A few Knicks notes as we approach three weeks to the NBA trade deadline:
BROWN TOWN
The Pacers’ trade for Pascal Siakam has obvious ramifications for the Knicks. Indiana acquired Siakam from Toronto without giving up Bennedict Mathurin or Jarace Walker. So if the Pacers re-sign Siakam in free agency, they’ll have Tyrese Haliburton, Siakam and strong depth. If it works out for the Pacers, they’ll be a formidable Eastern Conference foe for the Knicks for a few years.
But Wednesday’s trade also has another implication for New York.
The Pacers traded Bruce Brown to Toronto as part of the Siakam deal.
The Knicks, as reported in late June, had significant interest in Brown during 2023 free agency.
New York couldn’t match the deal Brown received from the Pacers (two years, $45 million). The club also had strong interest in Donte DiVincenzo, whom they ultimately signed to a four-year, $47 million deal.
Brown is now in Toronto. If the Raptors make him available, there is significant internal support within the Knicks to pursue Brown.
THIBS ISN’T THE ONLY BROWN FAN
Brown earlier this season told The New York Post that Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has been a fan of his since college.
Logic tells you that Thibodeau would like to pursue Brown. But there are people other than the head coach who see Brown as a potential target.
Trade rules dictate that the Raptors can only trade Brown in a deal rather than including him with other players.
The Knicks could match Brown’s salary by including Evan Fournier in a trade. Toronto would presumably seek trade assets or a young player in a Brown deal. The Knicks can include eight first-round picks in trades; they also could include Quentin Grimes in a Brown deal.
GRIMES INTEREST
New York has been taking calls on Grimes, sources confirm.
The Knicks are seeking another ball-handler/playmaker to bolster their offense, those sources said. They lost some play-making when they moved Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett in the trade to acquire OG Anunoby.
New York is also looking at other positions, but a ball-handler/playmaker is a focus.
Brown played lead guard earlier in his career in Detroit, so he could fill that role in New York.
If the Raptors make Brown available via trade, it’s safe to assume that he’d attract interest from several playoff teams.
So the Knicks would have competition. But if Toronto does field offers on Brown, the Knicks will surely make a call. (The Knicks and Raptors are embroiled in a civil suit filed by New York; the lawsuit would not prevent the teams from making a trade, as evidenced by the Anunoby deal).
The Athletic earlier reported that New York has been fielding calls on Grimes and that the club is seeking a ball-handler/playmaker via trade.
The Knicks are looking at players who are under contract in 2024-25, in part because they could include that player in an offseason trade. But New York isn’t solely focused on players under contract through 2024-25. The club has at least one player on an expiring deal on its radar at the deadline.