Mike Brown sending a message to Knicks front office ahead of trade deadline

The New York Knicks picked up a much-needed victory Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets to snap a tumultuous four-game losing streak. This franchise was at a crossroads heading into this matchup after an embarrassing loss to the Dallas Mavericks. 

Karl-Anthony Towns has been on the trade block ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline, and there were questions about whether this team's culture was broken. Wednesday night, however, was a step in the right direction for head coach Mike Brown's team.

The Knicks achieved their largest blowout in franchise history with their 120-66 win. Brown has sent a clear message to the front office on which players he trusts and which he doesn't. 

Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson are out of Mike Brown's rotation

The Knicks are finally at full strength, and Brown has narrowed down his rotation to eight players, including some spare minutes for Guerschon Yabusele. In addition to the starting five (Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Towns), Mitchell Robinson, Deuce McBride and Landry Shamet are now the three players coming off the bench. 

That means that Jordan Clarkson has fallen out of favor with his head coach. The former Sixth Man of the Year has struggled in January, averaging 6.8 points per game while shooting just 35.9% from the field.

With McBride's and Robinson's spots virtually guaranteed, it's clear that Brown favors Shamet, who is a more tenacious defender and more efficient shooter than Clarkson. Even with the 33-year-old's demotion, Tyler Kolek still remains out of the rotation as well. 

The second-year point guard was a key player in the Knicks' NBA Cup championship and fills a critical need when in form. This group struggles to initiate offense without Brunson, putting up 11.8 fewer points per 100 possessions when the star point guard is out. 

Brown has tried McBride as a primary ball-handler, but it's clear that the fifth-year guard is more effective off-ball. The head coach's decision to keep Clarkson and Kolek out of the rotation, therefore, means that the front office must add another capable offensive initiator to the roster. 

This player must also be a net positive on defense, or else Kolek would likely be a more feasible option for Brown. That is exactly why Jose Alvarado has been mentioned as a target, but the New Orleans Pelicans point guard's limited size might cause the front office to go in a more versatile direction. 

Naji Marshall is a player who could fit that mold. The Dallas Mavericks forward is a very capable pick-and-roll player who could find chemistry quickly with Towns. 

In addition, Marshall has the ability to guard multiple positions at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, giving the Knicks another wing to play behind Bridges and Anunoby. 

Time will tell what Leon Rose decides to do, but this group could use another regular contributor, especially one who will push the starters to stay sharp.