New York Knicks Trade Rumors
NY
Knicks : Summer Trade Winds And Roster Rumors
Written
By Kyle Crabbe
Follow
on Twitter: @KthetruestKnick
As
the New York Knicks gear up to start their 2018 Training Camp the
past few days have provided the NBA hemisphere with headlining rumors
of player movements and possible team trades. The Knicks have found
themselves right in the thick of these talks. Beyond the speculation
the Knicks do expect to make a minor move or two to their team in
anticipation of the start of the 2018-19 Regular Season.
The
Knicks will first be looking to possibly move two of their veterans
in Shooting Guard Courtney Lee and Center Joakim Noah. With the
Knicks committing to developing young talent and to be more specific
the drafting of Center Mitchell Robinson in the 2018 NBA Draft has
led Joakim Noah and the Knicks to find themselves headed for a
certain divorce prior to the beginning of the regular season.
The
Knicks enter the new NBA season sporting a crowded backcourt of young
guards that the Knicks are invested to see growth, develop and reach
their immense potentials which has in turn made veteran Guard
Courtney Lee expendable.
In
recent days, the biggest news around the NBA has been centered around
Minnesota T'wolves Star Jimmy Butler. The reports state that Jimmy
Butler is demanding a trade from the Timberwolves and has given a
list of his preferred destinations with the Knicks being one of the
three teams.
Courtney
Lee
Courtney
Lee will go down as one of Phil Jackson's better signings during his
tenure as Knicks' President. Lee, over his 10 Seasons has established
himself as one of the better two-way efficient basketball players in
the entire NBA. Any great team player that can adjust his game to
every and any situation makes for a great addition to any team and
that's the best way to describe the player that Courtney Lee is. With
Lee being over 30 and the Knicks being committed to the youth
movement, all signs point to there being interest in both parties in
finding a better suitor for Lee's skills and services.
Reports
have stated that Lee prefers to be moved to a team that is more
Playoff Bound, however those reports were personally refuted by Lee.
The Philadelphia 76ers have been long rumored to have interest in Lee
and I believe Philly can be a great fit for Courtney Lee. However the
76ers have denied reports of any interest in trading for Lee. Other
teams that I believe could be potential destinations for Lee are the
Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A
excellent scenario for Lee would be a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers
that could look like this:
NYK
Sends to PHI:
SG
Courtney Lee
Philadelphia Sends to NYK:
G Jerryd Bayless
Draft Rights to PF/C Mathias
Lessort
TrueFan
Take:
This Trade would
allow the Knicks to send Lee to a team where he could fit in nicely.
Lee could instantly contribute to the Sixers offensively spreading
the floor for Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid and on defensive end
offering veteran experience and being able to guard the better wing
players in the East for Philly. The Knicks would most likely waive
Jerryd Bayless in this trade but could gain the draft rights to a
intriguing young international prospect. In Mathias Lessort( Drafted
2017, 2nd Round)
the Knicks would get another young super athletic, physical and tough
developing basketball player. What makes Lessort a nice pick-up is
Lessort played in the French Pro League National with the like of
Knicks Guard Phenom Frank Ntilikina. Lessort was not only rubbed
elbows with Frank Ntilikina in the ranks but he has also played
alongside of Houston Rockets Star Bigman Clint Capela.
Joakim
Noah
Joakim Noah unlike Courtney Lee will go down as one of
Phil Jackson's least successful signings during his tenure as Knicks'
President. Unfortunately for Noah, Jackson, and the Knicks alike
Joakim wasn't able to find his way in his time playing in New York
City. In brief appearances when not injured or in exile over his two
seasons Noah was able to bring exactly what all Knicks fans cheered
for and hoped to see when the “Hell's Kitchen” Native City Son
came back to play for his hometown team. Noah brought a defensive
intensity, unmatched passion and magnetic energy every time he donned
the Knicks uniform. Noah just like Courtney Lee was brought to New
York with the goal being to help contribute to a Championship
Contending basketball team.
Now that the new Knicks administration has changed
courses for the franchise both Lee and Noah don't fit future plans.
We loved what Noah wanted to accomplish in New York, and just like
the ambitious Amare Stoudamire before him, Noah tenure might end
meekly in a contract buyout.
If the Knicks are to buyout Joakim Noah, they would
execute the Stretch Provision to do so. This would allow the Knicks
to spread the money owed on the contract over several years. This
would allow the Knicks to free up additional salary under the cap for
the future.
If the Knicks are to execute a trade for Joakim Noah,
the most likely trade partner would be the Minnesota Timberwovles.
However a trade of Noah's contract could require a more creative
transaction. Here we look at a possible 3-Team Trade that went
through accepted on the ESPN NBA Trade Machine:
Minnesota
Receives:
C Joakim Noah
SG Lou Williams
Los
Angeles Clippers Receives:
SG Jimmy Butler
C Justin Patton
New
York Receives:
2019 2nd Round Pick
From Minnesota(via Miami)
C Marcin Gortat
TrueFan
Take:
In this trade I
feel the Knicks find a place where Joakim Noah can be welcomed and
can be an effective contributor. The likelihood of this trade coming
to fruition is slim but a trade like this could make a lot of these
players happy. With Noah wanting to reunite with former Bulls Head
Coach Tom Thibodeau in Minnesota and Jimmy Butler wanting to go to
the LA Clippers and the Knicks wanting to rid themselves of the Noah
contract, this could be a perfect deal.
In the deal the Knicks would most likely waive Marcin
Gortat and set themselves up for having maximum cap space coming
forward.
The Knicks leadership held an open forum earlier this
week to give a state of address for the Organization and to take
questions from fans and season ticket holders. President Steve Mills
outlined how he believed the Knicks are changing their image and
reputation around the league and how unlike the past the new
administration won't be trading any draft picks going forward.
General Manager Scott Perry stated how excited he is for the 2019
Free Agency but how much more enthusiastic he is of the potential the
young players currently on the Knicks roster have coming into this
season. Head Coach David Fizdale echoed those statements but added
how he's been enjoying the process and the daily work-grind with the
young promising players. Fizdale added he looks forward to the
training camp battles, getting these young players better every day
as well as using all of his 3 point guards, lastly noting young Frank
Ntilikina has been improving all summer in addition to getting bigger
adding 10 to 15 pounds of muscle.
The statements of the new Knicks brass gives great
optimism to most New York fans. The strong sentiments should give
media pundits and Knicks fans alike the understanding that New York
likely won't be trading for Jimmy Butler or getting into the Jimmy
Butler sweepstakes till free agency. I say the Knicks future appears
brighter by the day as long as the “new” Knicks remain as
patience as they preach.
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