Trade Talk: The Knicks Still Need a Point Guard
During the Knicks current three-game losing streak, Alec Burks, IQ and Kemba Walker are a combined 12-of-52 (23.1%) from the floor and 5-of-26 (19.2%) from downtown.
Game Recap: Knicks fall in Salt Lake City, 104-113
Just as they did in LA vs. the Lakers, the Knicks once again built a double-digit lead in the second half through some very impressive play last night in Utah. However, just as they did in Los Angeles, the Knicks found a way to blow the lead and lose the game.
Before we get to the fourth-quarter collapse, let's give some credit to Micthell Robison, who absolutely dominated the paint on both ends of the floor vs. the Jazz (who were playing without Rudy Gobert). Mitch Rob scored 19 points (tying his season-high), ripped down 21 rebounds (tying his career-high) and tacked on two steals and three blocks. Ten of Rob's 21 boards were on the offensive end. He is the first Knick with 19/21/3 in a single game since Patrick Ewing in 1989.
Robinson's 19 points are even more impressive when you consider that the Knicks didn't run a single play for him the entire night. It wasn’t surprising, but still alarming, that no Knick took it upon himself to reward Robinson by feeding him with some paint touches or calling a few plays designed to get him a lob at the rim. That’s one of the many problems that arise from not having true point guard in the lineup., but more on that in a minute.
It's games like these that make you believe in the tantalizing upside of Robinson's potential. Over the last month (a total of 13 games), he's averaging 11.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. Over this stretch, only two other players in the NBA are averaging double-digit points and rebounds to go along with at least 1.5 blocks. Those two players are Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Knicks can offer Robinson an extension before the start of free agency this summer (the most NY can offer is approximately $54 million over four years), and his play over the past few weeks likely means the Knicks front office will at least consider making an offer. On the other hand, his injury history is exceptionally troublesome, he looks lost at the free-throw line, and his inconsistency throughout his career has been maddening. Still, it's safe to assume some team will make Robinson a sizable offer this summer; if the Knicks aren't willing to commit to him long-term, will they consider trading him before Thursday's deadline? (More on that in a second.)
RJ Barrett stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists (vs. just one turnover) in Monday's loss at Utah. However, he shot just 8-of-25 from the floor and 1-of-7 from behind the arc. Julius Randle scored 30 points for the second consecutive game, to go along with six rebounds, five assists, a steal and five turnovers.
Ultimately, however, the Knicks' offense ground to halt late in the game, and the team's lack of a quality point guard once again was too much to overcome. Alec Burks was 2-of-10 from the floor and had more turnovers (2) than assists (1). Worse yet, he was torched all night by Donovan Mitchell, who racked up 32 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
Immanuel Quickley didn't fare much better than Burks, missing seven of his nine FG attempts and committing three turnovers. IQ can't seem to snap out of the nasty slump he's been mired in since mid-January. Over his last 13 games, Quickley is shooting 28.6% from the floor.
The Knicks have lost three straight games, sinking six games below .500. During this current three-game losing streak, the Knicks PG poo poo platter of Alec Burks, IQ and Kemba Walker is a combined:
12-of-52 (23.1%) from the floor and,
5-of-26 (19.2%) from 3-point territory
The trio has dished out a total of just 21 assists in the 170 minutes they have played, while committing 11 turnovers.
Donovan Mitchell lit up whoever was in front of him Monday night. Malik Monk exploded for 29 points on Sunday. And Ja Morant did his thing in the Grizzlies victory over NY at MSG last week.
The Knicks have been outscored by 31 points in the 55 minutes IQ has been on the floor over these past three games.
As I tweeted late last night, it isn't easy to win games in the NBA if you don't have a point guard. As the Knicks have learned the hard way over the …
*checks notes*
… the past two decades.
During this most recent wave of awfulness, Deuce McBride has remained anchored to the bench. I hate to beat a dead horse, but the kid is averaging 28.9 points, 9.6 assists, 6.4 rebounds, 4.3 made three-pointers and 2.1 steals while shooting almost 48% from downtown and 85% from the charity stripe in the G League this season.
Again, what do the Knicks have to lose by giving the kid a shot?
New York has just one more game before the trade deadline, so we'll see if the Knicks can trade Kemba Walker or Alec Burks and how Thibs adjusts his rotation after Thursday afternoon.
Trade Talk:
* As I detailed yesterday, Marc Stein and Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Knicks were considering putting together a package for Portland's CJ McCollum. As I explained in the post, there are legitimate pros and cons attached to McCollum. However, it seems to be a moot point, as multiple outlets are reporting the Blazers are sending him to New Orleans.
As an aside, think back to what Dame Lillard said over the summer. "I want to see our roster improve… We had our conversations about what that might look like. I come into this season with faith that it will happen." Since then, Portland has traded away CJ McCollum, Norm Powell, Robert Covington, Larry Nance and Tony Snell. Somehow, all they have to show for it is Eric Bledsoe, Keon Johnson, Justise Winslow, Nickeil Walker-Alexander, Josh Hart, and a protected first-round pick? If the Blazers had been decisive and parted ways with Lillard as well as CJ, Powell and RoCo this past offseason, they could have rebuilt the franchise with an obscene amount of draft picks and young, rising stars. Instead, they have a 30-year-old Lillard making max money, surrounded by unproven young players. Just a nightmare situation in Portland. It's almost impossible to believe the Portland front office botched this as badly as they have.
* Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported Tuesday: "While New York is active in numerous trade scenarios, Alec Burks has generated the greatest interest from rival teams amid the Knicks' efforts to shed salary." Fished confirmed the Knicks have had exploratory conversations for De'Aaron Fox and added, "As with the McCollum conversations, New York remains active in exploring avenues to bolster its roster and compete for the Play-In tournament while clearing room for Cam Reddish in Tom Thibodeau's rotation."
* According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, the Pistons are among the teams interested in potentially trading for Mitchell Robinson.
* I understand the Nets wanting to make a run with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. If they are all healthy and locked in (and vaccinated), the Nets would be enormous favorites to win an NBA championship. But at what point do GM Sean Marks and company have to accept reality and realize that probably won't happen. It's also important to factor in that both Harden and Irving have the ability to opt-out of their current contacts and become unrestricted free agents this summer.
Remember what Brooklyn gave up to acquire Harden last year:
Jarrett Allen,
Caris Levert,
Taurean Prince,
2021 1st round pick swap,
2022 1st round pick
2023 1st round pick swap,
2024 1st round pick,
2025 1st round pick swap,
2026 1st round pick,
2027 1st round pick swap
The Nets have to be concerned about not only the rest of the 2021-22 season but the rest of the decade. They have Durat locked up, but there is no way they can confidently count on Harden or Irving. Thus, if I'm Brooklyn, I'm trading Harden to Philly for the best Ben Simmons-centric package possible. Simmons is still just 25 years old, and even if he never develops a jumper, he can still score with ease around the basket and is one of the best and most versatile defensive players on the planet.