The New York Knicks are one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, but they need to make two trades if they are to compete with the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
For all intents and purposes, the New York Knicks are clearly the third-best team in the Eastern Conference. They are two and a half games behind the juggernaut Boston Celtics but are four games ahead of the Indiana Pacers.
In order to separate themselves from the second tier of teams in the conference, the Knicks must be active ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, although their options are limited.
Assuming they don’t want to trade Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, or Josh Hart, the Knicks can’t make a massive move, but they can improve around the margins.
Here are two trade targets they must pursue ahead of the deadline.
The Los Angeles Lakers, after trading Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic, have once again been linked to Walker Kessler. The Utah Jazz don’t seem eager to part ways with him, but the Knicks have also been a rumored suitor for the young big man.
If the Knicks and Lakers get in a bidding war, the Lakers, with a 2031 first-round pick and Austin Reaves, will likely be able to make a better offer, but Danny Ainge is known to be a Lakers hater, so the Knicks have an advantage on that front.
The Knicks, in theory, could offer Cameron Payne, rookie Tyler Kolek, and two second-round picks for Kessler.
While two second-round selections are a bit underwhelming, the rebuilding Jazz might prize Kolek highly and agree to a deal, giving the Knicks some much-needed frontcourt depth.
Talen Horton-Tucker is far removed from being labeled “untouchable” by the Los Angeles Lakers, but he is quietly having the best shooting season of his career on a middling Chicago Bulls team.
The sixth-year veteran is averaging 5.9 points on 38.3% shooting from deep this season. It’s unlikely that he is the difference-maker in a seven-game playoff series, but he would be a proven depth piece for the Knicks to rely on off the bench.
After the Bulls traded Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings, they are clearly rebuilding, and once again Kolek is the centerpiece of this deal, along with a second-round pick in 2027.
Horton-Tucker is on a minimum contract, so the Knicks can manage to fit him into their crowded payroll.
