New York Knicks Showing Trade Interest In Key Portland Trail Blazers Talent
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Currently right in the middle of the standings in the Eastern Conference, it seems inevitable that the New York Knicks will be making a move ahead of the trade deadline.
Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose, Cam Reddish, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley remain the five key players being brought up trade talks for the Knicks, but who could this team potentially target and bring back in a trade?
Several names have been tossed around for the Knicks in recent weeks and recently, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that New York have expressed interest in Portland Trail Blazers wing Josh Hart.
Traded from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Portland Trail Blazers last season, Hart has proven to be a versatile talent for Portland that can fill many different roles.
From being a sturdy rebounder to having the ability to defend numerous positions, Hart is absolutely a key secondary talent in this league that could have an immediate impact for a team contending for a playoff spot like the Knicks.
Josh Hart also has a connection to the Knicks due to his relationship with Jalen Brunson. Both Hart and Brunson played together at Villanova and they won the 2016 NCAA Championship together. Not to mention, Ryan Arcidiacono, who is also on the Knicks, was a part of that championship team at Villanova.
In 51 games this season for the Trail Blazers, Hart has averaged 9.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 50.4 percent from the floor. He is only shooting 30.4 percent from three-point range this season, but for his career, Hart has shot 34.3 percent from the perimeter.
What the Knicks offer looks like is unknown at this time, but Portland is searching for answers everywhere other than in their backcourt, which is why players like Obi Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein could be of use to them.
Making $12.9 million this season and having a $12.9 million player option for next season, Hart is absolutely a player that could be on the move ahead of this year’s trade deadline, especially since the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers have also shown interest in him, according to Scotto.
We should expect some changes to the Knicks’ roster ahead of Thursday’s deadline and Josh Hart would surely be a welcomed addition for them as they enter the final stretch of the 2022-23 season looking to make a push for the playoffs.
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