New York Knicks: 4 reasons why red-hot Knicks will make noise in playoffs

Josh Hart adds an element that the New York Knicks were missing

I don’t like to be overreactive to NBA Trade Deadline moves, but I don’t think it’s insignificant that the New York Knicks managed to add a valuable contributor to the team for the stretch run. The acquisition of Josh Hart likely won’t be viewed as one of the headlining moves from the trade deadline, but he’s added an element to the team that they were missing.

In the six games with the Knicks, Hart is averaging 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists on 61 percent shooting from the field and 63 percent shooting from 3-point range. Even though those are efficiency numbers that Hart is unlikely to remain at, he’s quickly emerged as the fourth-best player on a team that didn’t have a strong fourth contributor before the trade deadline.

And Hart’s best assets to the team don’t even come on the offensive end. He makes his hay in the NBA on the defensive end of the floor. And his transition to the Knicks has been as seamless as the team could’ve hoped.

Whether he gets credit for it or not, it’s clear that Hart has emerged as a huge trade deadline acquisition for the Knicks.