New York Knicks: Analyzing a LaMelo Ball-centric trade with the Warriors

The New York Knicks are in need of a young star, and the Golden State Warriors need an array of assets. Could this end up in a trade involving LaMelo Ball?

The New York Knicks have been on the outside looking in for every star transaction in recent memory. Last offseason there were fantasies of ending up with Zion Williamson, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and instead they ended up with RJ Barrett, Marcus Morris and Reggie Bullock. Not exactly the haul they hoped for, but always star-hunting, the Knicks may have their eyes on LaMelo Ball in the NBA draft.

The only problem there is that the Knicks have the eighth pick, and it’s a virtual impossibility that Ball will slide that far in this draft class. That means a trade is needed, and in order to do so they might look to make a deal with the Golden State Warriors, who possess the No. 2 pick in this draft.

Holding the No. 1 pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves are unlikely to select Ball, which makes the Warriors the most likely trade candidate for the Knicks to do business with if this is indeed their goal in the draft.

Our friends at Bleacher Report recently suggested just such a trade, and we’ll take a look at this deal from the perspectives of both teams and discuss whether this deal makes sense for either the New York Knicks or the Golden State Warriors.

The deal as described by Greg Swartz:

The gist of this deal: The Warriors trade down in the draft and pick up a veteran big in Taj Gibson and a reclamation project in Dennis Smith Jr while stocking their draft asset war-chest.

Let’s break things down for both teams, starting with the Golden State Warriors.