NY Knicks Rumors: 4 potential trades with the Orlando Magic

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Mo Bamba, Knicks. Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports

Knicks Get

Mo Bamba

Magic Get

Frank Ntilikina

NY Knicks add big-man depth/reclamation project with Mo Bamba

In this trade, both teams involved would be taking on a “Failed” lottery pick in hopes that they can develop on their 2nd NBA contract. It might be unfair to label both Mo Bamba and Frank Ntilikina as “Failures”, but they certainly haven’t lived up to their expectations coming into the league.

There are plenty of fans who would love to see Ntilikina thrive as a perimeter defender under Tom Thibodeau and the NY Knicks. The harsh reality is that it’s just hard for him to find consistent playing time, and rightfully so. At this point, we know he’s not going to be the starting point guard. Now with Immanuel Quickley and Derrick Rose in the mix, Ntilikina’s only significant playing time has come when multiple guards are injured.

Orlando could look at add more defense to their perimeter to help out guards Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony, who are much more offensive minded. Ntikilina could find more playing time for them this season and beyond.

For the Knicks, the Harlem native Mo Bamba would give them some center depth they desperately need. Bamba has also struggled to find consistent playing time with the Magic, he’s averaged just over 10 minutes per game this season.

The Knicks have had to turn to Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson while their starting center Mitchell Robinson has been sidelined due to injury. You can’t be upset with how Noel and Gibson have performed, but if the Knicks were to add Bamba it would give them some needed depth. What would happen if Gibson or Noel got hurt?

Bamba’s defense has been more than solid in his limited sample size. From Cleaning the Glass, Bamba’s block percentage ranks in the 90th percentile among all centers. It’s the offense that hasn’t been there for Bamba.

In many ways, Mo Bamba’s career to this point has mirrored Nerlens Noel’s. Maybe Bamba can still develop into an effective rim runner and offensive rebounder, but even if he doesn’t, he could become a terrific interior defender under Tom Thibodeau. Whether or not the Knicks find a hidden gem in Bamba, he’s certainly worth taking a flier on – He’d help in the short-term and potentially the long-term.

Next: The Knicks revamp their offense

NY Knicks</a> are surrounded in trade talks, and for the most part, they’ve been rumored to be buyers ahead of the trade deadline. ESPN insider Brian Windhorst recently said that he’s been told the Knicks are a team to watch on the trade market. <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/16/ny-knicks-3-potential-trades-orlando-magic/2/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX6RhZ24388&feature=emb_title%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">Windhorst said on Sportscenter</a>,</p> <blockquote><p>“They (The Knicks) have three picks in this draft, including a very high second-round pick in the Detroit Pistons’ second-round pick that they own, and the expectation with $15 million in salary-cap space and using one of those picks, is that they intend to add, to try to make sure they can make the playoffs.”</p></blockquote> <p>During preseason, I’m not sure many people thought the Knicks would become buyers at the 2021 Trade Deadline, but here we are. This doesn’t necessarily mean the Knicks are gutting all of the assets they’ve worked hard to accumulate. I think of all the trade possibilities that have floated around the Knicks, the most realistic seem to be ones that keep <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/16/ny-knicks-3-potential-trades-orlando-magic/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/15/ny-knicks-avoid-risk-nba-trade-deadline/">the core roster intact</a>.</p> <p>Typically these are trades for younger players or players in their prime who can contribute now. Players who could potentially have even more room to grow on a new team. One team with an abundance of players who can be lumped into this category is the Orlando Magic.</p> <p>The Orlando Magic were able to put together a nice 2020 season where they made the playoffs as the 8th seed. They had a nice balance of young players and established veterans. They were developing while staying competitive – But now, things have quickly gone south. The Magic have suffered some devastating injuries to their young core and they find themselves currently 14th in the Eastern Conference.</p> <p>There’s a lot of individual talent on the Magic roster, and they would be wise to start retooling and collecting assets for the future as they wait for two of their prospects Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac to get back to full health. The Knicks would be smart to monitor the Magic’s roster situation. Here are 4 different trades with Orlando Magic that could help the Knicks make a playoff push.</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/2021/03/16/ny-knicks-3-potential-trades-orlando-magic/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A New Yorker comes home </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_116409" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/16/ny-knicks-3-potential-trades-orlando-magic/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2017/07/15644035.jpeg"> "NY

<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">Knicks Get</div> <div class="info">Mo Bamba</div> </div> </div> <div class="separator"></div> <div class="team b"> <div class="logo"><img src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/16/ny-knicks-3-potential-trades-orlando-magic/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fmagic.png"/>

<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">Magic Get</div> <div class="info">Frank Ntilikina</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2>NY Knicks add big-man depth/reclamation project with Mo Bamba</h2> <p>In this trade, both teams involved would be taking on a “Failed” lottery pick in hopes that they can develop on their 2nd NBA contract. It might be unfair to label both Mo Bamba and Frank Ntilikina as “Failures”, but they certainly haven’t lived up to their expectations coming into the league.</p> <p>There are plenty of fans who would love to see Ntilikina thrive as a perimeter defender under Tom Thibodeau and the NY Knicks. The harsh reality is that it’s just hard for him to find consistent playing time, and rightfully so. At this point, we know he’s not going to be the starting point guard. Now with Immanuel Quickley and Derrick Rose in the mix, Ntilikina’s only significant playing time has come when multiple guards are injured.</p> <p>Orlando could look at add more defense to their perimeter to help out guards Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony, who are much more offensive minded. Ntikilina could find more playing time for them this season and beyond.</p> <p>For the Knicks, the Harlem native Mo Bamba would give them some center depth they desperately need. Bamba has also struggled to find consistent playing time with the Magic, he’s averaged just over 10 minutes per game this season.</p> <p>The Knicks have had to turn to Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson while their starting center Mitchell Robinson has been sidelined due to injury. You can’t be upset with how Noel and Gibson have performed, but if the Knicks were to add Bamba it would give them some needed depth. What would happen if Gibson or Noel got hurt?</p> <p>Bamba’s defense has been more than solid in his limited sample size. From <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/16/ny-knicks-3-potential-trades-orlando-magic/2/"https://cleaningtheglass.com/stats/player/4443#tab-defense_rebounding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleaning the Glass</a>, Bamba’s block percentage ranks in the 90th percentile among all centers. It’s the offense that hasn’t been there for Bamba.</p> <p>In many ways, Mo Bamba’s career to this point has mirrored Nerlens Noel’s. Maybe Bamba can still develop into an effective rim runner and offensive rebounder, but even if he doesn’t, he could become a terrific interior defender under Tom Thibodeau. Whether or not the Knicks find a hidden gem in Bamba, he’s certainly worth taking a flier on – He’d help in the short-term and potentially the long-term.</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/2021/03/16/ny-knicks-3-potential-trades-orlando-magic/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Knicks revamp their offense </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_115867" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/16/ny-knicks-3-potential-trades-orlando-magic/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2017/07/15618896.jpeg">

<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">Knicks Get</div> <div class="info">Evan Fournier</div> </div> </div> <div class="separator"></div> <div class="team b"> <div class="logo"><img src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/16/ny-knicks-3-potential-trades-orlando-magic/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fmagic.png"/>

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NY Knicks: 4 potential trades with The Orlando Magic

NY Knicks add big-man depth/reclamation project with Mo Bamba

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