The New York Knicks are almost always discussed as a destination for the big fish at the NBA trade deadline, but with limited draft capital this year, the team could be in the market for a smaller addition to its rotation.
New York already showed it can go toe to toe with one of the premiere squads in the NBA as currently constructed by beating the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup final, and messing with its core by going after a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo could end up doing more harm than good. Acquiring an auxiliary piece to improve the team on the margins is a more likely outcome.
In a recent trade proposal from ClutchPoints’ Jedd Pagaduan, the Knicks acquire a veteran guard for their bench from the New Orleans Pelicans while not giving up any major assets.
Here’s the full trade proposal:
- Knicks receive: G Jose Alvarado
- Pelicans receive: F Pacome Dadiet, G Landry Shamet, 2026 second-round pick (from ORL/DET/MIL), 2027 second-round pick (from Knicks).
Who says yes to this deal? Who says no? Let’s see it through and find out:
Why New York Knicks Make This Trade
The Knicks already have four guards getting minutes but Alvarado, who played his high school basketball in Queens, brings the kind of skillset that can help any contender.
The fifth-year player out of Georgia Tech is a pesky defender at the point who can make threes at a decent clip (37% this season), and he’ll only cost $4.5 million this season and next (he has a player option for 2026-27).
The Knicks would essentially swap Shamet for Alvarado in their rotation and only have to give up a couple of second round picks in the deal (which is a small price to pay for a team trying to win a championship this year). The latter will provide some insurance for the second-year Tyler Kolek, who has had a tremendous couple of weeks filling in for the injured Miles McBride but was shaky against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, December 19.
Why New Orleans Pelicans Make This Trade
The Pelicans (7-22) have one of the worst records in the NBA and will try to recoup any assets they can at the trade deadline. Getting a couple of second-round picks in the next couple of drafts wouldn’t hurt.
New Orleans is looking to build around two of its rookies in center Derik Queen and guard Jeremiah Fears. Alvarado will be a free agent by the time the Pelicans have any chance of competing.
The real test for the New Orleans’ front office will be getting the right package for Zion Williamson, the former No. 1 overall pick who has had trouble staying on the court in his seven seasons with the Pelicans. The forward appears to have increased his value by showing he can come off the bench in his return from a hip adductor strain.
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