With the Pistons leading up 118-117 against the Knicks, on Monday night, they found an open three-point look. Malik Beasley hit back-to-back open three-pointers. The first one, with 39 seconds to go, put the Pistons up 121-117, while the second, with six seconds left, put the game away for good at 124-119. The Knicks’ defense was bad down the stretch, putting more pressure on the organization to make some moves at the deadline to improve on that end.
Utah Jazz is the Only Team That Can Help the Knicks Defense
Pistons star Cade Cunningham exploded for 29 points in the second half Monday night. He had 18 in the third quarter. During the final possessions, the Knicks tried to trap him aggressively, but the ball found Beasley for an open look, and the game was over. During the entire time, fans at Madison Square Garden shouted, “Defense, Defense.” But the Knicks are just average on that end of the floor.
This year, the Knicks are 15th in defense, allowing 112.7 points per 100 possessions. Last year, they were ninth, allowing 112.4 points per 100 possessions. At first glance, it looks like a small margin, but watching the games shows liability on the defensive end. They have too many miscues and miscommunications on the defensive end, ending up in open looks. After the game, Josh Hart acknowledged the obvious, saying,
“Defensively, we’ve got to be better. We’ve just got to be better there.”
How the Jazz Can Help Knicks’ Defense?
The New York Knicks will be one of the more active teams at the trade deadline, looking to find a big man who can help them on the defensive end. The challenge for the Knicks is they also need scoring depth.
Their big tradable contract is Mitchell Robinson. If they trade him for a big man, they lose the chips for making a trade for scoring depth. As always, head coach Tom Thibodeau is riding his most trusted players. As a result, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart play 36+ minutes each. Those three are in the top 10 in the league, with Bridges first with 38.8 per game, and Hart second at 37.5 per game. OG is eighth with 36.4 minutes per game.
Enter the Utah Jazz, the only team in the league that can provide the Knicks with two players, a center, and scoring depth, for Robinson’s contract. The Jazz can send Walker Kessler and Jordan Clarkson to the Knicks, helping New York fill the two most glaring issues. Kessler is a young center who can grow with the team, and he has a cheap contract of $2.9 million this season. Clarkson will make $14 million this year.
The problem is, there will be plenty of teams trying to get Kessler at the trade deadline. The Knicks will have to give up most of their remaining picks, and probably a young player like Tyler Kolek. Their 2024 rookie point guard is better served on another team, where he can grow.
Are There Other Options for the Knicks?
The Knicks can try and look at other centers out there. The problem is, if they use Robinson’s contract for a center, they will have fewer assets to try and get some depth at wing and guard spots. The Knicks desperately need some depth so that their three main players can reduce their minutes.
The Blazers, for example, can send Robert Williams III. But they cannot send another player who will help the Knicks’ depth. Nikola Vucevic from Chicago is too expensive, and he is a liability on defense. If they work with the Charlotte Hornets, they can get into the Nick Richards sweepstakes, or a package of Richards and Cody Martin.
Regardless Kessler is by far the best option. He averages 2.5 blocks per game and 11.4 rebounds. Plus he is only 24 years old, fitting with the Knicks’ timeline moving forward.
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