NBA Trades: The New York Knicks need to trade for Ben Simmons
By Luke Duffy
It feels like everybody has already tried to trade Ben Simmons away from his holding pattern with the Philadelphia 76ers, but one organization not being talked about enough is the New York Knicks.
This is strange, as they are a big market team that is involved in chatter for all players, even guys like Zion Williamson (want him instead?) who are still under rookie contracts.
If anything, this is a positive for the Knicks. After years of trying to land stars and fill the holes in their roster, they have built a roster full of intriguing young talent, veteran leaders (Derrick Rose & Taj Gibson), and a legitimate star, albeit one that is struggling (Julius Randle).
But Simmons is not past his prime just yet, and with the Knicks floundering, there are so many reasons to get him to New York.
NBA Trades: The New York Knicks need to trade for Ben Simmons
The first is obvious. Ben Simmons is really good at basketball. Not without flaws (or the love of everybody in New York), as we all know, but there aren’t many bulletproof players out there in the crucible of each postseason.
His shooting woes might be well documented, but the Knicks need only look at another franchise that is currently prospering, the Chicago Bulls, for inspiration.
DeMar DeRozan is having the best year of his career. Is his style of play going to win you four series in the postseason? No. Nikola Vucevic, their two-time All-Star center, has been found out badly in the playoffs in the past with the Orlando Magic. He is too small to hold his own across four series in the Eastern Conference either. Yet the Bulls have both guys, are rolling, and don’t care.
The Knicks as currently constructed have regressed on last season’s breakout year. By adding Simmons, they would undoubtedly put some sizzle back into their regular season. Is that enough to win a championship? It is not. But neither is what they’re doing now. Not even close to it.