Knicks trade idea brings polarizing $70 million center to New York

Jon Conahan

Knicks trade idea brings polarizing $70 million center to New York image

Rumors have indicated over the past few months that the New York Knicks could be interested in adding another big man. The Knicks have done what they've needed to do during the offseason, keeping much of their core intact and looking to make another run to the Eastern Conference Finals next season, with the expectation of getting over the hump. 

However, as the Knicks play next season, there's a very good chance they'll be in the mix to add a player at the trade deadline. 

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Rohan Brahmbhatt of Clutch Points recently proposed an intriguing idea for the Knicks to consider, naming Jusuf Nurkic as a potential option. 

“Nurkic’s presence is especially important for now because the Jazz have several inexperienced frontcourt players still adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NBA. He can anchor defensive schemes, set sturdy screens for developing guards, and keep the offense functional when the game slows down. But by midseason, teams in need of playoff-ready size will almost certainly call.

“Possible suitors could include the Dallas Mavericks, the New York Knicks, or the Sacramento Kings if they want to add a more physical interior presence. For the Jazz, trading Nurkić before the deadline could mean bringing back a late first-rounder or multiple seconds, exactly the type of capital a rebuilding team should be chasing,” he wrote.

As he touched on, there's a possibility that a team could be willing to give up a first-round pick for Nurkic, but it also seems very unlikely that the team would be the Knicks. 

The Knicks don't have enough assets to justify moving on from a first-round pick for a player of his status, unless something goes horribly wrong next season and they have no center depth.

Jon Conahan

Jon Conahan is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. A 2022 Penn State University graduate who majored in journalism, he was also a member of the school's D1 baseball team. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, Heavy and other outlets. Jon makes home in North Jersey, but also resides in Cape Coral, Florida, for parts of the year. He’s an avid fan of the New York Yankees, Miami Dolphins and Milwaukee Bucks.