2019 NBA Trade Deadline: 10 teams that should trade for Anthony Davis
2. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are one team that needs to make a trade before the deadline so the Boston Celtics can’t enter the fray with an offer of their own, but it’s not just the threat of Danny Ainge that puts pressure on them now. In this case, waiting until after the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery could be just as detrimental — or beneficial — to their potential trade package.
As it stands, the Knicks have the second-worst record in the league. Unfortunately, because of the reformed draft lottery odds, that means they’re tied with the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns for the best odds of snagging the No. 1 overall pick at 14 percent.
Getting that No. 1 pick, and the rights to Zion Williamson, would catapult New York to the forefront of this discussion, but if the Knicks missed out on that top selection, they’d lose a major bargaining chip. That’s why they’d need to offer this year’s first round pick — if it’s even on the table — before knowing where it lands.
That’s a risky proposition, especially since it’d take a deal like Frank Ntilikina, rookie Kevin Knox and Enes Kanter (for salary-matching purposes) to make the Pelicans rethink their patient strategy.
Ntilikina is flawed, but at worst he’ll be a capable, multi-positional defender. He’s still young, with considerable upside, and he’d be playing for a team in need of a long-term backcourt solution. Knox’s shooting numbers aren’t pretty, but the rookie has played within the offense and his flaws can be corrected with time.
He may not pan out to be a superstar, but he does have that upside at 19 years old, averaging 12.0 points in 27.1 minutes per game. Kanter is mostly an expiring contract, but he’s a double-double machine and would make the rest of the season a little more bearable.
Should the Knicks want to avoid losing their chance at Zion, or if the Pelicans want something more substantial, there’s a riskier option: Including Kristaps Porzingis instead.
The Zinger is still just 23 years old, but has spent the entire season rehabbing from last year’s ACL tear. He could very well be a franchise superstar. Last year, he was averaging 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game on .439/.395/.793 shooting splits en route to an All-Star selection before his injury.
Unfortunately, any knee injury to a 7’3″ body is alarming, and the Knicks would be upgrading by swapping a recovering Porzingis for Anthony Davis in his prime. Throw in Knox and Kanter to match salaries, and suddenly the Pelicans might have to seriously consider making a move before the offseason.
According to Yahoo! Sports‘ Chris Haynes, the Knicks are one of two teams putting together offers for the Pelicans before Feb. 7. If they got him, and could move Tim Hardaway Jr. and/or Courtney Lee elsewhere, they’d have room to sign Kevin Durant, as well as Kyrie Irving or Kemba Walker to form a title contender overnight. As for the second team?…