The New York Knicks are gearing up for an interesting trade deadline which is quickly approaching on February 10. With Julius Randle recently spending two games on the NBA’s health and protocol list, the Knicks realized just how weak they are at some positions, especially at point guard with Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose suffering through injuries.
Adding a natural-born scorer may be a huge benefit for Tom Thibodeau’s squad, mainly given Evan Fournier‘s wild inconsistencies this season and the inexperience of their youth. While it is possible the team targets an option like Myles Turner from Indiana, one player who could be had for peanuts is Terrence Ross of the Orlando Magic.
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report indicated that the Orlando Magic have fielded calls regarding Terrence Ross and Eric Gordon, but the former may be intriguing for the Knicks, who need to boost their shooting percentages significantly.
Ross is a natural-born scorer, who is averaging 11.9 points this season with Orlando over 30 games. Traditionally, he averages 14 points or more over the past three years, but his statistics have fallen off this season, likely due to a lack of motivation on one of the league’s worst teams.
Ross’s three-point percentage has plummeted to 30% and his field-goal percentage is the lowest it has been in four years. However, in the right scenario with the proper system, Ross could thrive and present a team with elite scoring. Over the past six games, Ross has posted double-digit points, including 33 on January 2 against the Boston Celtics, hitting four three-point shots and picking up five rebounds and three steals in the process.
The Knicks had a first-hand look at Ross earlier in the season when he recorded 22 points in the fourth quarter of a win, connecting on eight free throws in the process.
The veteran shooting guard is capable of playing multiple positions (SG and SF), but he’s not known for his defensive attributes. This season, he hosts a -17.1 net rating, but given his scoring abilities, he could be useful down the stretch especially with injuries beginning to arise.
As stated above, the Knicks likely wouldn’t have to give up much to acquire Ross who has one year left on his deal at $11.5 million. However, if New York could convince Orlando to send a bit of cash in the process, they could balance out the salary hit. It ultimately boils down to how lucrative Leon Rose and the front office want to be at the deadline — targeting a star player to pair with Randle or simply a complimentary piece to help improve the bench (which is already strong).