Why Not Let IQ Get a Crack at PG?

Immanuel Quickley is set to earn just $2.3 million next season (which is $20+ million less than Malcolm Brogdon and Jalen Brunson).

With the 2022 NBA Draft just a day away, there are a ton of Knicks-related rumors floating around the internets.

The Knicks' interest in Jaden Ivey has been well documented, but New York is far from the only team looking to get their hands on the uber-athletic guard from Purdue. Ultimately, it seems unlikely that Sacramento would settle for the Knicks' best offer, which would center around the No. 11 pick and likely a pair of their young prospects (IQ, Obi, Grimes, Reddish, etc.). Keep in mind, The Athletic reported this week that for the Pacers to move up just two spots (from 6 to 4), Sacramento asked for the No. 6 pick and two two future first-round selections. So you can imagine what they demand from the Knicks. 

The Knicks have plenty of draft capital and young, talented players on rookie contracts, but there is a limited amount of moves they can make before depleting their hard-earned stash of assets. If Leon Rose pushes all his chips into the middle of the table for Ivey, he'd have to be 1,000% certain that the kid is a can't-miss stud.  

Interestingly, according to Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer, "several teams picking behind the Kings are also preparing for Sacramento to select (Iowa forward Keegan) Murray if it remains at No. 4 and the top three picks unfold with no surprises. The Pistons, sources said, have projected a strong confidence that Ivey will be available for them to choose at No. 5 if the Kings stand pat."

So, the Knicks have undoubtedly been in touch with Detroit to find out if the Pistons might be willing to move back. Ian Begley of SNY.tv reported last night that the Knicks have "touched base" with Detroit about the No. 5 pick. Begley adds, "Cam Reddish's name has come up in the conversation and would fit Detroit's timeline." However, Ivey would be a fantastic fit next to last year's No.1 overall selection, Cade Cunningham, so I'd be surprised if the Pistons passed up on Ivey falling into their laps at 5. 

The other name heavily attached to the Knicks in the rumor mill this week isn't a draft-eligible player, but rather a 29-year-old who graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in public policy. Malcolm Brogdon, the former UVA Cavalier and current Indiana Pacer, remains on the Knicks' radar. 

"I think [Malcolm] Brogdon is likely also to move this week…Teams who don't get up to number 4 to get [Jaden] Ivey, I think Brogdon is a real interest to them," said Adrian Wojnarowski. According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, the Knicks are "said to be aggressively exploring scenarios in which it will trade down or trade out of the draft altogether if it can land a starting caliber-point guard such as Malcolm Brogdon." As a guest on Zach Lowe's podcast yesterday, Givony speculated that such a deal might include The no. 11 pick, Obi Toppin and cap filler. 

Now, I'm higher on Brogdon than most, but that's simply way, way too much to give up for an aging, injury-prone combo guard. As I noted last week, Brogdon would be a massive upgrade at the point for New York. The last time he was healthy, in 2020-21, Brogdon averaged 21.2 points, 5.9 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 made three-pointers per game. However, he's appeared in just 65% of his team's possible games over the last five years. And he isn't getting any younger. Giving up two lottery picks for a player that won't dramatically move the needle would be foolish. Such a trade would reek of desperation from the Knicks front office (which may feel their jobs are on the line this season), hoping to make immediate improvement.

The Knicks are also reportedly keeping close tabs on another point guard we've discussed in depth over the past few months. "In forecasting their offseason dealings, the Knicks are said to be targeting roughly $25 million in room to be able to chase Dallas Mavericks point guard Jalen Brunson, and they are expected to find new homes for Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel, among other moves," per Fischer. 

I think the ship has sailed when it comes to Brunson. The Mavs GM and owner have stated publicly they will do what it takes to bring him back. To tempt Brunson to consider leaving a title contender in Dallas, New York would have to start the bidding somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 million over four years, which is probably a bit of an overpay, and doesn't make a ton of sense given where the Knicks are on their rebuild timeline. Furthermore, to clear the cap space necessary to sign Brunson, New York would have to make massive corresponding moves, including shedding the contracts of Alec Burks (who is set to make $10 million next season, Nerlens Noel (on the books for $9.2 million next season) and/or Kemba Walker ($9.2 million). 

When you factor in the draft capital Leon Rose would have to part with in order to get out from under those contracts, the total cost of signing Brunson to a lucrative long-term deal is extraordinarily high. Especially considering the Knicks already have Immanuel Quickley, who will earn just $2.3 million next season (or $20+ million less than both Brogdon and Brunson). 

Over the final five games of the 2021-22 season, IQ averaged 20.0 points, 8.8 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 3.0 made three-pointers. He's posted an impressive 2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio over his first two years in the NBA. Last season, he was one of only five players in the entire league to dish out more than 250 dimes and commit fewer than 100 turnovers. 

Are we absolutely convinced that Quickley can't make something resembling the leap we saw from Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia this past year? Maxey, who shared the backcourt with IQ during their college days at Kentucky, played limited minutes at PG as a rookie but was shoved into the starting lineup in 2021-22 due to the drama surrounding Ben Simmons. Maxey responded by establishing himself as one of the league's more promising young point guards. It would be overly optimistic to expect IQ to play as well as Maxey did last season. Still, at this stage of the Knicks' rebuild, it would behoove them to find out, especially if the alternatives are so incredibly costly, both in terms of cap space and draft capital. 

IQ just celebrated his 23rd birthday last week. 

It’s worth noting that over his first two seasons in the league, Brunson (at age 22 and 23) averaged 8.8 points, 3.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 0.8 made three-pointers, while posting a TS% of 55.1% 

Over his first two seasons, Quickley has averaged 11.4 points, 2.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 1.8 made three-pointers while posting a TS% of 54.9%.

New York should be focusing on ways to unlock IQ’s potential and acquiring players that match his profile, as opposed to giving up assets via trades for high-priced talent which would limit Quickley’s playing time.