Trades and Transactions Thread - 2025 Cont'd

[WargamesX]

What could we get for Towns?

[R-DAWG]

I just want to say this again I really like Yabasule for the Knicks as a PF. His advance stats are good, the Knicks can give him guaranteed money or maybe even S&T Precious and some second rounders for him because I don’t think Philly can keep him at all if they plan to pay Grimes. They can go up maybe 1 year but offering him a multi year deal would kill their books.

He works next to KAT and Mitch who should be sharing minutes at the 5 next year.

Knicks can’t receive a player via a sign and trade as it would hard cap them at the first apron. I could see Yaba as a target for the tax MLE, especially if he doesn’t take the full amount. And the fit makes sense, although I’d prefer to use the tax MLE on a rim protector or another play maker. But Yaba might be BPA and there is an argument why that is the way to go.

Other tax MLE targets:
Clint Capela - although I think he gets more money elsewhere - same with Brook Lopez
Malcolm Brogdon
Santi Aldama
Malik Beasley
Gary Trent Jr
Dennis Schroeder

[JayTWill]

Warning - this is a hindsight what if.

random thought... how does this team look if they traded for butler instead of bridges? and then maybe mitch/deuce/precious?/filler for sexton and kessler. Not sure how the salary could have worked in either trades (or maybe it's one big 3-4 team deal?) so maybe not realistic to keep everyone I think. Butler's cost was prob a lot higher in the offseason also and knicks didn't want to "wait".

Brunson
Butler
OG
Randle
Kessler

Divo
Sexton
Hart?
Vet big or Huk

I've been a butler hater but hard to deny how much he impacts a team outside of his own counting stats, especially in the playoffs. that team has 3 advantage creators in brunson, butler and randle - and can let brunson play more off ball. kessler gives thibs the rim defense he needs and your only bad defender is Brunson (randle has played good defense this year especially the playoffs). Team is also huge 2-5

Not sure if those trades are possible without giving up Divo/Hart - though I would be fine including hart in the butler trade. Would then need to fill out the roster a bit especially a backup C if Mitch was traded.

But i think that team could have competed with the best teams this year.

Butler was making nearly $50M this season. Bridges was making $23M. They used Bogey's $19M + filler to match Bridges salary. They would have had to send out much more than Bogey's contract to match Butler's salary. And they definitely wouldn't be able to keep all the guys you listed and make a trade for Kessler and Sexton also. Butler + Sexton + Kessler = $70M. Who are you sending out to match the $70M?

[Richard4444]

I just want to say this again I really like Yabasule for the Knicks as a PF. His advance stats are good, the Knicks can give him guaranteed money or maybe even S&T Precious and some second rounders for him because I don’t think Philly can keep him at all if they plan to pay Grimes. They can go up maybe 1 year but offering him a multi year deal would kill their books.

He works next to KAT and Mitch who should be sharing minutes at the 5 next year.

Knicks can’t receive a player via a sign and trade as it would hard cap them at the first apron. I could see Yaba as a target for the tax MLE, especially if he doesn’t take the full amount. And the fit makes sense, although I’d prefer to use the tax MLE on a rim protector or another play maker. But Yaba might be BPA and there is an argument why that is the way to go.

Other tax MLE targets:
Clint Capela - although I think he gets more money elsewhere - same with Brook Lopez
Malcolm Brogdon
Santi Aldama
Malik Beasley
Gary Trent Jr
Dennis Schroeder

I think Aldama is getting a 80/4 extension or something near it.

The best ring chasers targets that could be gotten for the TMLE/min salary are:

PG: CP3, Schoreder, DLo, RW, Spencer Dinwidie, Brogdon, Tre Jones, Tyus Jones, Lowry
Small Wings: Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard, Timmy, Malik, Gary Trent Jr, Gary Harris (TO), Burks, Seth
Big Wings: Yabusele, Ben Simmons, Nance Jr, Boucher, Lyles, Bojan
Centers: Capela, Adams, Bagley, Kornet, Byrant, Mamu, Mason, Kevon

[kNicksGmen]

Warning - this is a hindsight what if.

random thought... how does this team look if they traded for butler instead of bridges? and then maybe mitch/deuce/precious?/filler for sexton and kessler. Not sure how the salary could have worked in either trades (or maybe it's one big 3-4 team deal?) so maybe not realistic to keep everyone I think. Butler's cost was prob a lot higher in the offseason also and knicks didn't want to "wait".

Brunson
Butler
OG
Randle
Kessler

Divo
Sexton
Hart?
Vet big or Huk

I've been a butler hater but hard to deny how much he impacts a team outside of his own counting stats, especially in the playoffs. that team has 3 advantage creators in brunson, butler and randle - and can let brunson play more off ball. kessler gives thibs the rim defense he needs and your only bad defender is Brunson (randle has played good defense this year especially the playoffs). Team is also huge 2-5

Not sure if those trades are possible without giving up Divo/Hart - though I would be fine including hart in the butler trade. Would then need to fill out the roster a bit especially a backup C if Mitch was traded.

But i think that team could have competed with the best teams this year.

Butler was making nearly $50M this season. Bridges was making $23M. They used Bogey's $19M + filler to match Bridges salary. They would have had to send out much more than Bogey's contract to match Butler's salary. And they definitely wouldn't be able to keep all the guys you listed and make a trade for Kessler and Sexton also. Butler + Sexton + Kessler = $70M. Who are you sending out to match the $70M?

yea i didn't think through all the specifics.

bogs, Mitch, hart, precious sign n trade? that gets to around 60. Divo might need to be included as well then to get to 70. so team would be

Brunson
Butler
OG
Randle
Kessler

Sexton
???

[GONYK]

Warning - this is a hindsight what if.

random thought... how does this team look if they traded for butler instead of bridges? and then maybe mitch/deuce/precious?/filler for sexton and kessler. Not sure how the salary could have worked in either trades (or maybe it's one big 3-4 team deal?) so maybe not realistic to keep everyone I think. Butler's cost was prob a lot higher in the offseason also and knicks didn't want to "wait".

Brunson
Butler
OG
Randle
Kessler

Divo
Sexton
Hart?
Vet big or Huk

I've been a butler hater but hard to deny how much he impacts a team outside of his own counting stats, especially in the playoffs. that team has 3 advantage creators in brunson, butler and randle - and can let brunson play more off ball. kessler gives thibs the rim defense he needs and your only bad defender is Brunson (randle has played good defense this year especially the playoffs). Team is also huge 2-5

Not sure if those trades are possible without giving up Divo/Hart - though I would be fine including hart in the butler trade. Would then need to fill out the roster a bit especially a backup C if Mitch was traded.

But i think that team could have competed with the best teams this year.

Butler was making nearly $50M this season. Bridges was making $23M. They used Bogey's $19M + filler to match Bridges salary. They would have had to send out much more than Bogey's contract to match Butler's salary. And they definitely wouldn't be able to keep all the guys you listed and make a trade for Kessler and Sexton also. Butler + Sexton + Kessler = $70M. Who are you sending out to match the $70M?

yea i didn't think through all the specifics.

bogs, Mitch, hart, precious sign n trade? that gets to around 60. Divo might need to be included as well then to get to 70. so team would be

Brunson
Butler
OG
Randle
Kessler

Sexton
???

That spacing is BRUTAL

[R-DAWG]

I just want to say this again I really like Yabasule for the Knicks as a PF. His advance stats are good, the Knicks can give him guaranteed money or maybe even S&T Precious and some second rounders for him because I don’t think Philly can keep him at all if they plan to pay Grimes. They can go up maybe 1 year but offering him a multi year deal would kill their books.

He works next to KAT and Mitch who should be sharing minutes at the 5 next year.

Knicks can’t receive a player via a sign and trade as it would hard cap them at the first apron. I could see Yaba as a target for the tax MLE, especially if he doesn’t take the full amount. And the fit makes sense, although I’d prefer to use the tax MLE on a rim protector or another play maker. But Yaba might be BPA and there is an argument why that is the way to go.

Other tax MLE targets:
Clint Capela - although I think he gets more money elsewhere - same with Brook Lopez
Malcolm Brogdon
Santi Aldama
Malik Beasley
Gary Trent Jr
Dennis Schroeder

I think Aldama is getting a 80/4 extension or something near it.

The best ring chasers targets that could be gotten for the TMLE/min salary are:

PG: CP3, Schoreder, DLo, RW, Spencer Dinwidie, Brogdon, Tre Jones, Tyus Jones, Lowry
Small Wings: Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard, Timmy, Malik, Gary Trent Jr, Gary Harris (TO), Burks, Seth
Big Wings: Yabusele, Ben Simmons, Nance Jr, Boucher, Lyles,
Centers: Capela, Adams, Bagley, Kornet, Byrant, Mamu, Mason, Kevon

I forgot about Bruce Brown. He is redundant with Josh Hart - but I could see a world where we trade Hart for a center if we can sign Brown for the tax MLE. This kind of move can even open up some breathing room under the apron.

Hart for Daniel Gafford and a protected future 1st?

[WargamesX]

I am going to say it again but next year Towns is going to make $53 million. That is about 35% of the team’s cap space. I blame Thibs for a lot of the team’s dysfunctions, but if KAT doesn’t show anything against the Celtics and look like one of the best players out there. I legit think they should consider moving him now.

[WargamesX]

Knicks can’t receive a player via a sign and trade as it would hard cap them at the first apron. I could see Yaba as a target for the tax MLE, especially if he doesn’t take the full amount. And the fit makes sense, although I’d prefer to use the tax MLE on a rim protector or another play maker. But Yaba might be BPA and there is an argument why that is the way to go.

Other tax MLE targets:
Clint Capela - although I think he gets more money elsewhere - same with Brook Lopez
Malcolm Brogdon
Santi Aldama
Malik Beasley
Gary Trent Jr
Dennis Schroeder

I think Aldama is getting a 80/4 extension or something near it.

The best ring chasers targets that could be gotten for the TMLE/min salary are:

PG: CP3, Schoreder, DLo, RW, Spencer Dinwidie, Brogdon, Tre Jones, Tyus Jones, Lowry
Small Wings: Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard, Timmy, Malik, Gary Trent Jr, Gary Harris (TO), Burks, Seth
Big Wings: Yabusele, Ben Simmons, Nance Jr, Boucher, Lyles,
Centers: Capela, Adams, Bagley, Kornet, Byrant, Mamu, Mason, Kevon

I forgot about Bruce Brown. He is redundant with Josh Hart - but I could see a world where we trade Hart for a center if we can sign Brown for the tax MLE. This kind of move can even open up some breathing room under the apron.

Hart for Daniel Gafford and a protected future 1st?

I still like Yabu for this current team the most.In addition to his game it seems like he has a big personality and this team needs more of that energy.

[R-DAWG]

I think Aldama is getting a 80/4 extension or something near it.

The best ring chasers targets that could be gotten for the TMLE/min salary are:

PG: CP3, Schoreder, DLo, RW, Spencer Dinwidie, Brogdon, Tre Jones, Tyus Jones, Lowry
Small Wings: Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard, Timmy, Malik, Gary Trent Jr, Gary Harris (TO), Burks, Seth
Big Wings: Yabusele, Ben Simmons, Nance Jr, Boucher, Lyles,
Centers: Capela, Adams, Bagley, Kornet, Byrant, Mamu, Mason, Kevon

I forgot about Bruce Brown. He is redundant with Josh Hart - but I could see a world where we trade Hart for a center if we can sign Brown for the tax MLE. This kind of move can even open up some breathing room under the apron.

Hart for Daniel Gafford and a protected future 1st?

I still like Yabu for this current team the most.In addition to his game it seems like he has a big personality and this team needs more of that energy.

On top of that this team lacks a true power forward. Although he's not a rim protector, he's a good defensive player who can compliment KAT in base lineups, with Mitch and Hart off the bench to provide different looks.

[JayTWill]

Knicks can’t receive a player via a sign and trade as it would hard cap them at the first apron. I could see Yaba as a target for the tax MLE, especially if he doesn’t take the full amount. And the fit makes sense, although I’d prefer to use the tax MLE on a rim protector or another play maker. But Yaba might be BPA and there is an argument why that is the way to go.

Other tax MLE targets:
Clint Capela - although I think he gets more money elsewhere - same with Brook Lopez
Malcolm Brogdon
Santi Aldama
Malik Beasley
Gary Trent Jr
Dennis Schroeder

I think Aldama is getting a 80/4 extension or something near it.

The best ring chasers targets that could be gotten for the TMLE/min salary are:

PG: CP3, Schoreder, DLo, RW, Spencer Dinwidie, Brogdon, Tre Jones, Tyus Jones, Lowry
Small Wings: Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard, Timmy, Malik, Gary Trent Jr, Gary Harris (TO), Burks, Seth
Big Wings: Yabusele, Ben Simmons, Nance Jr, Boucher, Lyles,
Centers: Capela, Adams, Bagley, Kornet, Byrant, Mamu, Mason, Kevon

I forgot about Bruce Brown. He is redundant with Josh Hart - but I could see a world where we trade Hart for a center if we can sign Brown for the tax MLE. This kind of move can even open up some breathing room under the apron.

Hart for Daniel Gafford and a protected future 1st?

I can't see a team giving up a decent center for a 6'4 guy that kind of plays the game like a center at times. Hart is not a floor spacer or a great defender. Maybe you could sell Dallas on the idea that he is a facilitator/connector but i'm not sure where Hart fits in with Washington, Marshall, Thompson, Christie etc.

One of Hart's biggest strengths is his rebounding but he doesn't rebound as well as most centers. I'm not sure if the added ball handling is worth trading for and adding a pick on top of it. We got Hart for an unplayable expiring salary and a protected first. I'm not sure if his value has increased to a quality playable expiring + protected first.

[kNicksGmen]

Butler was making nearly $50M this season. Bridges was making $23M. They used Bogey's $19M + filler to match Bridges salary. They would have had to send out much more than Bogey's contract to match Butler's salary. And they definitely wouldn't be able to keep all the guys you listed and make a trade for Kessler and Sexton also. Butler + Sexton + Kessler = $70M. Who are you sending out to match the $70M?

yea i didn't think through all the specifics.

bogs, Mitch, hart, precious sign n trade? that gets to around 60. Divo might need to be included as well then to get to 70. so team would be

Brunson
Butler
OG
Randle
Kessler

Sexton
???

That spacing is BRUTAL

yea it's not ideal with no Divo but the flip side is you have 3 great ISO, ball handling advantage creators along with rebounding. defensively it's very good too with brunson being the only guy teams could try to attack - but with kessler you have elite help/rim protection. and kessler is really the only guy that can't make a 3. butler doesn't take them often but he makes up for it in other ways.

[JayTWill]

yea i didn't think through all the specifics.

bogs, Mitch, hart, precious sign n trade? that gets to around 60. Divo might need to be included as well then to get to 70. so team would be

Brunson
Butler
OG
Randle
Kessler

Sexton
???

That spacing is BRUTAL

yea it's not ideal with no Divo but the flip side is you have 3 great ISO, ball handling advantage creators along with rebounding. defensively it's very good too with brunson being the only guy teams could try to attack - but with kessler you have elite help/rim protection. and kessler is really the only guy that can't make a 3. butler doesn't take them often but he makes up for it in other ways.

4 guys in Brunson, Butler, Randle and Sexton who like to handle the ball a lot while operating inside the arch + a non spacing center + no depth + Thibs lack of offensive creativity seems like a tough hill to climb.

[thebuzzardman]

Hart does a lot of important things for the Knicks, but the Knicks need to upgrade that position - SF. (Since I think OG is the 4)

Hart would improve the bench.

Maybe if Hukporti is truly ready, package Mitch + something, maybe Deuce.


Or, this offseason Knicks focus on improving the bench.
They need better quality than Mitch/Deuce/Payne/Shamet/Precious. Like, some kind of upgrade at 2 or 3 of those slots.

[R-DAWG]

I think Aldama is getting a 80/4 extension or something near it.

The best ring chasers targets that could be gotten for the TMLE/min salary are:

PG: CP3, Schoreder, DLo, RW, Spencer Dinwidie, Brogdon, Tre Jones, Tyus Jones, Lowry
Small Wings: Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard, Timmy, Malik, Gary Trent Jr, Gary Harris (TO), Burks, Seth
Big Wings: Yabusele, Ben Simmons, Nance Jr, Boucher, Lyles,
Centers: Capela, Adams, Bagley, Kornet, Byrant, Mamu, Mason, Kevon

I forgot about Bruce Brown. He is redundant with Josh Hart - but I could see a world where we trade Hart for a center if we can sign Brown for the tax MLE. This kind of move can even open up some breathing room under the apron.

Hart for Daniel Gafford and a protected future 1st?

I can't see a team giving up a decent center for a 6'4 guy that kind of plays the game like a center at times. Hart is not a floor spacer or a great defender. Maybe you could sell Dallas on the idea that he is a facilitator/connector but i'm not sure where Hart fits in with Washington, Marshall, Thompson, Christie etc.

One of Hart's biggest strengths is his rebounding but he doesn't rebound as well as most centers. I'm not sure if the added ball handling is worth trading for and adding a pick on top of it. We got Hart for an unplayable expiring salary and a protected first. I'm not sure if his value has increased to a quality playable expiring + protected first.

That is reasonable. I think if Hart ends up in a situation where he can be the 6th man off the bench for a contender he will make a real impact.

I can see some form of Hart to team X, pick from team X to Tor, Poleti to NY.

I'm really confused on what Toronto is trying to do, and I can see a world where they bought Ingram on the cheap thinking his value would increase going forward. But this kind of move better balances the roster:

Brunson/Bridges/Anunoby/Towns/Poleti

If you sign Bruce Brown - McBride/Brown/Robinson anchor the bench.

Hit on a minimum signing and you have 9 playoff guys.

[Richard4444]

Knicks can’t receive a player via a sign and trade as it would hard cap them at the first apron. I could see Yaba as a target for the tax MLE, especially if he doesn’t take the full amount. And the fit makes sense, although I’d prefer to use the tax MLE on a rim protector or another play maker. But Yaba might be BPA and there is an argument why that is the way to go.

Other tax MLE targets:
Clint Capela - although I think he gets more money elsewhere - same with Brook Lopez
Malcolm Brogdon
Santi Aldama
Malik Beasley
Gary Trent Jr
Dennis Schroeder

I think Aldama is getting a 80/4 extension or something near it.

The best ring chasers targets that could be gotten for the TMLE/min salary are:

PG: CP3, Schoreder, DLo, RW, Spencer Dinwidie, Brogdon, Tre Jones, Tyus Jones, Lowry
Small Wings: Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard, Timmy, Malik, Gary Trent Jr, Gary Harris (TO), Burks, Seth
Big Wings: Yabusele, Ben Simmons, Nance Jr, Boucher, Lyles,
Centers: Capela, Adams, Bagley, Kornet, Byrant, Mamu, Mason, Kevon

I forgot about Bruce Brown. He is redundant with Josh Hart - but I could see a world where we trade Hart for a center if we can sign Brown for the tax MLE. This kind of move can even open up some breathing room under the apron.

Hart for Daniel Gafford and a protected future 1st?

I think Hart is too important to the team. I would be very shocked if we trade him for a no-star player. Besides, he is a good defender and slasher, a good playmaker in transition, and a great rebounder. In addition to all that, he is the best friend of our main player.

[Richard4444]

I am going to say it again but next year Towns is going to make $53 million. That is about 35% of the team’s cap space. I blame Thibs for a lot of the team’s dysfunctions, but if KAT doesn’t show anything against the Celtics and look like one of the best players out there. I legit think they should consider moving him now.

I don't see us trading KAT for depth. Only for another established star.

The issue is that we are very thin in the Center position, and the ideal would be to trade KAT for another star Center. But we don't have enough assets to trade up to a player like Giannis or Jokic/Wemby (if they were available). Only if we get a player such as Bam (better defender and younger, but way worse on offense).

Even if we trade for a player like Durant or Booker, it would be hard for us to balance the roster because we do not have the assets to get another reliable center.

[kNicksGmen]

That spacing is BRUTAL

yea it's not ideal with no Divo but the flip side is you have 3 great ISO, ball handling advantage creators along with rebounding. defensively it's very good too with brunson being the only guy teams could try to attack - but with kessler you have elite help/rim protection. and kessler is really the only guy that can't make a 3. butler doesn't take them often but he makes up for it in other ways.

4 guys in Brunson, Butler, Randle and Sexton who like to handle the ball a lot while operating inside the arch + a non spacing center + no depth + Thibs lack of offensive creativity seems like a tough hill to climb.

yea that part is fair - thibs offense wouldn't have the off ball movement to make up for the spacing issues.

[JayTWill]

I forgot about Bruce Brown. He is redundant with Josh Hart - but I could see a world where we trade Hart for a center if we can sign Brown for the tax MLE. This kind of move can even open up some breathing room under the apron.

Hart for Daniel Gafford and a protected future 1st?

I can't see a team giving up a decent center for a 6'4 guy that kind of plays the game like a center at times. Hart is not a floor spacer or a great defender. Maybe you could sell Dallas on the idea that he is a facilitator/connector but i'm not sure where Hart fits in with Washington, Marshall, Thompson, Christie etc.

One of Hart's biggest strengths is his rebounding but he doesn't rebound as well as most centers. I'm not sure if the added ball handling is worth trading for and adding a pick on top of it. We got Hart for an unplayable expiring salary and a protected first. I'm not sure if his value has increased to a quality playable expiring + protected first.

That is reasonable. I think if Hart ends up in a situation where he can be the 6th man off the bench for a contender he will make a real impact.

I can see some form of Hart to team X, pick from team X to Tor, Poleti to NY.

I'm really confused on what Toronto is trying to do, and I can see a world where they bought Ingram on the cheap thinking his value would increase going forward. But this kind of move better balances the roster:

Brunson/Bridges/Anunoby/Towns/Poleti

If you sign Bruce Brown - McBride/Brown/Robinson anchor the bench.

Hit on a minimum signing and you have 9 playoff guys.

Yeah, the Knicks could trade Hart to use assets to fill a hole elsewhere while getting a cheap Hart replacement in Brown but a contending team could also just save their assets and money and go after Brown.

I do like the idea of getting bigger on the frontline. My biggest issue with Thibs' rotations this year is we didn't see much of KAT at the 4 or OG at the 3 so i'm still unsure where they make their biggest positive impact. I would love to get OG back to the 3 as he is the team best wing defender but many times he is stuck guarding a more traditional 4 because we don't have anyone else with the size for that role and he is the only person in the starting lineup that can provide some kind of weakside rim protection.

The team's defense was great when he was playing primarily at the 3 last year. It wasn't that good when he came back at the end of the season playing primarily at the 4 even with iHart and Mitch on the team. Brunson and KAT are going to be liabilities defensively but I do wonder if it could be mitigated with Mikal's ability to guard 1-3, OG's ability to guard 2-4 and maybe a bigger wing/forward that could maybe guard 3-5 with some ability to protect the rim. I'm just not sure if any player like that would be easily accessible.

The Knicks could grab another 5 and push KAT down to the 4 but i'm not sure how effective it will be as I only saw it for 1 year on another team in a different conference next to possibly the best defensive center in the league with no one as bad as Brunson next to him defensively.

[Jeffrey]

As much as you hate Dennis Schroeder. I would love to have him off the bench for us next year.