The New York Knicks may be looking to enter into commercial negotiations as the season progresses. Sitting three games behind 0.500, the Knicks is in a better position than most believed. Considering that the organization has been so bad in recent years, head coach Tom Thibodeau was working with a bunch of misfit toys. However, he did a stellar job of installing his system, extracting the best from each player individually.
Even though the Knicks are playing above expectations, it doesn’t mean that they don’t need any more support. Whispers indicated potential interest in the Chicago Bulls guard, Zach LaVine. While it is highly unlikely that Chicago would trade LaVine, if the Knicks are offering too much, they should at least consider it.
Other players have also been connected to New York in recent weeks, including Bradley Beal and Lonzo Ball. If President Leon Rose wants to explore these areas, he has some ammunition to float on.
Three players that the New York Knicks could use as commercial bait:
1.) Frank Ntilikina
The obsession with Frank Ntilikina is quite interesting to me. He is an elite defensive player who essentially has no offensive value. He never averaged more than 6.3 points per game, even though he averaged 20.8 minutes minutes last season. This year, he played only four games, averaging just 10.5 minutes on the court. It is becoming a non-relevant factor in the Knicks system and rotation; considering its value and the age of 22, there may be a team that feels it can unlock its potential.
2.) Kevin Knox
Kevin Knox is another player that the Knicks can use in an exchange scenario. He has played 20 games this year averaging 18.2 minutes, but averages just 6.1 points per game. His offensive production is also questionable, and his defense is often lackluster. At 21, he is still extremely young, but NY may be looking to acquire more proven talent and he may be a good option to sell.
3.) Dennis Smith Jr.
Smith Jr. is more difficult at this point, considering that he was sent to the bottom of the bank. He only appeared three times this year, averaging 9.3 minutes. He is a player who has all the athletic tools, but he just can’t mount them on the court. Whether in decision-making or in a bad shot, Smith Jr. did nothing to help himself. Despite working hard to refine their talents, the Knicks are better off coming out of the DSJ era.