Although no transactions have officially kicked it off, NBA trade season is here and the Knicks are looking increasingly likely make a move by February’s deadline.
Some of New York’s much-hyped bench pieces haven’t performed, while they’ve gotten big seasons from unexpected places, giving them some flexibility to reshuffle their rotation.
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Here are the top five targets the Knicks should aim to acquire by the deadline. We’ve centered these around salaries that closely match Guerschon Yabusele’s as the main piece of a potential deal, excluding the hanging cloud that is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s availability and trades that would require shipping Josh Hart or Mitchell Robinson, which aren’t likely.
Keon Ellis
A 6-foot-4 guard doesn’t seem like it should be on the top of New York’s priority list, but as far as realistic short-term upgrades go, they may not find a better one in the league. Ellis is only a four-year player, but even spending all that time with the Sacramento Kings, his strengths have popped through.
He’s a strong defender and career 41.7 percent three-point shooter, and had his best years under Knicks head coach Mike Brown. The Kings don’t appear to value him highly despite being one of their few young talents, giving the Knicks a chance to boost their depth at a discounted cost.
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Saddiq Bey
The Knicks have been starting 20-year-old rookie Mohamed Diawara and playing second-year man Kevin McCullar Jr. amid Yabusele’s disappointing season and Hart’s injury. While both have been impressive, New York could use some more veteran depth on the wing, perhaps more so than anything else.
One target who fits the bill is Bey, a six-year veteran playing for the New Orleans Pelicans. He just torched the Knicks for 26 points — perhaps his tryout for the team — and was an intriguing 3-and-D prospect before his shot fell off.
Nicolas Batum
The Clippers should be looking for any way to get younger and more draft assets during this disaster of a season, giving New York an edge should they call about a supplementary role player. Batum is 37 years old, long past his prime, and shouldn’t be expected to move the needle. But he’s reliable, flexible, and has played in the biggest of games.
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He’s also still shooting close to 40 percent from three. If you’re looking for an under-the-radar pickup, this may be the right move.
Jose Alvarado
Linked to the Knicks by SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, Alvarado has New York roots and plays with a New York attitude from the point guard position, hounding ball-handlers and never shrinking from a big game or shot. He’s hitting nearly 38 percent of his threes this season and would thrive in Brown’s high pace style.
Andre Drummond or Precious Achiuwa
The focus has been on wings and guards, but the Knicks could also look for a big man since their current rotation hinges heavily on Robinson’s health. Two names brought up by Begley are Drummond and Achiuwa.
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The former is playing for the Philadelphia 76ers and getting plenty of chances with Joel Embiid in and out of the lineup. It’s unclear if they’d even be interested in dealing him given their own postseason aspirations, but he’s still one of the league’s most impactful rebounders and would be a big help up front.
Achiuwa spent a year and a half in New York after coming over in the OG Anunoby deal. He had a mixed career with the Knicks, bouncing in and out of the rotation and between frontcourt positions, but all under former head coach Tom Thibodeau — opening up a potential avenue for a return and revitalization after having to deal with the Kings.
