During the offseason that just ended, the New York Knicks made separate trades for power forward Karl-Anthony Towns and small forward Mikal Bridges in an effort to increase their chances of qualifying for the NBA championship. In the end, the outcome was that the team finished the postseason in a better position than they did the previous year; nevertheless, they also suffered a second consecutive postseason series loss to the Indiana Pacers, this time in the Eastern Conference Finals.

In light of the fact that the Knicks are going to have to deal with cap restrictions and roster concerns during the upcoming summer, it is time to make a decision about where they should go in order to win their first NBA championship in this century.

To begin, New York possesses two first-round picks that are not protected until 2026 and 2028. These picks have the potential to be key elements in a prospective deal that would result in an improvement. It is quite probable that it will be contingent upon an asset on its roster that is generating a big amount of bank, which makes a player like Karl-Anthony Towns a good candidate.

Escaping Cap Hell With a KAT Trade

During the course of the playoffs, Towns displayed glimpses of his potential for scoring, but he and Jalen Brunson, the cornerstone of the club, were unable to produce a positive postseason net rating while they were both on the court for New York. When KAT was on the court and Brunson was not, the team’s defensive net rating was at its lowest, while when both stars were on the court, the team’s net rating was at its strongest.

Towns has contract numbers that are in the range of fifty million dollars over the next two years, which will restrict the free agency moves that the Knicks might potentially make as a potential second tier club. Their best chance of any kind of flexibility is to move off of him now, when his stock is reasonably high, to an organization that is trying to eat cap space. This is their best chance of any kind of flexibility.

Within the context of a transaction that revolves around power forward Miles Bridges and the imminent expiration of center Jusuf Nurkic’s contract, the Charlotte Hornets are a potential trade partner that may be considered. In the event that Bridges is able to produce value with a successful season for the Knicks, New York would be able to deal Bridges at the same time that they would be able to move off of Nurkic at the end of the next season.

Trade Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson For Extra Frontcourt Depth

For a younger big man and a potential depth piece at power forward, New York could also consider dealing the contracts of guard Josh Hart and center Mitchell Robinson. This would be another move that the team might make.

The hustle and determination that Hart displays as a rebounder and perimeter defender has earned him the respect of many people who consider him to be the Knicks’ “heart and soul.” However, the drawback of his presence is that during the postseason, his difficulties in shooting from deep grow so great that they are impossible to overcome.

During the Knicks’ run through the conference semifinals this year, Hart shot a dismal 2 for 11 from three-point range over the course of six games. He completed the series with a -59 on the floor. Due to the fact that the team now has wings on its roster in the form of Bridges and O.G. Anunoby, who both have higher ceilings and are spot-up shooters and defenders, it is possible that Hart’s presence is no longer required.

In the game against Indiana, Robinson’s rebounding was a significant component for the Knicks; yet, it is possible that his long-term health worries will be too much for them to overcome. In order to manage his conditioning and any injury issues, he has played a total of 48 games over the course of the past two seasons. However, he has only averaged roughly 21 minutes in the 18 postseason battles that he has participated in.

It is possible for a team such as the Utah Jazz to acquire the rights of center Walker Kessler and power forward John Collins by negotiating a deal with both Hart and Robinson, who both have contracts that are movable. In the event that the Knicks make the decision to trade away from Karl-Anthony Towns, Kessler and Collins provide the team with an infusion of youth and depth to its frontcourt, as well as the possibility for flexibility for both the now and the future.

 

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