It was back in December that the New York Knicks pulled off a blockbuster trade for wing OG Anunoby with the Toronto Raptors.
At that point, it seemed as if the Knicks were still going to make a move or two. They opted to trade R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley in that blockbuster instead of adding a ton of draft assets to the mix.
Now with days to go ahead of the NBA trade deadline, the red-hot Knicks appear ready to make another significant move.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Knicks have shown “legitimate interest” in Charlotte Hornets big man P.J. Washington. The same report indicates that they are not necessarily high on Toronto Raptors forward Bruce Brown as an option.
Knicks forward Julius Randle remains sidelined due to a shoulder injury. Whether that is playing a role in their interest in Washington remains to be seen. But the fit is there.
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P.J. Washington trade makes sense for New York Knicks
A lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, Washington is averaging 13.2 points and 5.2 rebounds on 45% shooting from the field on the season. He’s currently playing under a three-year, $46.5 million contract. This makes Washington a cost-effective option for New York. He can slide in and play both the four and the five in a heartbeat.
At issue here is New York’s unwillingness to include young guard Quentin Grimes in any potential deal for Washington. That could complicate things moving forward.
Since starting the season with a mediocre 17-15 record, the Knicks find themselves at 15-3 in their past 18 games. Acquiring another upgrade over the next few days would seem to make sense.