Recent New York Knicks rumors reveal that veterans Kyle O’Quinn and Courtney Lee are the most likely players to be traded prior to the NBA Trade Deadline.
The 2018 NBA Trade Deadline is only eight days away and more New York Knicks rumors are coming through the grapevine. Last week during their seven-game road trip, the Knicks were mentioned in plenty of rumors, mostly revolving around their surplus of centers.
First, backup center Kyle O’Quinn was linked to the Golden State Warriors. Next up it was their reserve center, the young Willy Hernangomez, being linked to the Utah Jazz. Veteran Joakim Noah is someone the Knicks would love to part ways with. After he left the team for what was being called personal reasons, the organization is ramping up their efforts to move on from him.
If the Knicks are going to make any moves, they have a clear idea of what kind of player they would like to receive. An athletic wing is who the Knicks have their eyes set on, as Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was mentioned as a free agency target this summer, along with Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson as a trade target.
If the Knicks are to accomplish their goal of obtaining an athletic wing player, we now have an idea of who could be on the move.
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, O’Quinn and starting shooting guard Courtney Lee are the two likeliest Knicks to be on the move prior to the deadline. Berman does add, however, that the Knicks are receiving the most calls on Hernangomez.
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After a strong rookie season, it is no surprise that other teams would be interested in Hernangomez. Given his promise and contract, there should be plenty of teams calling. Those positives are also why the Knicks would like to keep him. If they find a trade partner for O’Quinn, Hernangomez would slide right into the lineup in his place.
Also in the report, Berman says that the Knicks are receiving plenty of calls on Lee, as he is in the midst of a career season. Lee is averaging a career-high 13.5 points per game, connecting on a career-best 43 percent of his 3-point attempts. In addition, he is also averaging a career-high 2.8 assists per game. The 3.4 rebounds he is averaging per game are 0.1 off from his career best, while his 1.3 steals per game tie his career high.
There is a lot to like about Lee, so it should come as no surprise that Berman reports the Knicks will not move Lee unless they are receiving something of significant value in return. Given his $11.7 million salary, the Knicks would have to take back some salary in the deal, but Scott Perry and Steve Mills do not want to receive any more bad contracts.
Like Lee, O’Quinn is also having a career year. He is on pace for new career-highs in points, field goal percentage, rebounds and assists per game. His value could be lessened on the trade market, however, because he could opt out of his team-friendly contract and hit free agency this summer.
Trading veterans such as Lee and O’Quinn has its benefits. It would help the Knicks clear some cap space and add more assets for the future. However, that could upset some of the players currently on the team, including franchise cornerstone, Kristaps Porzingis.
Porzingis has made it clear that he wants the team to make a push for the postseason this season. If veterans such as Lee, O’Quinn, Lance Thomas or Enes Kanter are traded, it gives off the impression that the Knicks are planning more for the future than making the postseason in April.
After tensions rose this offseason between Porzingis and the Knicks, mainly because of Phil Jackson, they should tread lightly about what moves they make. Upsetting Porzingis would not be good for business now or in the future.
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Right now, the Knicks are only three games out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. With 31 games remaining in the season, the Knicks have plenty of time to make up three games, but that will become increasingly difficult if they are selling off veterans and looking to the future.