New York Knicks could pivot trade deadline focus to landing this sharpshooter

The New York Knicks already made one splashy addition with the trade for OG Anunoby. But the front office didn’t have to part with any of their most valuable draft picks while holding onto several other tradeable assets to complete the trade.

Because of the Knicks’ desire to compete, in addition to having two first-round picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, there’s a strong sense that team president Leon Rose isn’t done shaking up the roster. With the NBA trade deadline still over a month away on Feb. 8, the Knicks have plenty of time to evaluate their roster and negotiate deals with other teams.

One player who’s long been on the trade block is Evan Fournier after falling out of favor with coach Tom Thibodeau, and his $18.8 million salary could be used to match another key contributor who can crack the rotation.

While Fournier may not be viewed as a valuable trade chip in his own right, packaging his expiring contract with a draft pick or other players on the roster could get trade negotiations started for New York.

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Is Malcolm Brogdon on New York Knicks’ radar?

As Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports notes, the Knicks could become a trade partner for the Portland Trail Blazers, who have sharpshooting guard Malcolm Brogdon up for grabs. Brogdon, 31, does not fit the competitive timeline in Portland, and with Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe on the roster, the Blazers have plenty of competition in the backcourt already.

Brogdon has a cap hit of $22.5 million, nearly a match of what Fournier is on the budget for. Chances are, if the Knicks are willing to toss some draft capital Portland’s way, they could add the eighth-year scorer.

Malcolm Brogdon stats in 2023-24: 15.7 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.5 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 43% FG, 41% 3PT

Brogdon has shot 39% from distance in his NBA career and has never averaged less than double figures in the scoring column for a full season since entering the league as a second-round pick. Despite never being handed anything, Brogdon has always found a way to stay on the floor, and the situation would be no different in New York either.