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

Does this trade work for the New York Knicks?

There’s an equilibrium with trades, and that’s because if a trade is overwhelmingly unfavorable towards one team, it’s a big win for the other. That’s exactly the case in this trade here. As described, the New York Knicks would cut $15 million in salary and get the potential star they’ve been trying to get for basically ever.

Swartz states his case here:

"Landing at No. 8 in the lottery was a disappointment for New York, but the team has the extra draft picks to try moving up to get Ball. Point guard is a major need for a team that tried out Dennis Smith Jr., Frank Ntilikina, Elfrid Payton and even RJ Barrett at times this past season, and Ball has the star quality the Knicks should covet. A core of Ball, Barrett and Mitchell Robinson would be a great start for an organization once again looking to lure a big free agent in 2021."

If some kind of deal is to be done that will send the No. 2 pick to the Knicks, it’s going to have to be under drastically different circumstances. Whether it be more draft assets or some other solution, as things stand it’s untenable for the Warriors.

So, yeah, this deal works for the Knicks, but it doesn’t work overall. There might be a better deal to be found with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 1 pick, if for no other reason than because Minnesota is $18.8 million under the cap and doesn’t face the dire tax situation the Golden State Warriors are in.

That added flexibility might be just what is needed to make a deal work.