Currently, the Knicks are riding high on a five-game victory streak thanks to a suddenly resurgent defense led by Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride. The Knicks’ season continues to be a roller coaster.
However, the same pitfalls — terrible shooting and a roster that doesn’t quite mesh — still lurk around every corner. The Knicks are two games above at the one-third mark of the season. 500 and sixth in the East, but only two and a half games from 11th and elimination from playoff contention.
Thursday marked the first day that most veteran free players could be transferred, which begs the question: What will team president Leon Rose and company do to give Jalen Brunson the assistance he needs to maximize this team’s potential?
One senior agent told The Post, “They’re in no-land.” man’s “They appear to be in neutral.
Cam Reddish, on the right, has been speculated to be available in a trade.
“For the past 15 to 20 years, they’ve been stuck in this purgatory where they’re not poor enough for a top-three pick, but they’re also not close to making a deep playoff run. How do you rise above the center of the league? It is difficult to gauge where they are in their journey.”
This offseason’s signing of Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract was a move in that direction. Brunson, a backup for the Mavericks who had a stellar postseason, has shown quick results for a Knicks club in dire need of a floor leader.
“A common term in the NBA is organized. “You must arrange people,” a competitor assistant told The Post. “There are objectives for every possession, and the decision-making must be of the highest caliber. Brunson positioned himself next to [Luka Doncic in Dallas], who had the ball the most.
“Jalen has a ceiling, but he’s a terrific long-term fit, especially if they surround him with additional talent.”
The Lakers will get Patrick Beverley on December 4, 2022.
Evan Fournier, Cam Reddish, and Immanuel Quickley are among the Knicks’ expendable players who are supposedly available for trade. They are one of the “more active” teams in early trade talks, according to Yahoo Sports, although there is currently no clear path to acquiring an established star.
According to HoopsHype, the Knicks discussed trading Fournier to the Lakers for Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn. Doing so would relieve the Knicks of the $18 million owed to Fournier this season and $18.9 million owed to him next season, but the Knicks are not necessarily interested in including draft capital as part of the transaction only to get rid of Fournier’s salary as he sits on the bench.
According to SNY, Reddish has also been suggested as a candidate for the Lakers, Heat, and Bucks.
According to Bleacher Report, the Knicks are also interested in signing Kyle Kuzma. The forward for the Wizards is having a breakout season, scoring a career-high 21.4 points on 46.2% shooting with 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists. To acquire him, though, would likely necessitate the return of currently injured Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, and draft compensation (the Knicks possess the Wizards’ protected first-round pick in 2023). According to a source, it is also improbable that the Wizards would completely overhaul their roster after Bradley Beal signed a five-year, $251 million supermax contract in the offseason; trading Kuzma would be a significant step in that direction.
Bobby Marks, a former assistant general manager for the Nets and current ESPN insider, told The Post that clubs in contention in both conferences are currently in a logjam. “The Knicks are ordinary. There is nothing inherently wrong with being bland. However, if you’re baking a cake with them, you’ll need to keep it in the oven for a further 5 or 6 minutes to see how it turns out.
Derrick Rose, left, and Evan Fournier, middle, have been linked to trade rumors.
Getty Pictures
“Two years ago, as the No. 4 seed, they outperformed expectations. The most difficult task is making the next leap.”
The Knicks, on the other hand, continue to loiter in the center, familiarly close to the bottom.
It is also possible that if they do reach an agreement, it will be significantly closer to the February 9 deadline. Marks reports that 84 percent of transactions done during the regular season since 2017 occurred within the week of the trade deadline.
The Knicks also have a reputation throughout the NBA.
One agent told The Post, “It’s almost become a trend in the league; is there a sense of urgency or is it the same as every year?” “Guys enjoy playing there, but when it comes to free agents, there’s a lot of ‘will someone save the Knicks?’ chatter.” That discourages some men.”
Nonetheless, they have an abundance of movable assets, both current and future, as well as an abundance of draft picks.
Marks stated, “Knicks supporters don’t want to hear that, but they have the tools to make a deal for an A-list player.” However, there is currently no A-list player accessible.
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