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ESPN Senior Writer- Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
- Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
- Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
The New York Knicks find themselves in an interesting spot ahead of the 2021 trade deadline. They have more cap space ($15.7 million) than any other team, giving them the ability to add substantial salary in a trade without needing to send any back in return. Besides them, the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder are the two teams in a similar position thanks to their large trade exceptions.
Entering the season, it looked like New York could use cap space to stockpile additional draft picks in exchange for taking on bad contracts. But with Tom Thibodeau's squad currently seventh in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks now a team that could use the deadline to boost their chances of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
Should New York be approaching the deadline as an opportunity to upgrade the roster for the next two months? Or is it better for the Knicks to stick to a long-term plan of building around All-Star Julius Randle, second-year wing RJ Barrett, center Mitchell Robinson and promising rookie Immanuel Quickley?
ESPN NBA analysts Bobby Marks and Kevin Pelton debate how New York should approach the trade deadline.