The New York Knicks just landed a big player on Sunday, acquiring Derrick Rose from the Detroit Pistons in a trade that sent Dennis Smith Jr. to Motor City. The New Yorkers are finally making the right steps to be competitive but they could skip a couple of moves by trading for a big player this season.
According to Marc Bregman of the New York Post, the Knicks are now monitoring two big players to bolster their ranks and compete in the Eastern Conference. They didn’t send big pieces in the Rose trade and that could open the door for them to land any of these stars.
The Knicks did not make Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina or any of their first-round picks available in the Derrick Rose trade on Sunday, The Post has learned.
Though Knox and Ntilikina are out of the rotation, the Knicks are saving as many young assets as possible for a future significant deal.
The Knicks — as well as several other teams — are monitoring the situations of shooting guards Bradley Beal and Victor Oladipo. The Knicks (11-15) get an up-close look at both players in a Friday-Saturday back-to-back.
The Knicks face Beal’s Wizards (6-15) Friday in Washington, then host Oladipo and the Rockets (11-13) on Saturday.
Beal always seems a step away from being put on the trading block, and league executives think it’s more a matter of when, not if, he will be dealt.
“Eventually I think the Wizards will [trade him],” one NBA executive said. “They want to treat Beal right. I think Beal will get frustrated enough to ask for a trade and they will accommodate him.”
Bradley Beal is currently struggling with the Washington Wizards, being one of the worst teams in the NBA right now. He has been trying to carry his team but the results haven’t gone in their favor. As for Oladipo, the Rockets have been reportedly looking to trade him before the deadline so the Knicks could be benefited from that situation.
Any of these guys will make a good addition to the Knickerbockers and time will tell what they’re willing to do to unlock negotiations and acquire a big player to join Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, and co.
