The New York Knicks have been linked to potential blockbuster trades for All-Star guards Donovan Mitchell and Dejounte Murray over the last year, but FOX Sports NBA insider Ric Bucher believes the team should not target either player before the NBA trade deadline.
The Knicks are having a very strong first half to the 2023-24 NBA season and recently caught fire following a big trade for Toronto Raptors 3-and-D stud OG Anunoby. With this roster being just two games out of the third spot in the East, they seem one big piece away from being a serious title contender this season.
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That is why many around the league believe there is a very real chance they swing another big trade before the Feb. 8 trade deadline. One superstar who continues to be linked to the organization is Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell. However, in a new chat with Sportsnaut, FOX Sports NBA insider Ric Bucher explained why the Knicks may have lucked out when they failed in their trade pursuit for him two summers ago.
“I’m not really sure what the love affair with Donovan Mitchell is, to be honest with you,” he said. “I think he’s a very good player. I think he’s a little bit like Bradley Beal. Really good player, scorer — I heard he’s a great guy — but how close has he got to playing for a championship? Good players can get teams to the playoffs.
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“… Most people look at what happened in Utah and they credit Rudy Gobert as being that guy that gets you to the playoffs. Maybe he doesn’t do anything more than that, but as a regular season guy, he’s the one that makes your team a 50-win team,” he continued, “And New York Knicks fans are all like, ‘We gotta get Donovan Mitchell.’ Where’s Cleveland right now, relying on Donovan Mitchell?”
Malcolm Brogdon a better New York Knicks trade fit than Dejounte Murray?
It seems likely that the organization will add more pieces for the stretch run and playoffs. Over the last month, Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray has been linked to the team, and some in the front office are reportedly very high on the former San Antonio Spurs star.
However, Bucher believes Malcolm Brogdon — a suggestion by Sportsnaut — would be a better fit for the New York Knicks than the one-time All-Star.
“I hadn’t heard [Malcolm Brogdon’s name] connected with the Knicks, but I think that’s a great name and a great piece for what they have,” he said. “Let’s face it. Tom Thibodeau is not an offensive coach. And when Jalen Brunson goes to the bench, their offense just grinds to a halt. They would be very well served having a second playmaker.
“I would say Malcolm Brogdon would do more for them than Dejounte Murray would. Watching Atlanta; at one point Murray and Trae Young were supposed to be boys and it doesn’t look like that now. There was a game recently where it came down to the end of it, Trae came to get the ball and Dejounte just ignored him. And went [for] a pull-up jumper, airball, end the game, and it was a really bad look.”
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It will be interesting to see how the Knicks approach the next few weeks with the team playing so well as they grow into serious contenders in the East.