As Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline rapidly approaches, the Knicks have seemed like a team that could add depth to its roster.
The Knicks are third in the Eastern Conference with a 32-17 record, and the team’s overreliance on its starting five has put a spotlight on a thin bench. The club is dead last in the NBA in bench scoring, averaging 21.2 points per game.
But the Knicks should hesitate when it comes to making a deal at the deadline.
First, almost any major trade the Knicks make has to involve Mitchell Robinson and the two years and $27.3 million owed to him.
Robinson has been out for the entire season with a stress injury to his left ankle. Head coach Tom Thibodeau recently said Robinson is “pretty close” to being cleared to return to practice with full contact.
It would be hard for the Knicks to be able to find a comparable player to Robinson on the trade market.
Before he was injured last season, Robinson led the NBA in offensive rebound rate and made a case for a spot on one of the NBA’s All-Defense teams. Bringing the big man back to the roster is like putting up a stop sign in the paint for opponents looking to drive in. It also allows the Knicks more versatile lineups.
Even with Robinson out, the bench has perked up a bit recently. In the past six games, reserves Miles McBride (9.7) and Precious Achiuwa (9.0) have played much larger scoring roles. Thibodeau has relied on the two reserves more often and added Landry Shamet to a rotation that also features backup guard Cameron Payne.
There is some concern for the Knicks’ depth after starter OG Anunoby left Saturday’s 128-112 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers with a right foot sprain. It’s unclear how long Anunoby will be out with his injury, but he was listed as questionable for New York’s game Monday against the Houston Rockets.
Unappealing mid-tier trade market
There has been an active market that saw Luka Doncic shockingly traded for Anthony Davis, and De’Aaron Fox dealt in a trade that involved Zach LaVine over the weekend.
Stars like Jimmy Butler are on the trade block, too. The Knicks, however, have been linked to help in the mid-tier range that can help them shore up the bench.
One of the reasons why the Knicks’ bench has had limited offensive punch is the limited minutes that the group has received. New York’s starting group has amassed the most minutes of any five-man lineup in the NBA so far this season.
This is a trend that isn’t new. Thibodeau has shown a reluctance over the years to play role players who are limited defensively.
Last season, the Knicks made a deal at the trade deadline to acquire Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks from the Detroit Pistons. Even when star Julius Randle was out for the rest of the season and Anunoby was unavailable for stretches, Bogdanovic averaged just 19.2 minutes while Burks played only 13.5 minutes. Though Bogdanovic’s contract proved to be the true value in the acquisition, it was confusing to see the Knicks acquire the forward only to have him see limited time on the floor.
The options on the trade market for this year’s deadline are less than appetizing. The Knicks can pursue players like guard Jordan Clarkson or centers such as Nikola Vucevic and Jonas Valanciunas. But all of those players’ roles are muted by their defensive limitations. It’s probably not worth dealing away the few assets New York has to acquire a player who will have a limited role.
It would make sense for the Knicks to make a small move like trading backup center Jericho Sims. In the last year of a three-year deal, perhaps the Knicks can add a second-round pick for the former second-round draft pick.
New York could also make a swing to acquire wings on small expiring salaries, like Chicago Bulls forward Torrey Craig ($2.8 million) or New Orleans Pelicans forward Javonte Green ($2.1 million). Neither player would have a large role, but either could add defensive depth and positional versatility.
