New York Knicks: Trades that could land Zach LaVine

Conclusion

It’s tough to see the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls executing a trade for LaVine because the Knicks don’t have the assets the Bulls desire. However, stranger scenarios have happened in the NBA.

If you’re wondering why I did not propose a trade for both LaVine and Lauri Markkanen (who I wrote a trade piece on recently) this price tag is just too far out of range and the Knicks would have to be confident that LaVine and Markkanen can be the foundation for a winning team for years to come. Even though Jim Boylen may have been part of the problem, the results in Chicago indicate that this would not be feasible on the Knicks.

The most likely of the two hypothesized trades is the second because it gives the Bulls guards, shooters, young prospects, draft picks, and cash consideration to replace LaVine. It sounds like a lot for the Knicks to give, but LaVine is a top tier scorer, and the cost for that is steep – especially when the team doesn’t have that many coveted assets.

But when trading for LaVine, the Knicks need to consider a few things: Are they planning to contend for a playoff spot next season? Is the team THAT much better with LaVine? And, are they going to get complimentary pieces to help both him and the team shine?

These are serious questions the Knicks need to ask themselves because trading for LaVine doesn’t guarantee wins. Unlike Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum, or Donavan Mitchell, LaVine wouldn’t immediately increase the win totals on any other team. The team as is is not play-off quality, so the Knicks should only trade for LaVine if they are ready to build a complementary roster.

Given the way Knicks fans have been burned in the past, the New York Knicks should only bid for LaVine if the price is right and they have a bigger picture plan in the works to create a playoff team.