The NBA trading deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m., and Knicks fans await a move to reverse the recent fortunes that just before the All-Star break headed farther south than Key West.
If pervading thoughts from several executives around the league prevail, fans should simply anticipate the showdown between Kristaps Porzingis and Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota on Saturday.
“I have heard zero with the Knicks. And really, what can they do anyway? Their [tradeable] talent level isn’t that good,” one rival general manager said.
“I would think anything they do would probably be more cosmetic than anything,” said another exec. “They just don’t have the assets.”
One other front-office type said he doesn’t comment on the dealings of others, but conceded he had heard precious little about realistic movement by the Knicks. All spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were asked to address another team.
Recently, the Knicks have been connected through rumor or speculation with a long list of players as targets of trades or free agency: Jeff Teague, Brandon Jennings, Ricky Rubio, Rajon Rondo, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Pau Gasol and Ty Lawson.
One rumored target, Jennings, was removed from play Tuesday when the Pistons and Magic finalized a deal that had Jennings going from Detroit with Ersan Ilyasova to Orlando for Tobias Harris — also previously linked to possible Knicks interest.
Most concede it will be very difficult for the Knicks to make a significant move with their assets. If they want to part with a future draft pick, that could get them quality. Because of the rule that you can’t go two years without a first-round draft pick, the next pick the Knicks can deal is from 2018. But as one of those questioned said, dealing future picks has risk attached.
“I would not try to get a quick fix right now unless you can get a Teague [from Atlanta],” he said. “If you’re giving up future draft picks, you better make sure that player is going to be on your roster when the pick comes to fruition. You’re not guaranteed Jeff Teague [who will become a free agent in 2017] is going to be on your roster in 2018, if that’s the pick they would trade. So that puts pressure on you with the acquisition. You say, ‘We traded a pick, we’ve got to re-sign him.’ ”
Nothing is more evident of that than the traded pick that haunts the Knicks — this June’s first-rounder they dealt for Andrea Bargnani. The Knicks are in rebuilding mold. Draft picks are essential to rebuilding. Bargnani is in Brooklyn. Oops.
The Nuggets can swap picks with the Knicks because of the trade for Carmelo Anthony. Currently, each team is bound for the lottery and Denver, with an inferior record, wouldn’t swap. But that doesn’t matter because the Raptors will get the Knicks’ pick as a result of the 2013 Bargnani trade. The outcome of that deal has the Raptors thanking the heavens “only every day” because that pick will be a lottery pick, a Toronto insider said.
In the wake of coach Derek Fisher’s firing, Knicks president Phil Jackson acknowledged the desire to deal: “We’re looking to improve this ball club, there’s no doubt. … The chemistry is pretty good. The talent can still be better. … So we’re looking.”
Jackson admitted some guys are off limits in any trade, Porzingis being the most obvious. Anthony, having a terrific year that could be better surrounded by more quality, has a no-trade clause, so it’s safe to assume he will stay. Lance Thomas and Lou Amundson must consent to any trade because of Bird-rights issues. Now the Knicks are dealing with 10 players they can use as trade chips.
“[Jerian] Grant might be intriguing to some, but I think he has a good upside,” one exec said, indicating he would keep the Notre Dame product.
“And, please, we all know Jose Calderon is available,” another said.
Expiring contracts are not as desirable as in the past because of the money coming from the new TV deal. And if the Knicks are going on a hunt for a coach at season’s end, should they keep players they have for the new guy to judge?
Maybe by 3 p.m. Thursday, the 23-32 Knicks will do something. But don’t hold your breath that it will significantly affect their season with 27 games remaining, four teams to pass and at least five games to make up to land a playoff spot.