NBA Trades: 10 Players New York Knicks Could Add To Become Playoff Contenders
NBA Trades: 10 Players New York Knicks Could Add To Become Playoff Contenders
Studying the science of NBA trades is almost like studying anatomy; it is extremely comprehensive and if you forget to account for something, you kill someone.
However, the New York Knicks are a team that is a piece or two away from doing some real damage in the Eastern Conference, and with a lot of marquee guys available, the Knicks seem like a good destination.
Here are 10 guys the Knicks could add that would put them into the thick of the playoff picture out East.
Anybody we missed? Let us hear about it.
10. Courtney Lee
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Courtney Lee is a solid young player for the Houston Rockets who would fit really nicely in New York. It seems unlikely that Houston GM Daryl Morey would part ways with such a nice piece, but there is a chance if Houston continues to struggle.
Lee is a good slasher and defender and comes with playoff experience. He was a member of the Orlando Magic team that played against the Lakers in the playoffs a few years back.
All in all, Lee would be a great fit in head coach Mike D'Antoni's system.
9. Mario Chalmers
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For some reason, Mario Chalmers, the only returning member of the Heat, has fallen out of favor in Miami. It almost seems like head coach Erik Spoelstra has all these new toys that he would rather play with so Chalmers has been shoved into a closet on a top shelf.
Chalmers fits in New York because the Knicks need guards, especially guards who can hit open jumpers and like to find the open man. Throw in the fact that Chalmers is an above average defender and it's money in the bank for the Knicks.
With the Heat struggling, it's only a matter of time before they start shaking things up and Chalmers is one of the few players on the team who can be traded.
8. Rudy Fernandez
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Rudy Fernandez was once considered the next big thing to come out of Europe, but now he has fallen out of favor in Portland. He is only playing about 20 minutes a game, but in those minutes he has been a very efficient scorer.
Fernandez has tremendous athleticism and would work great in the run and gun Knicks system. He also has a very affordable contract so getting him would be fairly easy.
Now the Knicks just have to hope that Portland continues to flounder so they start making moves to improve the team.
7. James Harden
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Many people feel that James Harden has been very disappointing for being the No. 3 overall pick in the draft a few years ago. But for the Thunder he has been a welcomed addition in the locker room. However, the Thunder are in desperate need of someone to rebound and guard the post and the Knicks need guards who can score.
If the Knicks flipped Ronny Turiaf for Harden it would fill both team's needs.
6. Marcus Thornton
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Marcus Thornton teamed with Darren Collison last season to provide the Hornets with a dynamic rookie duo. This season, Collison is in Indiana and Thornton has been passed over by the likes of Marco Belinelli, Willie Green, Jarrett Jack and Jerryd Bayless. Not exactly Michael Jordan and Jerry West.
If the Knicks put together an expiring contract for a packing, including Thornton, it would help the Knicks greatly with a scorer off the bench who could play either guard spot.
5. OJ Mayo
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OJ Mayo went from Rookie of the Year runner up to sixth man in a few short years. The Grizzlies have decided that rookie Xavier Henry is a better fit in their starting lineup than the shoot first, play no defense Mayo.
Mayo's style may have taken him out of the starting lineup in Memphis, but he would fit perfectly in New York. He is a legitimate 20 points a game scorer and he would be perfectly suited to run the floor and jack up shorts for the Knicks.
All that would really take to get him from Memphis is Kelenna Azubuike's expiring contract and Tony Douglass.
4. Jared Dudley
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While rumors have been flying around about the Knicks acquiring Steve Nash, I think Jared Dudley fills a better role for them.
He could almost be considered a poor man's Carmelo Anthony. He can score from nearly anywhere on the court, he is a big strong body that can guard bigger wings and he can rebound if needed. He is also stuck in the logjam of wings in Phoenix, so for the Suns to try and move some of those pieces seems like a possibility.
3. Richard Hamilton
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Richard Hamilton is in the tail end of his career and seems like the perfect candidate for someone who needs a change of scenery to revitalize him. New York would be a good fit for a scorer like Hamilton.
His tendency to play well off the ball would be a great fit for D'Antoni and would work well with Amare Stoudemire and Ray Felton.
Hamilton's contract could be seen as a detriment, but with the Eddy Curry expiring contract it is doable for the Knicks. Especially if some of their bigger targets fall through.
2. Andre Iguodala
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It isn't a matter of if Andre Iguodala will get traded, it's when will he get traded. The Knicks would be wise to start submitting offers for the athletic wing player.
Iguodala was a great addition to the National team this summer and he showed that not he can not only score with the best of them, but he is also a fantastic defender.
He would be great running the wing in New York, and he would make the Knicks better immediately.
The Knicks would need to use Eddy Curry's expiring contract to make it fit, but to have Iguodala for the next four years at $12 million a year is a bargain.
1. Carmelo Anthony
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A Carmelo Anthony move to the Knicks has been rumored for months. I think it is only a matter of time before it actually happens.
Anthony is a legitimate superstar who would have the same effect that the acquisition of Pau Gasol had on the Lakers.
Teamed with Ray Felton and Amare Stoudemire, Anthony would be the third piece to the puzzle that would make the Knicks a factor not only this year, but for the next few years to come.
The Knicks also have the contracts to make the trade happen. Throw together Eddy Curry's expiring deal, Kelenna Azubuike's expiring deal and Danilo Gallinari, and this deal gets done immediately. It gives the Knicks the guy they want and it gives the Nuggets some cap room to work with this summer along with a good up and coming wing.
Or the Knicks could just wait and turn those expiring contracts into Carmelo Anthony this summer in free agency. Either way, Melo is going to be a Knick at some point.
Crazy Trades
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Obviously much of the trades mentioned and players the Knicks would target were purely speculation. But what would happen if we took it a step further and turned speculation in absurdity?
Using ESPN's Trade Machine I will now present you three trades that work in the realm of salary matching but would never happen in reality.
Ridiculous Trade 1: Eddy Curry, Danilo Gallinari and Kelenna Azubuike for Pau Gasol. (Knicks +11 wins, Lakers -10 wins)
Ridiculous Trade 2: Eddie Curry for Josh Smith (Knicks +10 wins, Hawks -10 wins)
Ridiculous Trade 3: Eddie Curry, Danilo Gallinari, Kelenna Azubiuke, Wilson Chandler, Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf, Tony Douglas, Landry Fields, Andy Rautins and Bill Walker for Rajon Rondo, Glen Davis and Kevin Garnett (Knicks -18 wins, Celtics -10 wins)
