Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) – New York Knicks
2: Closer – Alex Caruso
For a Knicks team that has had an incredibly hard time closing out games this season, Alex Caruso would be a great upgrade to the roster. With the Bulls floating in and out of play-in range, Chicago could be a team that decides to be sellers ahead of the deadline, similar to Toronto.
NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson reported that New York and Golden State are two teams to watch for Caruso if he is dealt. Johnson also mentioned that the Bulls’ return for Caruso could be a young player and a pick. Caruso is making $9 million this season and will make $9.5 million in 2023-24 before having a partially guaranteed $3 million (out of $9.9 million) in 2024-25.
Tom Thibodeau would love to have a player like Caruso on the roster. The 28-year-old is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league (although he did get embarrassed by Jalen Brunson). He hasn’t received an All-Defense honor in his six years in the league, but he’s well on his way to adding a couple to his resume. Caruso’s vision on the defensive end is excellent and he is a disruptor on that end of the floor. His playoff experience is an added bonus.
If the Knicks can acquire Caruso at a good price, doing so should be a no-brainer.
Mitchell Robinson</a> underwent surgery on the fractured right thumb that he injured the night before. With no Robinson for three weeks at the least (that’s when he’ll be re-evaluated), the Knicks’ trade deadline plans may now include going after a stopgap big man.</p>
<p>However, there are other needs that the front office needs to prioritize. New York sits in playoff range, but with the second half of the season remaining, a lot can change. If the Knicks want to secure their second postseason berth in three seasons, here are three ways that they could do just that.</p>
<h2>3 ways Knicks can address their major trade deadline needs leading up to Feb. 9</h2>
<h3>3: Shooting – Gary Trent Jr.</h3>
<p>With Evan Fournier rightfully being removed from the rotation after setting the single-season record in 2021-22 for made three-pointers, New York could use the trade deadline to bring in a known three-pointer shooter. All of the team’s offensive weight shouldn’t be placed on the shoulders of Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and RJ Barrett.</p>
<p>All eyes are on the Raptors as Masai Ujiri decides whether or not to make a few moves with players such as OG Anunoby and <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/22/3-ways-knicks-address-major-trade-deadline-needs-trent-caruso-beasley/2/"https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/16/3-raptors-players-knicks-target-trade-deadline-siakam-trent-anunoby/2/">Gary Trent Jr</a>. The Knicks reportedly expressed interest in the former earlier in the season, but the latter would be a big help for New York as a deep threat and on defense as well. Better yet, <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/22/3-ways-knicks-address-major-trade-deadline-needs-trent-caruso-beasley/2/"https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-trade-deadline-one-month-away" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marc Stein</a> (subscription required) reported that Trent is “undeniably” available.</p>
<p>Trent, who is only 24, is making $17.3 million this season and has an $18.6 million option for next season. He’s averaging a career-high 18.6 points and is shooting 36% from three on an average of 7.1 attempts per game.</p>
<p>According to <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/22/3-ways-knicks-address-major-trade-deadline-needs-trent-caruso-beasley/2/"https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2023/01/18/raptors-insider-how-nba-sources-view-raptors-assets-as-trade-chatter-swirls.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Doug Smith of the Toronto Star</a>, “The Raptors would need to ask for a player and multiple picks in return.” As Knicks fans know, New York has the draft capital to get a deal done if that’s the direction that the front office wants to go in.</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/2023/01/22/3-ways-knicks-address-major-trade-deadline-needs-trent-caruso-beasley/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A key defender </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-138494" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/22/3-ways-knicks-address-major-trade-deadline-needs-trent-caruso-beasley/2/"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%2F2023%2F01%2F1454682796.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Alex Caruso" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/01/1454682796.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/01/1454682796-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
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<h3>2: Closer – Alex Caruso</h3>
<p>For a Knicks team that has had an incredibly hard time closing out games this season, Alex Caruso would be a great upgrade to the roster. With the Bulls floating in and out of play-in range, Chicago could be a team that decides to be sellers ahead of the deadline, similar to Toronto.</p>
<p>NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/22/3-ways-knicks-address-major-trade-deadline-needs-trent-caruso-beasley/2/"https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/ranking-value-bulls-trade-assets-deadline-pulls-within-month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that New York and Golden State are two teams to watch for Caruso if he is dealt. Johnson also mentioned that the Bulls’ return for Caruso could be a young player and a pick. Caruso is making $9 million this season and will make $9.5 million in 2023-24 before having a partially guaranteed $3 million (out of $9.9 million) in 2024-25.</p>
<p>Tom Thibodeau would love to have a player like Caruso on the roster. The 28-year-old is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league (although he did get embarrassed by Jalen Brunson). He hasn’t received an All-Defense honor in his six years in the league, but he’s well on his way to adding a couple to his resume. Caruso’s vision on the defensive end is excellent and he is a disruptor on that end of the floor. His playoff experience is an added bonus.</p>
<p>If the Knicks can acquire Caruso at a good price, doing so should be a no-brainer.</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/2023/01/22/3-ways-knicks-address-major-trade-deadline-needs-trent-caruso-beasley/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A player NY has been interested in before </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-138501" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/22/3-ways-knicks-address-major-trade-deadline-needs-trent-caruso-beasley/2/"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%2F2023%2F01%2F1244814038.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Utah Jazz, Malik Beasley" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/01/1244814038.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2023/01/1244814038-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Malik Beasley, Utah Jazz. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
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<h3>1: Bench depth – Malik Beasley</h3>
<p>Simply put, New York’s bench has been atrocious. It hasn’t helped that Cam Reddish has been removed from the rotation altogether as the Knicks work on a trade, so hopefully after the deadline, fans will get to see an improved bench unit.</p>
<p>SNY’s Ian Begley <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2023/01/22/3-ways-knicks-address-major-trade-deadline-needs-trent-caruso-beasley/2/"https://twitter.com/KnicksMuse/status/1613262701710417921" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highlighted Malik Beasley</a> as a player that the Knicks could pursue ahead of the deadline given their previous interest in him. Beasley was traded to the Jazz in the offseason as part of the Rudy Gobert trade and his name has been popping up in rumors. Marc Stein reported that the Cavaliers considered a three-way trade with the Hawks and Jazz that would result in Beasley landing in Cleveland, so it’s looking like Beasley won’t be in Utah for a full season.</p>
<p>The 26-year-old guard is averaging 13.7 points and is shooting 39.9% from the floor and 35.8% from three on an average of 8.6 attempts per game. He, along with Gary Trent Jr., could be the scoring option that the Knicks need off the bench.</p>
<p>Beasley is making $15.5 million this season and has a $16.5 million club option in 2023-24 before he’s set to hit free agency. New York knows all too well how it is to try to do a deal with Danny Ainge and Utah, and that could be what prohibits a trade from going through. Nonetheless, the Knicks need to look into acquiring Beasley as he’d be a welcome sight for sore eyes in the team’s struggling second unit.</p>
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