The New York Knicks haven’t made any lucrative splashes prior to the trade deadline on Thursday, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make a last-minute trade to help bolster their chances of making the post-season this year.
At this point in the campaign, the Knicks currently hold the 12th seed, 2.5 games out of the play-in tournament. The team has systemic issues ranging from their player combinations to lack of talent. Head coach Tom Thibodeau hasn’t been able to find the right sequence this year, which could lead to a last-second audible. Without a true point guard as Derrick Rose rehabilitates from ankle surgery, the team is in desperate need of support at the position.
Just ahead of the deadline, the Knicks elected to hire former Minnesota Timberwolves president Gersson Rosas as a consultant.
Interestingly, Gersson replaced Tom Thibodeau with the Timberwolves as their president in 2019. Gersson was fired once Alex Rodriguez and his management group took over the operations of the team. How he will impact the team’s decisions moving forward is yet to be seen, but he has a bit more experience under his belt to help make important decisions.
The New York Knicks could still move Julius Randle at the deadline, although unlikely:
Ian Begley of SNY reported that “several teams had expressed a degree of interest,” regarding Randle, despite having signed a lucrative four-year, $117 million deal this past off-season.
Randle is having a tumultuous campaign this year, averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 9.9 rebounds per game. His 31% success rate from beyond the arc is a 9% reduction from his All-Star campaign in 2021.
At one point, there was interest between the Knicks and Sacramento Kings regarding De’Aaron Fox, but after acquiring Domantas Sabonis from the Indiana Pacers, it seems as if that deal is off the table entirely. The Knicks would need a legitimate haul in return for Randle unless they were swapping contracts for an entirely different player.
I wouldn’t rule out the front office making a last-second move to help their chances this season and Gersson might be the exterior voice to help them commit to a decision.