Should the New York Knicks be sellers at the NBA Trade Deadline?

The New York Knicks have a big decision to make as the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline approaches. 

Should the New York Knicks go all in and become sellers at the NBA Trade Deadline? Is It time to deplete the roster and begin a youth movement?

The Knicks have performed well below expectations after they were a surprise team last year as they finished 4th in the Eastern Conference and qualified for the postseason for the first time in seven years. The Knicks are currently in 12th place with a 12-15 record but there is still plenty of basketball to be played as this roster has too much promise and potential for a complete overhaul.

They have a star player in Julius Randle who is fresh off his first all-star appearance, was the recipient of the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, and at just 27 years old, he could be the Knicks franchise player for years to come.

If any player is untouchable on the market it should be Randle. Instead of selling at the trade deadline, the Knicks should focus on bringing in players who complement him. Randle isn’t putting up the outstanding numbers he did last year but he is leading the team in points, rebounds, and assists.

Third-year player RJ Barrett is the team’s second-leading scorer averaging 15 points per game as the Knicks are hoping that he will develop into the elite level scorer they thought he could become when they drafted him. As he continues to build confidence and consistency, it’s just a matter of time until Barrett becomes an offensive focal point for opposing defenses to try and contain.

Another lottery pick for the Knicks who have been playing well lately is Obi Toppin. He has definitely proven that he deserves more playing time and it’s time for head coach Tom Thibodeau to acknowledge giving him more minutes so that he can continue developing. Toppin is already one of the better vertical floor spacers in the league and could be part of the main core and could develop a dangerous trio alongside Randle and Barrett.

Also proving to be a potential foundational player for the Knicks, Immanuel Quickley has more than proved his worth and has been a fantastic coming off the bench. Quickley, who was taken in the same draft as Toppin with the 25th overall selection, has proven to be the steal of that draft class with his exceptional play.

He’s been playing so well, that it’s debatable whether he should be inserted into the starting lineup or continue to allow him to come off the bench. This kid can really shoot it from behind the arc. During his rookie season, Quickley shot a blistering 38.9 percent from downtown. Even though that percentage has dropped as defenders have adapted and catered to neutralizing him as a threat, he can still light it up on any given night.

Quickley also possesses good footwork, can beat defenders off the dribble with a lightning-quick first step, has good length as an incredible on-ball defender, and is capable of creating his own shot as well, and gets to the free-throw line with ease. Derrick Rose rejoined his former coach Thibodeau with the Knicks last season as it has resulted in a career resurgence for the former MVP.

Even though he’s not playing at an MVP level any longer, Rose remains a starting-caliber player and serves as an important veteran presence considering the young guards on the Knicks roster. Rose serves as the perfect mentor for Quickley, Quentin Grimes, and Miles McBride as the Knicks have the right mix of veteran players to bring along the young guys and show them the ropes.

I would strongly disagree with the Knicks being sellers at the deadline but I do believe that there are players on the roster they should try and package together to try and acquire another potential impact player. It has been rumored that the Knicks have Kemba Walker on the trade block and rightfully so.

Even though Walker could also serve as a mentor to the younger guards, it would make no sense to allow him to block the development of one of the younger point guards and allow one of them to have those valuable minutes instead. It also may be difficult to trade him due to his extensive injury history.

The Knicks also have to determine whether to trade Mitchell Robinson. Even though he serves as an elite-level rim protector, Mitchell doesn’t provide much value anywhere else. As a 7-footer, he has never averaged double-digit rebounds, has never averaged double-digit points, and is also a bad free-throw shooter.

Kevin Knox is another player the Knicks should focus on moving. Knox’s production has regressed constantly since his rookie season when he averaged 12.8 points per game but it’s been downhill for him ever since then. His minutes began to decline and so did his production as his status as one of the promising young players to move the franchise in the right direction was downgraded to just a regular role player coming off the bench with limited playing time.

However, there is still hope for the 22-year-old Knox as it appears he is no longer a part of the Knicks’ future plans. Knox has the one attribute necessary for survival in the NBA and that’s having the ability to shoot.

It would seem best if the Knicks would package a few of their players like Robinson, Walker, Knox, or even maybe Alec Burks or Taj Gibson to sweeten a deal and try to push for a player like Myles Turner or Domantas Sabonis.

That would be a picture-perfect scenario if the Knicks could gain a player who could bring value immediately to help make a playoff push instead of settling being sellers at the trade deadline.