Although they are second in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks’ 25-15 record is not as good as the team probably expected at this point in the season. While they have been very good on offense in 2025-26, they have regressed defensively under new head coach Mike Brown.
It would not be surprising if the front office looked to tweak the roster before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline. And if they do make some additions, it will be for a “depth piece,” according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. Specifically, a veteran guard, or a big man that serves as insurance for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson.
With that in mind, let’s look at five veteran players the NY Knicks could target in the next couple of weeks.
Andre Drummond
While Andre Drummond is far removed from his All-Star years, the 32-year-old is still an above-average big man off the bench. In 20 minutes a night for the Philadelphia 76ers, he is posting close to 10 rebounds (3.4 offensive) a night. While he isn’t a rim protector like Robinson, he offers a similar skillset but with a more polished offensive game and the ability to hit a three on occasion.
Tyus Jones
Veteran point guard Tyus Jones has seen a significant drop in his minutes with the Orlando Magic this season and is reportedly available before the trade deadline. The NY Knicks were happy to add Malcolm Brogdon this summer, but then he suddenly retired before the season started. Jones offers a great replacement for what Brogdon could have brought to the table this season.
Daniel Gafford
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford is one of the best bigs that could be moved before next month’s trade deadline. If the NY Knicks wanted to make a big swing in a trade, he would be a great option. A trade would be difficult to pull off, but if they wanted some strong insurance for Robinson in case he does incur a major injury this season, the seven-year vet brings solid scoring and rebounding, along with elite-level rim protection.
Chris Paul
Another intriguing option that could be had for a very affordable price is future Hall of Famer Chris Paul. The league legend was sent home by the Los Angeles Clippers in the fall after he was open about his frustrations with their awful start to the season.
If the club wants a solid veteran PG who can run the second-team offense, then Paul makes a ton of sense. Furthermore, he brings an impactful veteran voice to the locker room (think Jason Kidd in 2012-13), and the 12-time All-Star finishing his career in New York in a title run is the send-off he deserves.
Grant Williams
While the money side of a deal would make it difficult to complete, an under-the-radar impact option that would come cheap is Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams.
In ways, he is a bigger version of Josh Hart, and NY Knicks fans know how valuable he has been to the team since arriving a few years ago. He is a great dirty work player who does a bit of everything and has had a taste of big-time playoff basketball in a major market during his time with the Boston Celtics.
