How Likely Are Knicks to Make Another Trade Amid Anunoby Surge?
The New York Knicks have looked terrific since trading OG Anunoby on Dec. 30: the team is not only undefeated in five games with the former Toronto Raptor in the lineup but they've won emphatically, the average margin of victory in the latter four coming by at 24 points.
Naturally, Knicks observers are wondering: what's next?
Brad Penner, USA TODAY SPORTS
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report had an answer in his latest, which offered a probability on a 10-point scale over the chance of every NBA team making a deal before the Feb. 8 trade deadline. The Knicks' blurb stressed patience, as Buckley gave the Knicks only a 3-of-10 shot of further bartering.
"The Knicks have the assets and upside to remain in the star search, as one more high-end player just might complete this club's championship puzzle." Buckley wrote. "It's looking more and more like they won't find that star player ahead of the deadline. New York might be best off sticking with what it has after shelling out two rotation regulars for OG Anunoby, a perfect fit for this roster. "
If the Knicks were to make a move, Buckley suggests they could look to shore up the interior game behind Isaiah Hartenstein while Mitchell Robinson continues to heal. A Wednesday report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN hinted that there's "optimism" that Robinson could return before the end of the year after the league rejected the Knicks' request for a Disabled Player Exception.
As constructed, the Knicks (22-15) will be back in action on Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center (8:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
