PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 14: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers controls the ball against Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks during the game at Moda Center on March 14, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. The New York Knicks won 123-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 14: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers controls the ball against Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks during the game at Moda Center on March 14, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. The New York Knicks won 123-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Knicks Rumors

Grade the Trade: Knicks join Lillard deal in latest 3-team idea

by Josh Cornelissen
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New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Patrick Beverley

Apr 14, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) controls the basketball as Chicago Bulls guard Patrick Beverley (21) defends during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Would the Knicks accept this deal?

The New York Knicks have a deep roster, with multiple options available at every position except perhaps power forward. It’s the kind of roster that is versatile enough to win in the playoffs, provided the Knicks can find a second star to pair with Jalen Brunson. The Knicks know this, and they are patiently waiting for the right star to come available; you only get to make that big swing once.

In the meantime, however, their team can use more offensive creation. Brunson shouldered a lot of that load last season, but after him too much of it fell on Julius Randle, and the Knicks would be wise to shift that distribution. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are options, but none boasts the on-ball shot creation of a player like Tyler Herro.

Better yet, similarly to the Miami Heat, the Knicks boast the defensive pieces to slot alongside Herro and insulate the team from his defensive weaknesses. Quentin Grimes, Quickley, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo are all solid defenders to allow Herro to slot on an opponent’s least-threatening option.

If Herro were the long-term goal, the positional imbalance here would likely be an issue. The Knicks are already flush with small guards, and most of the best players on their roster would be guards: Brunson, Herro, Quickley, Grimes, DiVincenzo and McBride, with Hart and Barrett undersized forwards. Building a championship roster with that lack of size could be problematic.

As a stepping stone to another deal, however, it makes a lot of sense. Herro can help the team’s offense now, and then be used in a trade for a player like Paul George, Joel Embiid or Anthony Davis down the line. His presence likely helps the Knicks in negotiations with Quickley on a new deal as well, a pleasant side effect.

Evan Fournier isn’t a ticking time bomb, but this trade allows the Knicks to appease him and still get the benefit of his matching salary. Neither first-round pick is a premium option, and they gain a longer timetable by turning them into a talented young player. It’s not the sort of runaway success that the Brunson signing was last summer, but it’s not a bad deal, either. They keep their core, add a dynamic young shot-creator, and keep their options alive for a trade down the line.

Next: Grade the Trade: Knicks add Paul George in big-time trade proposal

Grade: B+

 

<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">Knicks Get</div> <div class="info">Tyler Herro</div> </div> </div> <div class="separator"></div> <div class="team b"> <div class="logo"><img src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/07/30/grade-trade-knicks-join-lillard-deal-latest-3-team-idea/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fheat.png">
<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">Heat Get</div> <div class="info">Damian Lillard</div> <div class="info">Evan Fournier</div> </div> </div> <div class="separator"></div> <div class="team c"> <div class="logo"><img src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/07/30/grade-trade-knicks-join-lillard-deal-latest-3-team-idea/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Ftrailblazers.png">
<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">Trail Blazers Get</div> <div class="info">Kyle Lowry</div> <div class="info">Isaiah Hartenstein</div> <div class="info">Jaime Jaquez, Nikola Jovic</div> <div class="info">4 firsts, 2 swaps</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>The Miami Heat land their guy, getting Damian Lillard to pair with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. In this construction, they retain much of their rotation as well, with Duncan Robinson and Caleb Martin still in place to fill out the starting lineup. Taking on Evan Fournier is the price of doing business here.</p> <p>The Trail Blazers get two recent first-round picks in Jaime Jaquez and Nikola Jovic, with two picks coming from Miami and two from the Knicks. In New York’s case, they will send the 2024 picks from Dallas and Washington; a rebuilding team like Portland is better served by a pick that will likely roll out into the future a few years, as the Washington pick will. Isaiah Hartenstein is a passable starting center, and Kyle Lowry is on an expiring deal and is a prime candidate to be waived.</p> <p>If this is enough of a return for Portland to say yes, the question swings to the Knicks. Would New York say yes to this deal?</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/2023/07/30/grade-trade-knicks-join-lillard-deal-latest-3-team-idea/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Would the Knicks make this trade? </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_145291" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/07/30/grade-trade-knicks-join-lillard-deal-latest-3-team-idea/3/"https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2023/06/20465960-scaled.jpeg">"New <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span>&nbsp;Grade the Trade: Knicks add Paul George in big-time trade proposal </a> </div> </div> <p><strong>Grade: B+</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">