Even if the New York Knicks were atop the Eastern Conference and playing flawless basketball, a good portion of the fan base would be upset if they passed the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline without making a move.
Great team, good team, average team or bad team, fans like new faces. They like fixing the most minuscule flaw on the roster. They want to get rid of their least favorite player. It’s trade season, baby!
I’ve been speaking with front office executives, coaches and agents over the last few months, trying to get an idea of what the Knicks might do with their roster ahead of the trade deadline. Now, with the date approaching, I want to hear from you.
Last week, I asked fans on X and Bluesky to submit their best, realistic New York trades for me to evaluate and analyze. Some were OK. Some were bad. Regardless, my goal was to bring some perspective as to why a move does or doesn’t make sense for the Knicks.
Here are some of the proposals that made it to my desk. Let’s talk about them.
Trade idea No. 1
Knicks receive: Jeremy Sochan
San Antonio Spurs receive: Guerschon Yabusele and Pacôme Dadiet
What do I think?
This isn’t a bad trade idea only because the Spurs are trading a player they’re not using, and the Knicks are trading two players not making an impact. Also, for next season, New York could get off of $8.3 million in salary as Sochan will be a restricted free agent next year, Yabusele has a $5.7 million player option that he’ll certainly pick up and Dadiet’s $2.9 million club option was already picked up.
I still wouldn’t do the trade, though. Yes, the Knicks need some defensive help, but Sochan offers nothing offensively. I’d rather roll the dice on the development of Dadiet, even if there hasn’t been much optimism about him this season. He’s still only 20. I’d do this deal, maybe, if I could trade Yabusele straight up for Sochan, but the Knicks can’t do that because Sochan makes more money than Yabusele.
Why won’t it happen?
I’m not 100 percent sure that it won’t, because, as I said, New York could shed some salary for next offseason without giving up much production on the court this season. If the Knicks can’t turn either Yabusele and/or Dadiet into a useful player before the deadline, maybe they would consider something like this. However, they’ll likely hold out for someone who can make an impact for as long as they can.
Trade idea No. 2
Knicks receive: Precious Achiuwa
Sacramento Kings receive: Pacôme Dadiet
What do I think?
The “Big Sneeze” back to the Big Apple????
While I enjoyed my time covering Achiuwa, I’m not a fan of a reunion in this scenario. In about the same minutes per game, Achiuwa’s numbers in Sacramento are slightly better than they were in New York last year. While he dominated the Knicks last week, Achiuwa is one of those guys who often bites off more than he can chew when given ample opportunities. Yes, he’d be a fine third center. However, the Knicks clearly didn’t want to bring back Achiuwa, who signed a vet minimum deal with the Kings before the season, after last year’s Eastern Conference finals run.
I’m not opposed to New York moving on from Dadiet, but I wouldn’t do it for Achiuwa. I’d rather gamble on Dadiet figuring some stuff out next summer than having Achiuwa on ice for the playoffs. Current third-string center Ariel Hukporti might be a better defensive option for what the Knicks need if push came to shove.
Why won’t it happen?
Again, I’m not 100 percent sure that something like this wouldn’t happen because New York could use another body in the frontcourt. I just wouldn’t do this move.
Keon Ellis might make sense for the Knicks, but not in this reader-submitted trade. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
Trade idea No. 3
Knicks receive: Keon Ellis
Kings receive: Pacôme Dadiet and a (top-8) protected 2026 first-round pick via Washington Wizards
What do I think?
I see where your head is at, but this is a no from me.
For starters, while that Wizards pick will very, very likely become two second-round picks, they’ll probably be solid second-round picks. I’m not giving up two good second-round picks for Ellis, who can’t get consistent burn on a bad Kings team. Sacramento can have a different second-round pick, but not the Wizards’ pick. Additionally, Knicks head coach Mike Brown didn’t play Ellis much when he was manning the sideline for the Kings. There’s probably something to that.
Ellis is a solid defender with good activity. He’s also been a good 3-point shooter every season before this one, but he’s a skinny 6 feet 4 and doesn’t offer much in terms of ballhandling and creation. The Washington pick is just too much for his skill set, in my opinion.
Why won’t it happen?
If the Knicks were to move that Wizards pick, I believe it would be to bring in someone more of a difference-maker than Ellis would be. That pick would be used as a legitimate sweetener — and I say that because New York doesn’t have much good draft capital to move — to try to get someone like, let’s say, Ayo Dosunmu from Chicago before Ellis.
Trade idea No. 4
Knicks receive: Alexandre Sarr
Wizards receive: Miles McBride, Guerschon Yabusele, Pacôme Dadiet, a (top-8) protected 2026 first-round pick via Washington and a future second-round pick
What do I think?
I think you’re a Knicks fan.
In all seriousness, New York’s decision-makers should very strongly consider this deal. Sarr would help with the interior defense now, make it easier to move on from Mitchell Robinson in the future and also add some much-needed athleticism and youth. All of that said, there’s no way the Wizards would consider it. Sarr, the No. 2 pick in 2024, is having a really good season for a terrible team. The 20-year-old has shown some real flashes that should make Washington fans excited for his future. Sarr and Trae Young should be fun together next season and going forward.
Washington getting its first-round pick “back” doesn’t really do much for the franchise because it’s not going to lose this pick unless malpractice takes place. It’s top-8 protected. As long as the 10-win Wizards make sure they stay on this trajectory, they will have their first-round pick next season and send New York two second-round picks instead.
Why won’t it happen?
It won’t happen because Washington currently has no incentive to move on from Sarr and isn’t really in danger of losing its first-round pick. Now, if this pick were, like, top-1 protected, maybe we’re having a different conversation. It’s not, though, so it won’t happen.
Trade idea No. 5
Knicks receive: Saddiq Bey
Pelicans receive: Guerschon Yabusele, Pacôme Dadiet and a (top-8) protected 2026 first-round pick via Washington
What do I think?
Bey could be a rotation player for the Knicks, but I’m not sure he checks the most critical boxes for New York.
The 26-year-old forward hasn’t been efficient most of his career, isn’t a great perimeter defender and isn’t a playmaker off the dribble. Bey — a hard worker who would fit in nicely in New York’s locker room, and not just because he went to Villanova — likes his buckets.
Now, as Knicks fans recently learned, Bey can have some huge performances. He flirted with a 30-point first quarter against New York just a few weeks ago. He’s the type of player who, on the right night, could win a team a playoff game or two. So, there’s that.
However, I just see Bey as the forward version of Jordan Clarkson with lower efficiency. He can be a solid player, but I’m not sure he fills the voids the Knicks have.
A counterargument would be that New York isn’t getting anything from the players it would be trading, which is true. While I know the Knicks are focused on this season and getting to the final round of the playoffs, that Wizards pick could turn into two good players — if New York drafts well — once it converts into second-round picks.
Why won’t it happen?
This is another one of those proposals where I see the vision, but I’d be surprised if New York gave up that Washington pick for a forward lacking efficiency, defense and ballhandling. Use a different second-round pick or two, and I think it makes more sense from the Knicks’ perspective.