Trades and Transactions Thread - 2025 Season Discussion

[HarthorneWingo]

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Why can’t we bring this guy up?
He’s having some monster games in the G league and is precisely the backup to Mikal and OG we need

I’ve been begging us to bring him up.

Let's not forget about Kevin McCullum, Jr. MAYBE he and Okeke might solve a few problems.

Oh I’ve forgotten about McCullers a long time ago. Is there a date for his return?

Anyhow, we’re talking about now.

[Besart19]

actually we are so similar to the 2004 if Mitch will come back stronger and healthier

B.Wallace - Robinson
R.Wallace - Towns
Prince - Anunoby
Hamilton - Bridges
Billups - Brunson

[nykballa2k4]

actually we are so similar to the 2004 if Mitch will come back stronger and healthier

B.Wallace - Robinson
R.Wallace - Towns
Prince - Anunoby
Hamilton - Bridges
Billups - Brunson

We need to find our uncle cliffy off the bench.

[spree2kawhi]

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?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Better hurry! I think he’s the one and he is still very young too.

Ainge would probably ask for Brunson, KAT, and both of Dolan's kidneys in order to make this trade. The tweet say the asking price is HIGH!

I think the reward is high too…

[R-DAWG]

In theory we could probably move Sims+asset to ATL, Capella to DET, then Duran and draft asset from NY to DET

I think that Bagley is an expiring and under the MLE, he could be a buy out candidate.

Bagley is one of the few buyout candidates that makes below the MLE that would fit. He isn’t in the rotation in Was so it’s safe to assume they would grant him a buyout after the deadline if they don’t use his contract to facilitate a deal.

[DaGawd]

Better hurry! I think he’s the one and he is still very young too.

Ainge would probably ask for Brunson, KAT, and both of Dolan's kidneys in order to make this trade. The tweet say the asking price is HIGH!

I think the reward is high too…

we’re out of anything valuable to offer them lol… especially dealing with danny’s trade demands

[R-DAWG]

A year ago I was anticipating the deadline as a chance to add a real difference maker. In retrospect the Detroit trade was pretty meh as both guys took a long time to come around. Burks finally came alive in the playoffs a bit, and of course it's be nice if Bojan didn't get injured. But the saving grace I kept hearing was, we still held back our assets for a big move in summer. Then most of the draft pick assets were used up to get Mikal, who has been up and down. KAT was acquired for 2 starters, as opposed to built up assets. And the roster is top heavy. So now the approaching deadline seems anticlimactic, like we don't have enough left to make a trade that moves the needle. I hope the FO can surprise us on that. But it's going to hurt to see Cleveland and/or Indy acquire someone like Cam Johnson or another comparable rotation player.

The reality is the Knicks are going to be extremely limited in what they can do during the next 3 transaction cycles. Outside of the WAS 1st (which is essentially WAS’s 26 and 27 2nds) and a 2030 swap there isn’t much in terms of attractive draft capital (the 7 2nds we own feature a bunch of lesser ofs and a top 45’protrcted pick).

It will get slightly better during the 2026 offseason when NY can trade their 2026 1st draft night - or use it to get a cost controlled role player, the 2023 1st becomes trade eligible and NY’s 32 and 33 2nds are in play.

I expect that getting Mitchell Robinson back and adding a buyout guy from a limited pool is the likely outcome at the deadline.

Get to the offseason and re-asses. Mitch is a good playoff run away from having a fringe first rd pick value, or becoming a straight expiring contract. There is really only one shot with 2nd rd capital and Mitch’s contract to do something. And come the offseason there is enough wiggle room to have use of the taxpayer mid level.

The combination of the 2nd apron and the Bridges trade was always going to be crippling. It will be for the next 6.5 seasons. This is the reality in which we live in.

[spree2kawhi]

actually we are so similar to the 2004 if Mitch will come back stronger and healthier

B.Wallace - Robinson
R.Wallace - Towns
Prince - Anunoby
Hamilton - Bridges
Billups - Brunson

Yeah, that’s true. On paper this looks like a strong contender. I still think anything’s possible.

[JayTWill]

At this point I wouldn't mind punting on the season and attempting to put the team in a better position to make a move in the off-season. I feel like the team has too many issues to truly contend this year. If someone like Precious isn't considered to be part of the core going forward I would rather trade him now then potentially lose his salary slot this off-season.

For example if I could trade Precious and Payne to OKC for the extra year on Dieng's contract (6.6M) while upgrading the Wizards pick to one of OKC's 1sts this year I would do it. It could force Thibs to play some of the young guys since they are not gaining any experience or value sitting on the bench and it would open up space and money to take a look at someone like Okeke from the G-League. I don't know if Dieng will ever develop into a rotational player but he does fit the physical description of the type of players the Knicks lack right now.

Even if Dieng doesn't show anything going into the off-season they would hopefully have a healthy Mitch, a real 1st, a young player or two that may have shown some promise by the end of this season, along with Dieng's salary and their collection of 2nd round picks to get a true difference maker(s) rather than the collection of 2nds, unproven young guys, end of rotation guys and an injured Mitch that they have to offer now.

[Jalen Bluntson]

actually we are so similar to the 2004 if Mitch will come back stronger and healthier

B.Wallace - Robinson
R.Wallace - Towns
Prince - Anunoby
Hamilton - Bridges
Billups - Brunson

Yeah, that’s true. On paper this looks like a strong contender. I still think anything’s possible.

As much as it has been sketchy around here, we still have a very talented core. Mitch would certainly help make us deeper. I'm not doing the comparison thing but, there is a championship team in there somewhere.

[Jalen Bluntson]

actually we are so similar to the 2004 if Mitch will come back stronger and healthier

B.Wallace - Robinson
R.Wallace - Towns
Prince - Anunoby
Hamilton - Bridges
Billups - Brunson

Yeah, that’s true. On paper this looks like a strong contender. I still think anything’s possible.

As much as it has been sketchy around here, we still have a very talented core. Mitch would certainly help make us deeper. I'm not doing the comparison thing but, there is a championship team in there somewhere.

[StlHawksFan]

A year ago I was anticipating the deadline as a chance to add a real difference maker. In retrospect the Detroit trade was pretty meh as both guys took a long time to come around. Burks finally came alive in the playoffs a bit, and of course it's be nice if Bojan didn't get injured. But the saving grace I kept hearing was, we still held back our assets for a big move in summer. Then most of the draft pick assets were used up to get Mikal, who has been up and down. KAT was acquired for 2 starters, as opposed to built up assets. And the roster is top heavy. So now the approaching deadline seems anticlimactic, like we don't have enough left to make a trade that moves the needle. I hope the FO can surprise us on that. But it's going to hurt to see Cleveland and/or Indy acquire someone like Cam Johnson or another comparable rotation player.

The reality is the Knicks are going to be extremely limited in what they can do during the next 3 transaction cycles. Outside of the WAS 1st (which is essentially WAS’s 26 and 27 2nds) and a 2030 swap there isn’t much in terms of attractive draft capital (the 7 2nds we own feature a bunch of lesser ofs and a top 45’protrcted pick).

It will get slightly better during the 2026 offseason when NY can trade their 2026 1st draft night - or use it to get a cost controlled role player, the 2023 1st becomes trade eligible and NY’s 32 and 33 2nds are in play.

I expect that getting Mitchell Robinson back and adding a buyout guy from a limited pool is the likely outcome at the deadline.

Get to the offseason and re-asses. Mitch is a good playoff run away from having a fringe first rd pick value, or becoming a straight expiring contract. There is really only one shot with 2nd rd capital and Mitch’s contract to do something. And come the offseason there is enough wiggle room to have use of the taxpayer mid level.

The combination of the 2nd apron and the Bridges trade was always going to be crippling. It will be for the next 6.5 seasons. This is the reality in which we live in.

To participate in the buyout market a team essentially has to be $1.1M under their hard cap because that's what a rest of season minimum contract is worth. Is it possible they'd waive Shamet to sign someone? Sure but they really seem like they've wanted to keep him rostered. More than likely, the way they clear the space for a buyout candidate is by making a trade first.

I still think the Knicks are better with Mitch off the bench than any of the C's on the trade market, but if the Knicks were to trade Mitch for Steven Adams, for example, then they'd have enough room for the buyout market.

Other trades that could free up the necessary space:
Mitch+Precious+Sims for Capela
Mitch for Gafford
Mitch for Bagley
etc.

The one thing they all have in common is they're bad deals.

[WargamesX]

I still think the most obvious trade pieces are Precious and Sims because they are expiring and especially in the case of Precious the Knicks have no bird rights and in the case of Sims he’s a third center, Huk makes the odds they pay to keep Sims very low.

They should package those two for a player in the $8 mil range who comes back with at least early bird rights or full bird rights and ideally another year on their contract.

Then from a roster standpoint if Mitch is back the Knicks can use a third wing. I like Pacome but Thibs ain’t playing a rookie, especially in the playoffs.

[sol537]

I still think the most obvious trade pieces are Precious and Sims because they are expiring and especially in the case of Precious the Knicks have no bird rights and in the case of Sims he’s a third center, Huk makes the odds they pay to keep Sims very low.

They should package those two for a player in the $8 mil range who comes back with at least early bird rights or full bird rights and ideally another year on their contract.

Then from a roster standpoint if Mitch is back the Knicks can use a third wing. I like Pacome but Thibs ain’t playing a rookie, especially in the playoffs.

Good post. I wonder what Leon and co. have cooking...

It could very well be that we're going to stand pat due to how hard it is to make trades under the new CBA...

Mitch returns, Precious is off the bench, maybe Hart moves to the bench as the super 6th man and Thibs goes with a 8-man lineup with Deuce getting the back-up PG and SG minutes and Payne being used in extreme emergencies.

[R-DAWG]

At this point I wouldn't mind punting on the season and attempting to put the team in a better position to make a move in the off-season. I feel like the team has too many issues to truly contend this year. If someone like Precious isn't considered to be part of the core going forward I would rather trade him now then potentially lose his salary slot this off-season.

For example if I could trade Precious and Payne to OKC for the extra year on Dieng's contract (6.6M) while upgrading the Wizards pick to one of OKC's 1sts this year I would do it. It could force Thibs to play some of the young guys since they are not gaining any experience or value sitting on the bench and it would open up space and money to take a look at someone like Okeke from the G-League. I don't know if Dieng will ever develop into a rotational player but he does fit the physical description of the type of players the Knicks lack right now.

Even if Dieng doesn't show anything going into the off-season they would hopefully have a healthy Mitch, a real 1st, a young player or two that may have shown some promise by the end of this season, along with Dieng's salary and their collection of 2nd round picks to get a true difference maker(s) rather than the collection of 2nds, unproven young guys, end of rotation guys and an injured Mitch that they have to offer now.

I'm not sure how much more valuable the 29th or 30th pick in the draft is than 2 WAS 2nds likely to convey in the top 35-40. It's more valuable for sure, but it comes at the cost of the taxpayer mid level next summer. I would like to think that the combination of living in New York City and playing an important role on a team that should be top 4 in the conference for the next 2-3 years would be an attractive options for players. I keep brining up Malcom Brogdon for this slot and feel like he would be a perfect fit who could play point guard off the bench with Duce and also has enough size to run 2 guard lineups with Brunson.

But regardless, it's hard to justify punting on a season when you are this all-in, holding onto a top-3 seed in the conference, and don't control your draft pick.

If next year gets off to a slow start, or a key player misses some time, and it's an uphill battle to a top-4 seed in the conference in a year in which you control your pick then it's a different conversation (and frankly, this wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if it happened and we took a "gap year" to put less miles on the players and add another quality rotation piece on an cost controlled contract).

But again, the window is now. For all you know a superteam forms in the east over the summer and conference isn't as wide open for the next 5 years.

[cgf]

Watch on YouTube

Why can’t we bring this guy up?
He’s having some monster games in the G league and is precisely the backup to Mikal and OG we need

Capspace. We can't afford another vet min for another few weeks and he has too much experience to sign to a two-way.

[Jalen Bluntson]

I still think the most obvious trade pieces are Precious and Sims because they are expiring and especially in the case of Precious the Knicks have no bird rights and in the case of Sims he’s a third center, Huk makes the odds they pay to keep Sims very low.

They should package those two for a player in the $8 mil range who comes back with at least early bird rights or full bird rights and ideally another year on their contract.

Then from a roster standpoint if Mitch is back the Knicks can use a third wing. I like Pacome but Thibs ain’t playing a rookie, especially in the playoffs.

Good post. I wonder what Leon and co. have cooking...

It could very well be that we're going to stand pat due to how hard it is to make trades under the new CBA...

Mitch returns, Precious is off the bench, maybe Hart moves to the bench as the super 6th man and Thibs goes with a 8-man lineup with Deuce getting the back-up PG and SG minutes and Payne being used in extreme emergencies.

I'm pretty sure we have Bird Rights for Precious.
Mitch is not starting. Precious is insurance policy for Mitch.

That said, the obvious trade pieces are Precious/Sims/Payne/Shamet and possibly the rookies. Along with whatever picks we have left. The rookies are cost controlled moving forward though and we need that. The other four have no future here.

Brunson/Kolek
Mikal/Deuce
Hart/Dadiet
OG
KAT/Mitch/Hukporti

That's what's on the books next year.

[goterpsbeatduke]

This is the trade I would want to make
Mitch, Simms, Wash 1st (possibly additional seconds) for Valanciunas and Saddiq Bey (works capwise)
I love Mitch but we are too thin to utilize the salary cap space on a high risk high reward type. Val addresses size and Bench scoring and rebounding concerns. Bey is 10 months removed from ACL and could be ready for playoffs but even if he is not gives us a bench piece next season with positional versatility that fits our culture and another Nova guy. Washington regains control of their pick and adds two bouncy bigs to go along with Sarr. I think it makes sense for both.

[The KnicksFix]

This is the trade I would want to make
Mitch, Simms, Wash 1st (possibly additional seconds) for Valanciunas and Saddiq Bey (works capwise)
I love Mitch but we are too thin to utilize the salary cap space on a high risk high reward type. Val addresses size and Bench scoring and rebounding concerns. Bey is 10 months removed from ACL and could be ready for playoffs but even if he is not gives us a bench piece next season with positional versatility that fits our culture and another Nova guy. Washington regains control of their pick and adds two bouncy bigs to go along with Sarr. I think it makes sense for both.

Yo ballboy, stfu and gtfo
…
Welcome

But nah man Val dont play D, we need defense off the bench and to run with the starting 5, tho we could use an extra backup wing (bey)nbadly, we can’t sacrifice Mitch to get him

[JayTWill]

At this point I wouldn't mind punting on the season and attempting to put the team in a better position to make a move in the off-season. I feel like the team has too many issues to truly contend this year. If someone like Precious isn't considered to be part of the core going forward I would rather trade him now then potentially lose his salary slot this off-season.

For example if I could trade Precious and Payne to OKC for the extra year on Dieng's contract (6.6M) while upgrading the Wizards pick to one of OKC's 1sts this year I would do it. It could force Thibs to play some of the young guys since they are not gaining any experience or value sitting on the bench and it would open up space and money to take a look at someone like Okeke from the G-League. I don't know if Dieng will ever develop into a rotational player but he does fit the physical description of the type of players the Knicks lack right now.

Even if Dieng doesn't show anything going into the off-season they would hopefully have a healthy Mitch, a real 1st, a young player or two that may have shown some promise by the end of this season, along with Dieng's salary and their collection of 2nd round picks to get a true difference maker(s) rather than the collection of 2nds, unproven young guys, end of rotation guys and an injured Mitch that they have to offer now.

I'm not sure how much more valuable the 29th or 30th pick in the draft is than 2 WAS 2nds likely to convey in the top 35-40. It's more valuable for sure, but it comes at the cost of the taxpayer mid level next summer. I would like to think that the combination of living in New York City and playing an important role on a team that should be top 4 in the conference for the next 2-3 years would be an attractive options for players. I keep brining up Malcom Brogdon for this slot and feel like he would be a perfect fit who could play point guard off the bench with Duce and also has enough size to run 2 guard lineups with Brunson.

But regardless, it's hard to justify punting on a season when you are this all-in, holding onto a top-3 seed in the conference, and don't control your draft pick.

If next year gets off to a slow start, or a key player misses some time, and it's an uphill battle to a top-4 seed in the conference in a year in which you control your pick then it's a different conversation (and frankly, this wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if it happened and we took a "gap year" to put less miles on the players and add another quality rotation piece on an cost controlled contract).

But again, the window is now. For all you know a superteam forms in the east over the summer and conference isn't as wide open for the next 5 years.

OKC has swap rights with the Clippers right now. Their worst 1st is at #20 at the moment I believe which actually may be too valuable for them to give up for those Wizards 2nds. Looking around the league I can't find many impact players that changed teams making the taxpayer MLE or less and i'm not sure if the Knicks have ever attracted those guys in the Thibs era so i'm not too concerned with maintaining access to the taxpayer MLE. Depending on how much salary they send out and take back in an off-season deal they could still have access to the taxpayer MLE.

Taking a discount to live in one of the most expensive cities in the world while gambling your playing time as bench player on Thibs may not be an attractive situation especially when he is voted the coach players least want to play for these last few years. The difference between the vet min for an experienced player like Brogdon and taxpayer MLE is like $2M before the added expenses of the city.

They had access to the taxpayer MLE last off-season too. I believe it was reported they had some interest in Tyus Jones who took a 1yr/$3.3M vet min to start in Phoenix deep into free-agency rather than a possible 2yr/$10M for the Knicks to come off the bench. The next day the Knicks signed Precious to come back on a 1 yr/$6M deal for whatever reason. 1 player signed for the taxpayer MLE in the entire league, Dario Saric. Brogdon sounds good in theory but an ageing injury prone guard seems like the type the Knicks should stay away from they should probably stay away from the Knicks.

I don't want to make the same mistake as last trade deadline when people ignored all of the injuries and they gave up assets in an attempt to improve the team while imagining that two ageing players would help the team, everyone would could back from injury, Randle would finally show up, perform well in the playoffs and everything would miraculously come together for a finals run.

They just put themselves in a worse position in the off-season while still losing in the 2nd round. People were saying last year was also part of their window that could not be wasted. They would have been better off keeping a young Grimes and their 2nds or trading Fournier's contract for an undesirable contract like D'Angelo Russell's at the time and picking up an asset in return. They could have still gotten to the 2nd round while having more assets to work with in the off-season.

This year they are a top 3 seed with a ton of red flags without a winning record against all the other top 8 teams in the east other than the Bucks and an injury plagued Magic team. I don't think their window is open this year just as it wasn't open last year. They could easily lose in the first 2 rounds depending on the matchup no matter what.