Many fans have expressed a desire for the team to move Julius Randle and with some expiring contracts to get rid of, it’s likely that at least one of the listed players won’t be in New York for the 2022-23 season.
If the Knicks want to make some immediate noise in the playoffs, a trade for a bigger name is certainly attainable, but there is also a possibility that New York will remain patient.
Given the spotlight on this team and the desire to finally become relevant again, it’s going to be hard for Leon Rose to decide exactly which path to go down, but with such promising young talent, either situation is a possibility.
It’s been quite some time since the Knicks have had such a wealth of talented young players who are full of such potential, so thinking about trading them isn’t the easiest thing to do.
Unfortunately, if New York finds a player they like, the front office may need to bite the bullet to make that happen.
If that is indeed the case, here is how untouchable (on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most untouchable) each of the young (under 25) Knicks players should be in a trade.
Few people batted an eye when the Knicks drafted a young, undersized guard in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft, but that didn’t last long because Deuce McBride began to wow everyone in the NBA world.
Sure, his big-time games only came in the G League, as he struggled to break the NBA roster despite New York needing a playmaker at the point guard spot. But he turned in a fantastic rookie year at that level, having several jaw-dropping stat lines throughout the campaign.
He still isn’t known beyond the Knicks’ fan base, and given his little time in the NBA, that’s understandable, but with shooting, passing and aggression like McBride offers, he could be a key contributor to any team in the league.
While New York needs McBride, the organization still doesn’t seem to believe in him, and even with a relatively unknown trade worth, he could be thrown into a trade to sweeten a deal.
The Knicks could potentially look to increase his worth by showcasing his skills at NBA Summer League in July, but given his lack of minutes, along with new draft picks and free agents coming in soon, it’s very unlikely that McBride will be in New York for the 2022-23 season.
New York Knicks</a> are quietly putting together one of the best young cores in the NBA. But with some serious needs on this team, they may have to part ways with some of those pieces this offseason.</p>
<p>Many fans have expressed a desire for the team to move Julius Randle and with some expiring contracts to get rid of, it’s likely that at least one of the listed players won’t be in New York for the 2022-23 season.</p>
<p>If the Knicks want to make some immediate noise in the playoffs, a trade for a bigger name is certainly attainable, but there is also a possibility that New York will remain patient.</p>
<p>Given the spotlight on this team and the desire to finally become relevant again, it’s going to be hard for Leon Rose to decide exactly which path to go down, but with such promising young talent, either situation is a possibility.</p>
<p>It’s been quite some time since the Knicks have had such a wealth of talented young players who are full of such potential, so thinking about trading them isn’t the easiest thing to do.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, if New York finds a player they like, the front office may need to bite the bullet to make that happen.</p>
<p>If that is indeed the case, here is how untouchable (on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most untouchable) each of the young (under 25) Knicks players should be in a trade.</p>
<h2>How the New York Knicks should view trade scenarios for these 8 players</h2>
<h3>8. Deuce McBride – 4/10</h3>
<p>Few people batted an eye when the Knicks drafted a young, undersized guard in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft, but that didn’t last long because Deuce McBride began to wow everyone in the NBA world.</p>
<p>Sure, his big-time games only came in the G League, as he struggled to break the NBA roster despite New York needing a playmaker at the point guard spot. But he turned in a fantastic rookie year at that level, having several jaw-dropping stat lines throughout the campaign.</p>
<p>He still isn’t known beyond the Knicks’ fan base, and given his little time in the NBA, that’s understandable, but with shooting, passing and aggression like McBride offers, he could be a key contributor to any team in the league.</p>
<p>While New York needs McBride, the organization still doesn’t seem to believe in him, and even with a relatively unknown trade worth, he could be thrown into a trade to sweeten a deal.</p>
<p>The Knicks could potentially look to increase his worth by showcasing his skills at NBA Summer League in July, but given his lack of minutes, along with new draft picks and free agents coming in soon, it’s very unlikely that McBride will be in New York for the 2022-23 season.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> An in-home replacement for Mitchell Robinson </a>
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<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-128086" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2400,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1389400540.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Jericho Sims" width="3200" height="2400" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1389400540.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1389400540-768x576.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Jericho Sims, New York Knicks. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>7. Jericho Sims – 5/10</h3>
<p>It’s clear to most Knicks fans at this point that the team did a tremendous job in the 2021 NBA Draft. While most of the attention goes towards first-round pick Quentin Grimes, the No. 58 overall pick last year turned in a very solid rookie season himself.</p>
<p>When drafted, most saw Jericho Sims as a tall, rangy center with freakish athleticism. While he does possess that, and it was on full display throughout his rookie year, it was the growth as a defender that really stood out.</p>
<p>While many were impressed with Sims and his play, there are questions about his potential to grow offensively, and while New York may have him pencilled in as the backup center going forward, there is a good chance that he will be thrown into a trade to increase the value.</p>
<p>Given the Knicks’ need for depth at center (as they can’t be relying on Nerlens Noel due to his injuries and Taj Gibson due to his age), Sims is likely going to stick around for a while.</p>
<p>But if a team comes calling and wants him, and the deal makes sense for New York, it would be easy for the Knicks to include him in a package for a player they are seeking.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A soon-to-be free agent </a>
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<a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2022/05/18015742.jpeg">
recent teases on social media have opened the door to him returning</a>, it’s a tough situation to read.</p>
<p>The most likely scenario, if the Knicks don’t want to pay their 2018 second-round draft pick, would be a sign-and-trade. Given his potential as a rim runner and a potentially elite defender, there will be plenty of teams calling New York if this ends up being the case.</p>
<p>Given his status as a pending unrestricted free agent, Robinson is either untouchable if he signs a deal going forward, or he is completely available. But for the purpose of this exercise, which is to see how much the team really likes a player moving forward, we’ve rated him a 6/10.</p>
<p>The Knicks really like the way Robinson plays the game, as he is a tough defender who can help the team through anything. Unfortunately, the lack of an offensive game makes him expendable in today’s NBA. It’s a very, very big possibility that he has played his last game in a Knicks uniform.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 25 pick in 2021 draft </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128090" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1387761363.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Quentin Grimes" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1387761363.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1387761363-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Quentin Grimes, New York Knicks. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>5. Quentin Grimes – 6/10</h3>
<p>Plenty of mock drafts were done before the 2021 NBA Draft, and while none of them saw the Knicks drafting Houston’s Quentin Grimes <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/knicks-nba-draft-2021-knicks-land-quentin-grimes-at-no-25-after-trading-first-two-picks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in the first round</a>, it turned out to be a great selection for New York.</p>
<p>When Grimes was given significant time on the court, he proved to be a lockdown defender and a lethal shooter with a beautiful stroke. In today’s NBA, that’s an amazing combination to possess.</p>
<p>At one point during his rookie campaign, Grimes was one of the hottest shooters in the league, and like the Knicks’ two first-round choices from the year prior, Grimes has an infectious work ethic.</p>
<p>His value likely isn’t as high around the league as it should be due to the little playing time he had in his rookie year, but he is full of potential and a valuable player New York should hold onto for years and years to come.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> RJ's teammate at Duke </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128091" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1377161526.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Cam Reddish" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1377161526.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1377161526-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Cam Reddish, New York Knicks. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>4. Cam Reddish – 7/10</h3>
<p>New York didn’t make the big moves that people expected during this past season, but one move the front office did make that will pay off big time was trading for RJ Barrett’s former Duke teammate, Cam Reddish.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>He didn’t have that much of an impact in his short stint with the Knicks before a season-ending injury, but in patches, he showed why he can be a valuable player going forward, especially under a coach like Tom Thibodeau.</p>
<p>While it’s unlikely that Reddish will find himself a permanent spot in the starting lineup, he will be incredibly valuable to the team off the bench. With his versatility, we could be seeing a future Sixth Man of the Year in Reddish.</p>
<p>There’s also a chance that New York will involve Reddish in a deal for a big-time star, but given that the Knicks gave up assets to acquire him this past January, it’s hard not to see what New York sees, and that’s plenty of potential contributions during the upcoming season.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The point guard of the future? </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128092" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1388257777.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Immanuel Quickley" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1388257777.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1388257777-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>3. Immanuel Quickley – 8/10</h3>
<p>Despite a slow shooting start to the 2022-23 season, Immanuel Quickley improved in almost every way during his sophomore campaign. However, the biggest improvement in his game is the one that should make him virtually untouchable; his playmaking.</p>
<p>While some continue to box IQ in as simply a spark plug sixth man, it’s clear that he has grown comfortable in the point guard role, and given how well he compliments Barrett and Obi Toppin, the starting role should be his to lose for 2022-23.</p>
<p>If the Knicks can find themselves an absolute star in a trade, then Quickley might become available, but similar to Barrett, Quickley has improved all areas of his game since reaching the NBA. New York should gamble on his untapped potential.</p>
<p>Some people from outside the Knicks’ bubble often underestimate his value, but IQ is long, an active defender, an ever-improving playmaker, and a great shooter. Most importantly, he’s a confident hard worker, and that’s exactly what this organization needs moving forward.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A 2020 lottery pick </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128093" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1126,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1390755236.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Obi Toppin" width="1600" height="1126" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1390755236.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1390755236-768x540.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Obi Toppin, New York Knicks. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2. Obi Toppin – 7/10</h3>
<p>In limited opportunities, the former No. 8 overall pick has always attacked with energy, but it wasn’t until the <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/03/25/obi-toppin-final-stretch-determine-julius-randle-future-new-york-knicks/">late-season injury to Randle that we were able to see what Toppin is truly capable of</a>.</p>
<p>Frustrations have been mounting with Randle, and given Toppin’s upside, it’s somewhat likely that he will take over the starting role in 2022-23. Meaning that if the organization does what many expect and trades Randle, Toppin would be almost untouchable.</p>
<p>Toppin certainly needs to work on the defensive side of his game, but with his motor, athleticism, and seemingly improved offensive game, as well as the ability for breathtaking highlight plays at any moment, he complements the rest of the young Knicks roster perfectly.</p>
<p>On the flip-side, New York may look to keep Randle. If that’s the case, given how limited Toppin’s minutes have been when Randle is healthy, he instantly becomes much more tradable. This will be one of the Knicks’ most important decisions this offseason because if they do trade Toppin, they need to be sure that Randle is as committed to making New York a better team as Toppin is.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The face of the franchise </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128094" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2135,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F05%2F1239695362.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, RJ Barrett" width="3200" height="2135" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1239695362.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/05/1239695362-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">RJ Barrett, New York Knicks(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>1. R.J. Barrett – 10/10</h3>
<p>If the Knicks truly want to add a franchise-altering star, some may see it as foolish to label any one player as untouchable, but ‘StarJ’ is a player New York can build around for the next 15 years.</p>
<p>With his length, aggressiveness, and ability to finish at all three levels, the young Duke product hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential as the leader of this team, and most believe that the organization realizes this too.</p>
<p>The hope was that Barrett and Randle would be able to lead this team together going forward, but seeing how well the Knicks played at season’s end being led by Barrett, Toppin, and Quickley, <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/24/rating-untouchable-8-young-knicks-players-trade/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/03/19/rj-barrett-arduous-battle-become-face-new-york-knicks/">it’s clear that the 21-year-old is the future of the franchise</a>.</p>
<p>Given the caliber of star player that New York could trade for right now, it’s likely that none of them would be worth trading Barrett for and that the front office could be looking to pair someone with him.</p>
<p>Given that Barrett’s numbers have steadily improved every year in the league, building this team around his talents makes the most sense. It’s a route that many believe the Knicks should (and will) take.</p>
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