the dice that both he and Marcus can reboot Markieff Morris' career in Detroit.
Poor Calderon, as he's shipped to that valley of eternal misery and basketball fire, but somebody's gotta take the fall here. Phoenix will likely move him, P.J. Tucker and every other veteran this offseason anyway. Unless they delude themselves into playoff dreams again...
Peters: Poor, poor Jose. Although one shudders at the thought of condemning a man to the horrors of the Phoenix Suns just now, this might be an effective move.
Jennings isn't a consistent scorer (zero versus Cleveland last Tuesday, 22 versus Toronto last Wednesday), but he's mostly performed well since returning from injury. Shooting 35 percent from the field and 30.2 percent from behind the arc, he's not quite back to his 2014-15 averages of 40.1 percent and 36.0 percent, respectively. He's otherwise in good form, logging 3.3 assists and 2.1 rebounds in just 17 minutes of playing backup to Reggie Jackson; last season he had 6.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 11 more minutes to get them.
He can definitely add some pop to the offense and could kick some wild off-the-backboard alley-oop passes to Porzingis like he does to Andre Drummond.
Is Jennings the point guard who will take the Knicks to the next level? We don't know. But we can be pretty sure that Calderon is not that guy. And that's what this deal is really about.
Hopefully Jennings and New York are a happy match, and he re-signs when his contract expires at season's end. If not, the Knicks at least have back the $7.4 million they would have been spending on Calderon to lure in a different point guard.
I don't particularly like it, but I think I'd have to buy it.
3. Midlevel Megadeal
Knicks-Bucks-Timberwolves-Clippers
To Knicks: Jamal Crawford (LAC), Michael Carter-Williams (MIL), Miles Plumlee (MIL)
To Milwaukee Bucks: Kyle O'Quinn (NYK), Jerian Grant (NYK)
To Minnesota Timberwolves: C.J. Wilcox (LAC), Branden Dawson (LAC), 2nd round draft pick (2019 from LAC)
To L.A. Clippers: Kevin Martin (MIN), Tayshaun Prince (MIN), Lou Amundson (NYK)
Cordes: New York and Milwaukee essentially swap young point guards, both of whom may fit much better in the other's scheme anyway. Big point guards who can't shoot aren't so much of a problem for the triangle, especially since the Knicks have floor-spacers elsewhere, and Michael Carter-Williams' versatility could be heavily utilized in New York.
The Bucks also receive a nice insurance policy in Kyle O'Quinn for if/when they thin out that front line by moving Greg Monroe or John Henson.
LAC goes all-in on their playoff push by acquiring Kevin Martin, whose catch-and-shoot ability is needed more now that Austin Rivers (among others) does half of what Jamal Crawford used to. No matter how his skills and shooting have eroded, J-Craw would be a welcome addition to the Knicks' second unit, especially on a team that needs some more crazy buckets.
The Timberwolves get a couple of bodies to assess and a minor pick, but this is all about dumping Martin's contract and Prince's minutes-hogging (thanks, Sam Mitchell) to open up more fun time for Zach Lavine and Shabazz Muhammad.
Peters: At first glance, it would seem completely nuts for me to balk at this deal. Jamal Crawford, Michael Carter-Williams and Miles Plumlee, and all I've got to give up is Kyle O'Quinn, Lou Amundson and Jerian Grant?
Crawford is a hardened baller with a long career of dismantling defenses with sudden scoring frenzies. Plumlee would help protect the rim when KP and Robin Lopez are getting rest. Carter-Williams is dynamic, strong on defense and pushes the pace for his squad of young Bucks. He could certainly be a good fit at the point.
Yet Crawford's and Plumlee's contracts expire at the end of the season. So, this is really all just swapping Grant for Carter-Williams.
If, as you say, "big point guards who can't shoot aren't so much of a problem for the triangle," well, then I'm set, because Grant fits that description already.
He also costs less than MCW, and his contract is two years longer. Take this deal, and I'll be swapping a long-term investment in what might be a bright future for Grant in exchange for a short-term relationship with Carter-Williams and brief flings with Plumlee and Crawford.
Is that what the Knicks want? Possibly.
MCW is a more proven commodity, while Grant is still a rookie. Some critics are ready to disavow him already because he hasn't immediately swept in and single-handedly solved all the backcourt problems before the All-Star break of his first season in the league. I think Jerian's had enough excellent performances (like the Jan. 12 victory over Boston Celtics) to entitle him to his rookie foibles.
I could take or leave this deal. As a Grant believer, I have a hard time pulling the trigger, myself, but this still would be a smart buy.
So there's a "sell," a "buy," and a "do as you will." Not a bad day's work for a trade machine trying to make swaps with a team that has so few assets. Time to reward it with more highlight reels of vintage KG.
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