The New York Knicks have been playing far better basketball this year than compared to recent seasons. On Friday evening, they completely dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers, holding them to just 81 points. As for New York, second-year player RJ Barrett scored 24 points, connecting on 8-of-19 shots from the field, and rookie Immanuel Quickley once again looked like a star. He finished the night with 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting. It finally seems as if the Knicks have a few younger players that can produce on a daily basis.
Add in Julius Randle and a few solid depth pieces, and the Knicks seem like a team with positive momentum. In addition, they also have a draft capital and player assets they can utilize in a potential trade. The Knicks have recently been connected to Lonzo Ball, but weigh IQ developing at such an astronomical rate, pairing him with an elite shooting guard makes more sense.
That is where Chicago Bulls star score Zach LaVine enters the fold. Reports have indicated that the Knicks are intrigued by LaVine and believe he could be a perfect long-term solution for them, especially when paired with IQ.
Ian Begley of SNY stated about the Knicks’ interest:
At the very least, the LaVine situation is something to keep an eye on between now and the March 25 trade deadline. And it’s something the Knicks are continuing to monitor.
If Chicago decided to engage on LaVine trade talks, the Knicks have five first-round picks over the next three drafts, so they can offer the Bulls significant draft capital. The Bulls, you’d think, would seek another young star in return for LaVine.
LaVine is a 6-foot-5 and 200-pound athlete who is averaging 27 points per game over 35.6 minutes. He’s primarily played at shooting guard, averaging .502 from the field and .397 from beyond the arc. Overall, he is a phenomenal player who would immediately inject an offensive weapon into the Knicks’ starting five. Considering how many power forwards New York currently has, acquiring an elite shooter that has the size to attack the rim is exactly what they need to take a step forward.
However, acquiring LaVine will certainly be costly, but the Knicks’ draft capital might be intriguing. Nonetheless, the Bulls might seek an added player in the deal, so throwing in Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina might get the job done.
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