Knicks Could Emerge As Keldon Johnson Suitor

The New York Knicks already made one major trade during the 2023-24 NBA season, which has catapulted them up the standings in the Eastern Conference. But, that doesn’t mean they will sit out the action ahead of the trade deadline on Thursday.

New York is on the hunt for players to fill specific needs on the roster. Parting ways with Immanuel Quickley created the need for a shot creator in the backcourt, someone capable of running the offense when Jalen Brunson is resting on the bench.

It wouldn’t hurt for the Knicks to find more depth at forward, as injuries to Julius Randle and OG Anunoby have left them dangerously thin. Josh Hart and Precious Achiuwa have stepped into their roles in the starting lineup, but it has left Tom Thibodeau turning to only one player, Jericho Sims, who is taller than 6’5”.

If there were a way for the Knicks to address all of those needs at once, Leon Rose would likely jump at the chance. Armed with a ton of assets, New York is in a position to make a trade, whether it is a big one or a small one.

They have been connected to plenty of players in recent weeks, with Malcolm Brogdon and Jordan Clarkson being the most oft-mentioned. Bruce Brown, Dejounte Murray and Daniel Gafford have also been mentioned as potential targets for the Knicks.

But, NBA insider Sam Quinn of CBS Sports has suggested another potential target for New York; San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson. In a piece detailing what every Western Conference team should be aiming to accomplish ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline, Quinn discussed the Spurs possibly moving Johnson.

“It seems unlikely that any of the older veterans would net much from contenders, but what about Keldon Johnson? He seems like a possible “Knicks bench scorer” solution, especially since he’s big enough to play forward unlike most of their targets. The Spurs won’t trade Johnson for the sake of trading him, but the fact that he’s fallen out of the starting lineup suggests that he’s at least available for the right price,” Quinn wrote.

Johnson would check a lot of boxes for the Knicks, possessing the size to play several positions on the floor. It would be interesting to see if he could return closer to the 39.8 3-point shooting percentage he showed in the 2021-22 season with a better supporting cast around him in New York than the two sub-34.5 percent seasons he has followed it up with.

The 2019 first-round pick has shown he can be a reliable go-to scorer, a role the Knicks could put him in with their second unit. His assist numbers have increased every season of his career, providing some hope he could run the offense for spurts if need be.

His descending yearly salary and youth would certainly fit the mold of what the Knicks are looking for. On their search ahead of the NBA trade deadline, New York wants to ensure the player they acquire is signed for multiple seasons so they can be included in a deal, if need be, for a superstar over the offseason.

Johnson would certainly fill New York’s need for a shot creator, but would his acquisition be enough to help the second unit get into sets whenever Brunson is on the bench? It would be a huge risk, and based on what San Antonio would likely seek in return for him, the Knicks would be better off looking elsewhere.