Phoenix Suns trade rumors: 5 potential Greg Monroe trades
4. New York Knicks
Like their inner city rivals, the New York Knicks have an atrocious contract for a washed up big man on the books.
Joakim Noah is owed $55.6 million over the next three years, and in a crowded frontcourt that already includes Enes Kanter, Kyle O’Quinn, Kristaps Porzingis and the unused Willy Hernangomez, there wouldn’t be room for Noah even if he still had something to offer on the court.
As such, unloading Noah’s deal should be a priority for GM Scott Perry. The question is, would Ryan McDonough be able to talk him into going full Knicks and surrendering a future first round pick to do so?
It’s true, trading for Monroe does little to alleviate New York’s crowded frontcourt in this deal, but Moose comes off the books this summer anyway. The bigger problem is New York taking a substantial risk in shipping off a first-rounder simply to get rid of Noah’s contract when they might be more content to keep him glued to the bench and serve a mentor role.
On the Suns’ end, trading for Noah only clogs up the frontcourt further between Tyson Chandler and Alex Len, as the Nets trade for Mozgov would have as well, but keep in mind that Phoenix has been shopping Chandler for some time, that Len is an unrestricted free agent in 2018 and that Noah could fill a veteran leadership role to replace Tyson in the event of a trade.
However, let’s say a first round pick is understandably off the table on the Knicks’ end. Could Phoenix talk Perry into surrendering Hernangomez, who is currently not a part of Jeff Hornacek‘s rotation during the Knicks’ recent 6-1 stretch?
If there were ever a time to reach out and check Hernangomez’s availability, it’s now. Kanter and O’Quinn have been great so far this season, but this 23-year-old big is going to be good and could provide some insurance at the center for an expendable Tyson Chandler and an up-and-down Alex Len.
Maybe Perry hangs up on either of these offers, and maybe the Suns wouldn’t view Hernangomez as someone worth taking on Noah’s contract for, but it’s one possible long shot for moving Monroe and getting an enticing young piece at the same time.