The offseason trade market has seen several teams make the necessary adjustments to become more competitive. Coming off an impressive postseason run, the New York Knicks have certainly been among the teams looking to get better.
This offseason has been an interesting one for the Knicks. After firing Tom Thibodeau, New York’s offseason saga was driven by the pursuit of a new coach, rumors of trades, and the need for reinforcements.
The team acquired roster upgrades, most notably the signings of Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele. Their search for a coach was also fruitful, having hired Mike Brown.
The Dallas Mavericks, on the other hand, haven’t made many moves. Aside from D’Angelo Russell‘s signing, the Mavs are largely unchanged, which presents an intriguing outlook for their future.
With Anthony Davis leading the team next season, the Mavs are strong. Their big man depth also inspires confidence. But if there was a way to improve upon this aspect of their rotation, would the Mavs consider making a trade?
This notion was entertained by Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell, proposing a three-team trade featuring the Knicks, the Mavs, and the Hawks. Here are the trade details:
Proposed Trade Details
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, Vit Krejci
New York Knicks Receive: Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Caleb Martin, 2030 second-round pick (DAL, via PHI), 2032 second-round pick (DAL)
The Atlanta Hawks are mentioned in this trade proposal to facilitate the move between the Knicks and the Mavericks. With the role of taking on Martin’s salary to balance Karl-Anthony Towns‘ incoming cap hit on Dallas, the Hawks walk away with a veteran, along with a few second-rounders.
This trade does have a significant impact on the Knicks and the Mavs, however. Let’s explore how this proposal would affect the two major teams involved.
The Mavs Acquire Another Star Big Man
A trade of this nature would have massive implications for the Dallas Mavericks, as currently constructed. While the departure of Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington would have an impact on their overall big man rotation, the potential pairing of Towns and Davis may be worth investing in.
Towns was one of the best players on the Knicks’ roster last season. For the regular season, the big man notched an average of 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds while being one of the best floor spacing bigs in the game.
In addition to his regular season outings, the 29-year-old played a massive role in dictating success for New York in the postseason. Often anchoring the offense for the team, Towns was a significant contributor in every sense.
Despite this, the Knicks’ big man drew a lot of criticism for his lack of defensive effort, even being blamed for the team’s failures and shortcomings in the postseason.
While Towns’ defensive output leaves more to be desired, if he joins the Mavericks, this would effectively be counterbalanced by Davis’ tremendous two-way ability.
With Davis anchoring the defense, Towns’ shortcomings become less relevant, allowing the big man to dominate on the offensive front. This could also help offset Kyrie Irving’s absence and boost offensive output.
As constructed, the Mavs are primed to be a competitive side in the West. With the addition of Towns, they would be considered title contenders.
The Knicks Add Necessary Roster Depth
The Knicks had a formidable starting lineup last season, and under Tom Thibodeau, they also played a very limited rotation for the better part of this season. But with a new head coach taking over, this is expected to change.
In this regard, the addition of a veteran guard like Klay Thompson, along with stable big men in Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington, could prove to be quite beneficial.
Considering how capable New York’s wing rotation is, Thompson would more likely come off the bench. At this stage in his career, this could be a worthwhile change. With averages of 14.0 points and 3.4 rebounds, the 35-year-old would be significantly more effective against second units.
For the big man rotation, with Towns on the way out, the Knicks could consider Washington for a starter’s role. Given that the offense goes through Jalen Brunson for the most part, Washington’s role would primarily be to stretch the floor and play tough defense on opposing big men.
With an average of 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game on perimeter shooting splits of 38.1%, the 26-year-old is a very capable starting big man.
Gafford could also carve out a space for himself in the starting rotation. Although the Knicks currently feature Mitchell Robinson as their starting center, Gafford is arguably a better player overall.
His athleticism allows him to do the same things Robinson does, while also having more of an offensive upside. Last season, the Mavs’ big man notched an average of 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds. When also considering his average of 1.8 blocks per game, he certainly brings a lot to the table.
This Trade Is Highly Improbable
As beneficial as this trade could be for both teams involved, the impact of this trade on the Knicks, in particular, could be largely positive.
The addition of players like Gafford and Washington gives the team a lot of depth in its frontcourt. Considering the fast-paced, high-octane brand of offense Mike Brown likes to play, they may be the ideal big man pairing for the team.
But the downside of this trade also lies in how difficult it would be for the Mavs to part ways with their big men. Gafford has been viewed very favorably for his ability to contribute, and Washington is a mainstay in the team’s rotation.
When also considering how relegating Dereck Lively II to the bench to accommodate for Towns’ arrival would impact his development, the Mavericks would be better off not doing this deal.
Similarly, the Knicks are also highly unlikely to part ways with Towns, despite the rumors suggesting otherwise. On any given day, Towns is one of the best big men in the league. Giving him up after such a successful playoff campaign would be nothing short of preposterous.
