New York Knicks: 4 players likeliest to be dealt by trade deadline

Likeliest New York Knicks to be traded — Elfrid Payton and Austin Rivers

The trade for Derrick Rose added another established piece to the New York Knicks’ crowded backcourt, and they might need to offload some players because of it.

One player that has been involved in rumors recently is Elfrid Payton, New York’s starting point guard at the moment. According to Ian Begley of SNY, “at least one team in playoff contention has shown interest in Elfrid Payton.”

The guard could be a serviceable sixth man for various teams, and with the handful of guards currently on the Knicks’ roster, they could be more open to moving him if the return is right. Starting in all 29 games for New York this season, Payton has averaged 12.2 points on .437/.255/.714 shooting splits, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.

On the books for $4.8 million this season, the 26-year-old has a fairly affordable contract for opposing teams and could be a compelling target for teams looking for a boost in the backcourt.

The same could be said for Austin Rivers, another guard that could find himself on the move soon. Rivers has been booted out of the rotation almost entirely since the addition of Rose, and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Rivers might be a desirable trade target for a slew of contenders before the upcoming deadline. 

Rivers has been a solid rotational player wherever he has gone throughout his career, and contending teams could justifiably be interested in targeting him for that very purpose. The guard signed a three-year deal with the Knicks worth just under $10 million this offseason, but the final two years are not guaranteed. That financial flexibility will also be critical for contenders that are tight on the payroll looking for solid pieces to round out their bench.