The Knicks pulled off one offseason trade already and they may not be finished.
Per Fred Katz of The Athletic, the Knicks are exploring trade options centered on small forward Cam Reddish, a former lottery pick acquired from the Hawks in January.
This news follows the trade agreement between the Knicks and Pistons, in which New York cleared cap space by sending guard/forward Alec Burks and center Nerlens Noel (and picks) to Detroit, as we relayed here.
Obviously, moving Reddish would presumably allow the Knicks to free up more money, as they make a run at Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson in free agency. As of now, the Knicks are the frontrunners in landing Brunson, reportedly with a near-max contract.
Reddish, 21, is 6-foot-8 and averaged a career-low 6.1 points in 15 games with the Knicks this past season. He missed some time with injury, but never really seemed to fit under coach Tom Thibodeau.
Just how badly the Knicks want to move Reddish, though, seems to be determined.
“Sources say the Knicks had been open to calls about the 22-year-old they acquired in January,” Katz wrote. “There has been some interest. When a young, 6-foot-8 athletic wing becomes available, someone will at least shoot (Knicks president Leon Rose) a text, even if it may be difficult to recoup the value New York got for him six months ago.”
In other words, the Knicks hardly seem desperate. As Katz mentioned, Reddish is still viewed as a young player with upside. And a full training camp in New York may serve him well.
But as teams so often do at this time of the year, the Knicks are keeping their options open, exploring ways to improve things and get into the mix for Eastern Conference contention.
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