Immanuel Quickley: New York Knicks' Top Trade Asset Beyond Jalen Brunson?
There are a lot of questions surrounding the future of New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley: the 24-year-old and fourth-year pro is set to enter restricted free agency at the end of the season after he and the Knicks failed to agree to a long-term contract.
In 19 games this season, Quickley is averaging a career-high 15.4 points per game and has played a key role in the Knicks' second unit. It will only be harder to let him walk in free agency, but his value on the trade market may never be higher.
New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley defended by Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
That led Michael Scotto of HoopsHype to label Quickley one of the Knicks' top trade candidates, behind the long-exiled Evan Fournier. One anonymous NBA exec even told Scotto that Quickley "might be New York’s best trade asset besides Jalen Brunson."
"Quickley was offered around $18 million per year in extension talks, league sources told HoopsHype," Scotto notes. "However, Quickley was looking for closer to $25 million annually, league sources said."
The fact that the Knicks have Brunson signed to long-term deal ... not to mention big contracts for other backcourt dwellers like RJ Barrett and Donte DiVincenzo ... makes it hard to justify a $100 million contract to Quickley. If he's considered the Knicks' best trade asset apart from Brunson, it may behoove the Knicks to cash in on Quickley before he hits the market.
But ditching Quickley, in the midst of his best NBA season and fresh off a runner-up finish in the most recent Sixth Man of the Year Award vote, while seeking to build upon the most successful season in a decade might not be the most attractive option for the Knicks. It's a quandary that has slowly snowballed into a problem for the Knicks ... but it's a pretty good problem to have, all things considered.
Quickley and the Knicks (12-7) return to action on Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG/TNT).
