The NBA Trade Deadline is just days away and many teams are in need of making a move including the New York Knicks. The Knicks have been one of the hottest teams of late, being 9-1 in their last 10 games, but they are not anywhere near perfect as a roster just yet.
The Knicks already made one of the biggest trades in the NBA this season when they acquired OG Anunoby from Toronto, but their next move needs to be centered around acquiring another shooter that can play valuable minutes off the bench.
Once the Knicks are fully healthy again, they have a tremendous starting lineup, but ever since they traded away RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, and also with multiple injuries, their depth has been tested. The only way you can be successful as a team in the NBA is to be able to knock down 3's at a highly consistent rate.
The perfect guy that comes to mind for the Knicks, who fits Tom Thibodeau's wishlist, is Bruce Brown. Bruce Brown has emerged as a great player throughout his brief time in the NBA and is not only a great defender but is also a decent shooter. Brown was just traded to the Raptors and is currently on a $22.5 million contract so it would take at least a guy like Evan Fournier, who the Knicks are more than willing to give up, to get him.
Another guy that I have missed since he departed the Knicks a couple of years ago is Alec Burks. Burks is currently on the Pistons and is a lights out shooter. One of the most important things to have as a team besides good three-point shooting is chemistry. Burks is very familiar with a handful of the current Knicks on the team and would make the team chemistry even better than what it is now. Thibs loves bringing in his former guys so maybe we will see Alec back in the orange and blue.
My third option who I believe would also be great for the Knicks is Malcolm Brogdon. Brogdon is currently on a struggling and young Blazers team that is pretty likely to move him at the trade deadline. Brogdon is not only a great shooter, but a former Boston Celtic until recently when he was traded in the Jrue Holiday deal. His knowledge on the game plan of the Celtics would be an underrated aspect of what he could contribute to the Knicks.
There have been many rumors circling around the Knicks and LeBron James and while I don't think anything is going to happen here, I would be disappointed if the Knicks went out and landed him. Sure he is one of the best players of all time and is still thriving at age 39, but he totally changes the dynamic of what this team really is.
This team is built around young guys who love to hustle and fit the Thibs game plan and LeBron would alter that. The other guys that I mentioned don't really change the dynamic of the team too much because they are exactly the types of pieces Tom Thibodeau desires. The time to go after a superstar is in the offseason, not while you are currently one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
I would consider it a successful trade deadline if the Knicks go out and get a guy like those three that I mentioned that can both shoot the ball at a good percentage and hustle back on defense. I would prefer one of those three guys compared to others, but any move could be beneficial. While I believe it would be vital for the Knicks to make a trade, I would not be surprised if they stand pat come Thursday evening.
