NBA Trade Rumors: New York Knicks could move Elfrid Payton next?
NBA Trade Rumors: After acquiring Derrick Rose, New York Knicks could move Elfrid Payton next
The New York Knicks had a goal in mind when they acquired Derrick Rose. At least to a certain extent, they wanted to bring some stability to their point guard position. Although, the move for Rose does leave some of the team’s other guards’ future in question.
Assuming that the Knicks plan on re-signing Rose after this season, the Knicks now have two solid potential starting point guards in Immanuel Quickley and Rose. It would be wise for New York to give the bulk of the point guard minutes to those two players moving forward (especially with the way Quickley has looked), which naturally leaves Elfrid Payton‘s future with the team in doubt.
Payton was always viewed as a stopgap for the team and, quite frankly, the team may not need that stopgap anymore.
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If the Knicks indeed feel that way, it wouldn’t be surprising for the team to try and move Payton ahead of next months’ NBA Trade Deadline. If they can get an asset for a player that may not be on the team’s roster next season, there’s no question that New York should move on it.
Payton is an expiring contract and could be viewed as an enticing veteran backup to some other playoff contenders. Payton may not be a starting-caliber point guard for many playoff teams, but he still could provide depth for team’s looking for added insurance in the backcourt.
According to a report from Ian Bagley, that’s exactly the scenario that could be shaping out. And there has been at least one “contender” that has inquired about Payton’s availability, according to this report.
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The Knicks have been a great story through the first quarter of the season and have their hopes of making a true push towards the playoffs. They’ve been making great decisions as a front office and improvement is quietly becoming tangible. How the Knicks will approach the NBA Trade Deadline moving forward, after the Rose acquisition, is difficult to predict but at this point, you kind of have to trust this front office.