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Since firing team president Steve Mills, the Knicks have continued to show an interest in making moves as the NBA trade deadline nears. Most recently, The Athletic reports the Knicks have been in talks with the Los Angeles Lakers about acquiring forward Kyle Kuzma.
Last year, Kuzma was the piece the Lakers didn’t want to give up when working on a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis. But with Davis in the frontcourt, Kuzma has been relegated to a lesser role in Los Angeles, averaging eight fewer minutes and five less points per game than last year.
Brad Penner/USA TODAY Images Morris signed a one-year contract with New York in the offseason. In the midst of a career year, there has been hesitancy from the Knicks in dealing Morris, hoping to sign him to a long-term contract this summer. But without Mills at the helm and trade offers increasing in value, the Knicks are open to moving Morris and his expiring contract.
In his ninth NBA season, the 30-year old Morris is averaging 19.6 points per game, far exceeding his career scoring average of 12.1. The 6’ 8” forward is also shooting .439 from behind the three-point arc which fits the Lakers need for a big that can stretch the floor.
The biggest hurdle in a trade centered around Morris and Kuzma could be figuring a way to match the dollar amounts. Kuzma makes less than $2 million per year, while Morris is on the books for $15 million this season, complicating the possibility of a two-team trade. To comply with league rules of matching salary amounts, a trade would either need to involve more teams or more players going from the Lakers to the Knicks.
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday Feb. 6 at 3pm ET.