Dec. 15 marked the lifting of the trade moratorium for NBA players who were signed this past offseason. Half the Knicks roster is comprised of such players, which means they can now be active in trying to help the long-term future of the franchise and the roster in 2020.
What should they do? The Knicks' (lame duck?) front office needs to keep one overriding thought in mind when discussing any trades over the next two months: the future. Despite the current executives trying to save their jobs, with whatever players the Knicks acquire, the premise shouldn't be to win as many games as possible this season. As I discussed in my column last week, the Knicks are far away from becoming a winning franchise and they need to act appropriately.
If teams are unwilling to send back anything of value for some of these players, the Knicks should be willing to take back longer contracts to extract more draft compensation. It is a creative way to use their financial flexibility and might to obtain more future assets.
It doesn't mean they should willy-nilly look to trade everyone, either. Here's a look at the players on the team and who they should look to move before the deadline.
Marcus Morris
If Morris isn't their best player, he is close. He is a good leader and defender and can score in bunches. He is the player who has the best chance of making difficult midrange jumpers at the end of games. He has been an excellent 3-point shooter. Morris is also equipped to be a very good support player on a good team, which is why he will be the most valuable trade chip leading up to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
The Knicks could realistically get a heavily protected first-round pick who would likely land between 22 and 30 if they choose to move Morris. He has professed his desire to stay in New York long-term, but with him on an expiring contract, the Knicks could also re-sign him this offseason if they desire.
Morris' departure would also free up more playing time for Kevin Knox and somewhat relieve the big man glut in the front court. It will make the team worse in the present, but it is worth it for a late first-round pick. GO
Bobby Portis, Wayne Ellington, Reggie Bullock, Taj GibsonAll these players have some level of value and are on nonguaranteed contracts past this year. They should be traded for anything another team has to offer. Portis, Ellington and Bullock provide shooting, while Gibson is a good defensive big man who can help a playoff team. It is not realistic to expect anything better than a late second-round or conditional pick. There's a chance there are no takers for any of the players, but the team should listen. GO
Elfrid Payton
I don't think the Knicks can trade Payton unless they are blown away with an offer, which is extremely unlikely to happen. He is the only true point guard on the roster who can consistently get into the lane and make smart passes to get his teammates easy shots. He is not a star, but his presence helps the younger players develop, which is crucial for the future of the franchise. STAY
Dennis Smith Jr.
I am so down on Smith that I would trade him for just about anything of value. The problem is I don't think anyone will even make an offer. Smith needs to figure things out and prove he is someone who doesn't hurt the team when he is on the floor. GO
Julius Randle
While Randle has shown some improvements since Mike Miller took over as interim head coach, his profile is not of a winning player. He will never be a good defender, and he isn't a good enough decision maker to run the offense through. He can be a helpful microwave scorer for someone, but that doesn't provide enough value considering he has two years of guaranteed money on his contract at over $20 million a year. He is not compatible with Mitchell Robinson since neither can spread the floor, which means he needs to go if the Knicks can pull it off. (They won't be able to.) GO
Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina
Neither Knox nor Ntilikina has played well enough to warrant an offer from another team that would provide more value than their potential to figure things out. If another team does offer a first-round pick of some kind, I would be willing to listen, but it is unlikely to happen. Knox's lack of intriguing tools outside his jumper is concerning, and Ntilikina seems more likely to be an off-ball defensive specialist than a point guard right now. STAY
Damyean Dotson
If Dotson can get his shooting from behind the arc to where it was last season (36.8%) and continues to play rugged on-ball defense, he could prove valuable to someone looking for a two-way wing. Odds are there aren't a lot of suitors, but if one exists the Knicks should pull the trigger since he will be a restricted free agent next offseason. GO
Allonzo Trier
Unable to get off the bench and on the last year of his contract, his future does not appear to be in New York, despite his scoring potential. GO
Ignas Brazdeikas
Given he hasn't played any meaningful minutes with the Knicks, no one will be interested. STAY
Mitchell Robinson
If a team is willing to pony up a potential lottery pick for Robinson, the Knicks need to listen, but the chance that happens is slim to none. If he can ever get disciplined enough to control his fouling and overzealous shot- blocking instincts, Robinson could be a difference-making defensive center. That holds more value than a mid-round draft pick. STAY
RJ Barrett
I have real concerns with Barrett's upside given his lack of explosive athleticism, but he has shown enough to make you think he has a chance to be a winning player long-term. He might not ever become a star, but he has enough tools and basketball smarts to be a good support player. His swing skill will be how much he improves his shooting. STAY
You can find John on Twitter at @Schmeelk for everything Knicks, Giants and the world of sports. You can also find his Knicks Podcast, "The Bank Shot," on WFAN.com, RADIO.COM and all your favorite podcast platforms.
