Knicks’ Complete 2024 NBA Trade Deadline Preview, Predictions

Knicks’ Complete 2024 NBA Trade Deadline Preview, Predictions0 of 3

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NBA teams mulling a move ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline need look no further than the New York Knicks to see the potential impact of adding the right player.

Just before the calendar flipped to the new year, the ‘Bockers brokered a blockbuster with the Toronto Raptors that brought OG Anunoby to town at the expense of Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. The Knicks have basically been unstoppable since, powering through the month of January with a 14-2 record and a league-best plus-15.8 net rating, per NBA.com.

Is New York now content with what it has? Or is there another move for this front office to make? We’ll examine all possibilities in this deadline preview.

Assets1 of 3

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While the Knicks gave up two key contributors in the Anunoby trade, they still boast one of the better trade-chip collections, certainly among win-now shoppers.

For New York, it’s all about the draft picks. The Knicks own all of their first-round picks, plus they possess incoming firsts from the Dallas Mavericks (2024, top-10 protected), Detroit Pistons (2024, top-18 protected), Washington Wizards (2024, top-12 protected) and Milwaukee Bucks (2025, top-four protected). They also have nine second-round picks at their disposal.

That’s how they can build the foundation of their offer. A draft pick collection like that, combined with the assumed willingness to let a lot of them go, will catch the attention of anyone.

To flesh out a formidable trade offer, New York can also shop around Quentin Grimes, a 23-year-old with significant three-and-D upside, and Evan Fournier, who has an $18.9 million salary and a $19 million team option for next season, per Spotrac.

Needs2 of 3

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Because of their asset collection, the Knicks are a logical suitor for any available stars. The problem is there aren’t players of that caliber available at this time. If New York has a blockbuster deal ahead of it, that won’t happen until the offseason at the earliest.

The Knicks can still make trades now, of course, but their targets will be more…well, targeted. They can look to address niche roles and worry about chasing a difference-maker down the line if they need to.

Bench scoring has been a challenge since Quickley, a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, was pulled off the roster. The Knicks have been linked to several potential second-team shot-creators, like Malcolm Brogdon, Jordan Clarkson and Alec Burks, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With Julius Randle sidelined by a dislocated shoulder, and Mitchell Robinson without a timetable for his return from ankle surgery, the Knicks could be in the market for frontcourt depth. They shouldn’t plan on spending a ton, though, as this is a talented group when at full-strength.

Predictions3 of 3

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The Knicks won’t make a cannonball-sized splash before the deadline. No top-tier stars are on the market, and honestly, it’s too early to tell if this group even requires that level of upgrade.

New York has been good enough, though, for the front office to throw an asset or two at tackling a problem area.

The Knicks will land a second-team scorer, probably someone who can handle, create for others and convert catch-and-shoot threes. Between October and December, New York’s reserves ranked sixth in offensive efficiency. In January, Knicks subs have slid all the way to 21st.

This is an issue that can be corrected in this trade market, likely at a reasonable price. Our gut says Malcolm Brogdon will wind up in the Big Apple, but there are at least a half-dozen point and combo guards who would make a lot of sense for the Blue and Orange.