The New York Knicks are one of the teams reportedly showing interest in Golden State Warriors point guard, D’Angelo Russell. Here are three reasons why it is positive to pursue Russell.
With the NBA Trade Deadline days away, it makes sense for the New York Knicks to be sellers. They aren’t close to being contenders and have a logjam of veterans on the roster they should try to move for assets, such as future draft picks. However, this is the Knicks we are talking about, so predicting what they are going to do is not easy.
While the obvious idea is to be sellers, it sounds like New York is ready to do the opposite. They are high on Oklahoma City Thunder point guard, Dennis Schroder, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
In addition to that, the team is reportedly hell-bent on keeping impending free agent Marcus Morris. However, they remain open to a Morris deal if the right one comes along. The clearest indication that the Knicks have no plans of being sellers is their interest in Golden State Warriors point guard, D’Angelo Russell.
The Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves are both rumored to be interested in Russell according to Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
Knicks registering interest in Warriors star D’Angelo Russell -- More on @TheAthleticNBA: https://t.co/GYXDKUw3qD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2020
Russell was acquired by the Warriors in the Kevin Durant sign-and-trade this past summer from the Brooklyn Nets. It was assumed by many people, especially after Stephen Curry got hurt, that Russell wasn’t long for Golden State and that change could come as soon as this week at the deadline.
This is a rumor that frustrates some within the fan base. Russell was a free agent, albeit a restricted one, this past summer and the Knicks didn’t show any interest. Discussing trading assets for him months later rubs some people the wrong way.
What the Warriors reportedly asked for, Mitchell Robinson and the Knicks’ unprotected first-round pick, is way too much to surrender in a deal. If the Knicks can negotiate a lower price, such as the Dallas Mavericks’ picks being included instead of their own, things could gain some traction.
If the talks between the Knicks and Warriors do get serious, it would be a solid addition for New York. Here are three reasons why pursuing D’Angelo Russell is a positive thing.