5 Trade Targets the New York Knicks Should Have Their Eye on

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Kathy Willens/Associated Press

'Tis the season of making wishlists: a basketball, a pair of Kyrie Irving kicks and some better pick-and-roll defense, maybe? It's also the season of making trade wishlists. Who should the New York Knicks be hoping to find under the tree?

Jeff Hornacek's offense relies more on transition hoops and less on three-pointers than most modern NBA teams, but that flowing style has been disrupted by injuries to Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. They are short on fast-break scorers and defensive rebounding, particularly in the backcourt. So whoever New York might bring on should be ready to fill those gaps as the stars rehab and also have the toughness, hustle and defensive chops the Knicks have begun to be known for.

Without being completely outlandish (I want a poooonyyyy and Steph Currrrrryyyyyy and a spaaaaaaaceship and Lebron Jaaaaaames), but without getting too hung-up on the reality of making deals, what rising stars and ironman veterans should the Knicks set their sights on?

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The Chicago Bulls, a dysfunctional eyesore for the first seven weeks of the season, might not be willing to trade while blinded by the starlight of a recent seven-game winning streak.

If reality sets back in, however, the Knicks could persuade Chicago to part with David Nwaba because he is on an expiring contract ($1.3 million) and, well, the Bulls front office has been known to make many questionable decisions.


New York fans might remember the versatile 24-year-old guard from the 15 points, five boards, steal and two blocks he slapped on the Knicks when they fell to the Bulls 104-102 on Dec. 9. Topping that highlight reel was a monstrous swat on Porzingis followed directly by a fast-break slam.

NBA.com writer Sam Smith is billing Nwaba as a "candidate for most improved player." He's averaging 4.6 defensive rebounds, helped no doubt by "his ability to jump, land, restart his jump, and still get lift on his successive jump," which Blog a Bull's Easy Eis noted, as well as 0.8 steals and 8.4 points on 57.1 percent shooting from the field in 24 minutes of play.

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Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lamb is having a breakout season and finally understanding his role, but his team continues to fall short. While the Hornets are only 11-20 and 12th in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks could swipe away their rising sixth man.

Lamb averages 4.2 defensive rebounds per game (tied for 17th in the league for guards), including eight boards on the Knicks alone Monday (not to mention an all-too-easy steal off of Frank Ntilikina followed by a foul drawn on Doug McDermott).

He's logging 14.3 points on 43.1 percent shooting from the field, driving into the paint, attempting 3.3 free throws per game and bringing a spark to both ends of the floor. After playing alongside the fleet-footed, sticky-fingered Kemba Walker, Lamb is also well prepared to fit into a defense-first squad with a fast-paced offense.

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The Los Angeles Clippers wouldn't dare move Lou Williams while they hold out any hopes of making the playoffs because he's having a career year and is one of their only good players who isn't suffering from a severe injury. If the team can't recover from the bang-ups to Danilo Gallinari, Patrick Beverley and Blake Griffin, however, the Clips might look at the 31-year-old's expiring contract differently.

For many seasons—wearing many jerseys—Williams has been a professional scorer off the bench. He's the type of player who makes opposing teams nervous as soon as they see him enter the game in clutch time, the one you know must never be left alone behind the arc but somehow always is at precisely the worst moment.

This season, Williams is averaging 19.8 points per game, as well as 4.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds (2.2 defensive). He averages 50.8 percent shooting from the field in the fourth quarter. He's the kind of player who can make a difference in a playoff run.

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The Memphis Grizzlies took a chance on Tyreke Evans this summer, giving the 28-year-old wing an opportunity to revive his career for the low price of a one-year, $3.3 million contract. And Evans is perhaps the only thing going right for the 9-23 Grizz, so they might swap him while his value is high.

He's scoring 18.2 points on 46.9 percent shooting. The long ball that had once been his nemesis is now dropping at a hearty 41.2 percent, but his offensive style overall suits the Hornacek method: 3.4 on the break (which ranks 13th in the league) and 8.6 points in the paint obtained through hustle and muscle.   

Evans also averages 4.8 rebounds (4.0 defensive) and one steal per game. He unleashed 31 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds on the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier in December. Evans can admirably step into multiple positions, from the point to the 3 spot. If he keeps up this production, he could be a versatile piece to improve the Knicks roster.

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He might only shoot 33.6 percent, but take a look at his plus/minus column. With a plus-5.2, Boston Celtics combo guard Marcus Smart is third on his squad and ranked 28th in the league.

Smart can put up a 20-point game from time to time (he dropped 23 on the Detroit Pistons Nov. 27), but what makes him special is, well, everything else he does on the court.

Sure, he logs a respectable 1.2 steals, but more importantly, Smart presses point guards in transition, he's an expert with a trap and isn't afraid to get physical and test the limits of opponents' cool and referees' forbearance. Because of his relentless harassment, opponents commit the most turnovers when Smart is on the floor.

He's a bit turnover-prone himself, coughing it up 2.7 times per game on average, but he makes up for it with 5.1 sly assists—whether it be a drive-and-dish for an Aron Baynes slam, an inbounds pass for a Kyrie Irving lay-up or an alley-oop to Al Horford on the break.

Would Boston general manager Danny Ainge consider trading Boston's indomitable sixth man? It sounds absurd, but so did trading Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder, and that worked out just fine.

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