Mailbag Time!

Should the Knicks consider trading for Zach LaVine or Jimmy Butler?

With the next few weeks in the NBA universe expected to be highly entertaining and potentially landscape-shifting, let's open up the mailbag and see what's on your minds…

🏀 Joe from Astoria starts us off by asking: 

"Hey TB, what would be your ideal scenario for NY on draft day? Any players you think would be a great fit??"

Okay, so as we know, the Knicks have two first-round selections (Nos. 24 and 25) and one pick in the second round (No. 38). 

The first important point to note is that the Knicks may seriously consider trading at least one of their first-rounders for several reasons. 

The Knicks are a win-now club and have, at least for the moment, plenty of depth. And coach Tom Thibodeau has historically been hesitant to lean heavily on rookies. Moreover, first-round elections have guaranteed salary slots if they are on your roster. The  No. 24 overall pick has a cap hold of $2,833,800. The cap hold for the No. 25  pick is $2,720,040.

As we've discussed previously, assuming the Knicks bring back OG, Bogey and iHart, they will be dangerously close to the second apron.

Leon Rose and company have not been afraid to make moves on draft day. In 2022, the Knicks traded the 11th overall selection to OKC for three later picks (to clear out cap space and sign Jalen Brunson). In 2021, they traded the No. 19 pick to Charlotte for a conditional 2022 selection.  

So, I certainly wouldn't be shocked if they kicked the can down the road and traded a 2024 pick for a future first-rounder.

On the other hand, locking a promising player into a rookie-scale contract is often good business. This NY front office has made several terrific picks in the 20s. They snagged Quentin Grimes and Immanuel Quickley at #25 in back-to-back years (trading back both times to acquire additional draft capital).

Assuming NY stays put this year, I'll throw out the names of two players I'd love to see them walk away with: Isaiah Collier and Ryan Dunn.

Collier entered USC last season as an elite five-star recruit that some projected as a top-5 pick (he was rated as the number one overall prospect for the 2023 class by both ESPN and Rivals). However, he didn't meet expectations during his freshman season at SC, with the Trojans going 15-18 and failing to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

The 6-4 Collier averaged 16.3 points by relentlessly attacking the rim off the bounce, but his jumper is still a work in progress. He shot 33.8% from downtown, 67.3% from the free-throw stripe and 37.8% on two-point jumpers.

His assists numbers (4.3 APG) were far lower than expected, but it's important to note that his teammates shot just 23.3% on Spot-Up three-pointers coming from Collier passes out of the pick-and-roll. The kid has excellent court vision and can make every pass you want. 

Most mocks have him landing in the mid-to-late teens or early 20s, so it would be surprising if he fell to #24. However, the Knicks should 100% scoop him if he is still on the board when they are on the clock. 

Not only would they be taking "the best player available," but NY also needs a backup PG. Having Collier back up Jalen Brunson for a couple of seasons and slowly learning the league would be ideal.

Dunn is nowhere near the scorer, passer or offensive force that Collier is, but he is arguably the best and most versatile defender in this draft.

He is listed at 6-foot-7 and possesses a massive 7-foot-2 wingspan. Dunn, who was born and raised on Long Island (Freeport), worked out for New York earlier this month at the team's practice facility. Most mocks have him pegged as a late first or early second-round pick, with plenty of sites predicting he lands in NYC, which makes sense. The Knicks have established a clear culture under Thibs, which preaches defense and physicality. Dunn certainly checks both boxes. 

As for the second-rounder, New York would either look for a draft-and-stash candidate who would spend next year overseas or someone they envision spending a season in the G-League on a two-way deal. A trio of names I'd keep an eye on are Baylor Scheierman out of Creighton, Cam Spencer from UCONN or Kansas' Kevin McCullar Jr. Of course, the Knicks could cause a significant stir by nabbing Bronny James. 

🏀 Beans from Brooklyn is up next:

"First off, f*ck the Celtics… Alright, with that out of the way, I saw that the Bulls are trying to trade Zach LaVine again. If the Knicks didn't have to give up too much, would he be worth adding?"

We've known for a while that Chicago is willing to part ways with Zach LaVine. In years past, there have also been reports that the Knicks were a potential trade partner. However, I have been adamant that it would be a colossal error.