New York Knicks trade targets: Six under-the-radar candidates | Sporting News

The New York Knicks are reportedly in the market for a superstar trade this summer.

The Knicks have a surplus of draft picks, plus trade-able contracts, and a desirable situation that should put them in the mix if a superstar hits the market.

However, at the moment, there aren’t any clear names for the Knicks to pursue. The Phoenix Suns aren’t ready to break it up, so Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are off the table. Giannis Antetokounmpo seems content giving it another year in Milwaukee. Players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler, and Dejounte Murray don’t seem to fit the bill of the all-in trade the Knicks desire.

While rumors about Paul George leaving the LA Clippers abound, there will be plenty of suitors for him, and it’s unclear if the Clippers will really let him go.

So, without a clear superstar available, it’s possible that the Knicks look to smaller deals to bolster their roster. After all, the Knicks still want to improve their chances at contending for a championship next season.

We broke down six under-the-radar trade candidates for this offseason. We’ll assume that these are players who could be had for draft picks and salary filler and without the Knicks breaking up their core (which we’ll consider Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo).

1. Malcolm Brogdon, PG, Portland Trail Blazers

Brogdon was a hot name at last year’s trade deadline, but the buzz around him has seemingly died down since.

Nonetheless, Brogdon is a veteran PG, on an expiring contract (which pays him $22.5 million this year), in a rebuilding situation in Portland.

Brogdon makes a lot of sense for the Knicks still. New York needs help running the offense when Brunson sits, and while Brogdon isn’t an elite passer, he is perfectly capable as a table-setter who could relieve Miles McBride of some playmaking burden in the second unit.

Brogdon could fill a need as a third scoring option, as he’s capable of getting to his spots and hitting pull-up jumpers and floaters, and he’s a great three-point shooter (39% for his career). He’s also a solid defender who could fit right into New York’s rotation. Those skills would allow him to share the floor with Brunson, giving the Knicks an extra playmaker in close games.

2. Robert Williams, C, Portland Trail Blazers

Another veteran lingering on a rebuilding Blazers squad, health is obviously a major factor for Williams — he missed all but six games last year and has only played over 60 games once in his six-year career.

However, there’s no doubting Williams’ talent and impact when he’s healthy. Williams is a dominant shot-blocker and can be a game-wrecker on defense. While he’s limited as a scorer, he’s an excellent passer — a skill he is hardly recognized for. After a year in which Isaiah Hartenstein’s passing helped elevate the Knicks’ offense, Williams’ passing could also be a tool for Tom Thibodeau to utilize.

With Hartenstein hitting free agency and the Knicks reportedly exploring Mitchell Robinson trades, Williams could make some sense as a replacement for one of the two big men. It would be a risk, given Williams’ health, but the price might never be lower for an impact player.

3. Bogdan Bodanovic, G, Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks may be on the verge of blowing it up this summer, so Bogdanovic could become available.

While the Knicks have greater needs than a sharpshooting guard who offers little else, shooting is still a premium skill in in the NBA, and there’s no doubting that Bogdanovic can put the ball in the basket. It’s easy to imagine Bogdanovic thriving with the Knicks’ fast-paced second unit or benefitting from the kick-out passes that Randle generates. While the 32-year-old isn’t a good defender, he can survive on the floor, as was evident during the Hawks’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.

There may be some concern for the Knicks about Bogdanovic becoming Evan Fournier 2.0 — a player who struggles to see the floor under Tom Thibodeau unless he’s hitting shots at an astounding rate. 

Nonetheless, if the price is right, the Knicks could do worse than adding an elite shooter who could give them a scoring boost off the bench.

4. Khris Middleton, G/F, Milwaukee Bucks

We’ll start out by acknowledging this one seems highly unlikely. If the Bucks were going to move Middleton, it feels like it would be part of a bigger deal that nets them multiple rotation players to keep them in contention. The Knicks don’t (or shouldn’t) offer that.

But just as a thought exercise, Middleton has a lot of the qualities the Knicks need: a wing who can create his own basket, run a pick-and-roll, spot-up, and defend capably. Injuries are an obvious concern (88 total games played the last two years), and Middleton hasn’t been at his peak defensively in years, but he is only turning 33, and is coming off a season in which he averaged 15-5-5 on 49-38-83 shooting. The Knicks lacked a veteran presence last season, and Middleton is playoff-tested and more than capable of taking over in big moments.

Again, it’s hard to imagine the Bucks moving off Middleton for spare parts and draft picks, but from the Knicks’ side of things, there aren’t many high-level wings who could slot as smoothly into their rotation as Middleton.

5. Moses Moody, G/F, Golden State Warriors

Moody has flashed at times with the Warriors, but his opportunities have been limited. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has been open that Moody deserves more minutes, but that he’d also like to see Moody improve his decision-making, shooting, and defensive rotations. The Warriors roster seems in flux, and this summer might be a good time to roll the dice on Moody.

The Knicks could use more size on the wing and Moody adds that (6-foot-5, 211 lb, 7-foot wingspan). He’s shot 36% from three for his career — although he can be a reluctant three-point shooter — and is good at finishing at the rim: 70% in the restricted area last season, per NBA.com.

It might not be the most exciting offseason addition, but Moody has the mold of a solid 3-and-D player and he only just turned 22.

6. Lauri Markkanen, F, Utah Jazz

Okay, we’ll cheat a bit on this last one. Not only is Markkanen a hot trade target this offseason, he’s been discussed as a potential target for the Knicks.

Still, it’s gone a bit under the radar what a good fit Markkanen could be in New York. He’s a spread four who can slide down to small forward in big lineups or move up to center in five-out configurations. He’s not only a sharp-shooter, he’s a 20-points-per-night scorer who doesn’t command the ball as much as someone like Randle. Markkanen can hit spot-up threes, pick-and-pop, or cut to the basket for easy finishes. 

There are some concerns. Markkanen doesn’t play a lot of games; he’s never reached 70 games in a season. While he’s a better off-ball fit than Randle in the Knicks’ offense, he’s not as good of a playmaker. And Markkanen has never been to the playoffs. While that doesn’t mean he’d play poorly if he gets there, it’s not as if the Knicks would be cashing in chips for a proven postseason performer.

Markkanen is admittedly more than an “under-the-radar” target, and the price would reflect that: the Knicks would have to give up a lot to get him. However, despite not being an A-list star, he’s a high-quality starter who could raise the Knicks’ ceiling.