Though not winning the NBA Finals, the New York Knicks proved that they are at least true championship contenders with their win over the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 NBA Cup Final.
They reached the conference finals for the first time in 25 years last season, and with this newly retooled roster and head coach Mike Brown, they’ve shown even more potential with their mid-season tournament victory.
But on the heels of winning the NBA Cup, the Knicks could still make some moves to ensure their roster is strong enough to win four-straight playoff rounds. Most recently, they were rumored to be in the market for a trade adding rotational player that could take them over the hump.
“I do think they’re going to sniff around for one other guy,” Zach Lowe said on the Bill Simmons Podcast. “It’s hard for them to do it because of how close they are to the second-apron, but I think they’re going to sniff around for one other bench guy.”
Knicks Core Proved Worthy In NBA Cup Final, But Could Still Make A Trade
Players throughout the Knicks’ roster made statements in their NBA Cup win over the Spurs. While Tyler Kolek had the best performance of his career, the core of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mitchell Robinson proved to be a strong enough group that can close out clutch games.
With that sentiment, along with the recent shaky play of new additions Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, is why Lowe believes the Knicks could be on the hunt for another piece in the now-arrived trade market.
“I don’t think it’s their five, I think it’s their six,” Lowe said of the aforementioned players. “Clarkson’s been up and down, Yabusele didn’t even play tonight. [Landry] Shamet, every time he seems to cement a role in somebody’s rotation, something happens and he doesn’t have a role in the rotation anymore. So, I think they’ll sniff around.”
Previously, under head coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks were famously a team with a short rotation, relying on star players to play big minutes rather than hoping guys come off the bench and create a spark.
Now, while the core group remains the most impactful, they at least have some depth, or the chance to add depth, as the Knicks hope to take advantage of their recent NBA Cup win.
Knicks Top Trade Assets
Though it was just one game, it now feels hard to see New York trading Kolek. They are currently dealing with backcourt injuries to Shamet and Miles McBride, and with what he showed against the Spurs, Kolek has the chance to be Brunson’s backup ball-handler.
But still, a trade, whether it be for another guard or forward, could be on the horizon, especially considering the ‘on-off’ performances the Knicks have seen from a decent chunk of their bench.
Giannis Antetokounmpo could still be on the table in a blockbuster trade, but more likely, New York could target someone like New Orleans Pelican’s Herb Jones or Trey Murphy, or, more likely, a player making in between a veteran minimum and the mid-level exception.
Writing for Bleacher Report, Dan Favale highlighted the Knicks’ current top three trade assets, should they choose to make a move before the deadline. He picked their 2032 first-round swap, McBride, and their 2030 first-round swap as the top assets they could use in a trade.
Those assets by no means match up with what other teams have to offer, especially as an Antetokounmpo trade would likely require all three, as well as Towns and likely another starter.
However, if they are in the market for another rotational player, using McBride, or even Shamet, along with a pick or swap, could help the Knicks land someone who’d be asked to do one specific role to ensure their hopes at winning the NBA Finals.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Knicks Trade Rumors Heat Up, ‘Sniffing Around’ After NBA Cup Win appeared first on Heavy Sports.