So, aside from Felton, Iman Shumpert and maybe Chris Copeland, the Knicks don’t really have anything to offer an opposing team in a trade. But I will let Glen Grunwald figure out all that stuff. To this point, he’s done a pretty good job.
The guy they need to go after is Will Bynum of the Detroit Pistons. Bynum is a 30-year-old combo guard who gets to the rack and can score. He’s a better-than-advertised passer and 3-point shooter
He also has a reputation for barely playing through the first three quarters and lighting it up in the fourth quarter. Back on Dec. 26, Bynum scored 26 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Pistons nearly stole a victory in Atlanta.
That’s probably the high point of the season for Bynum, but not the only bright spot. On Dec. 28, he made fools of Norris Cole and Mario Chalmers, scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and helped the Pistons pull off an improbable 109-99 victory over Miami.
Best of all? He just became expendable in Detroit.
With the acquisition of Jose Calderon – a guy the Pistons may try to keep – Bynum is probably the fourth point guard behind Brandon Knight, Rodney Stuckey and Calderon. Bynum also will be a free agent this summer, so the Pistons may be inclined to flip him on the cheap, just to get something in return.
From what I’ve seen, he could make a lot of sense in orange and blue.
Another guy who would make a lot of sense for the Knicks is Sebastian Telfair of the Phoenix Suns. Like Bynum, Telfair will be a free agent after this season and I just so happened to spend a lot of time with him when he made his first visit to Barclays Center.
That night, Telfair told Michael Scotto of RealGM that playing for the Knicks or Nets would be “a dream come true.”
Hmmm.
Telfair hasn’t fulfilled the lofty expectations that followed him from Brooklyn. But he has become a mature, dependable reserve guard. And he’s nowhere near the knucklehead that his cousin Stephon Marbury was. Again, if faced with the prospect of losing Telfair for nothing, the Suns may be inclined to move him. Goran Dragic and Kendall Marshall are the future in the desert.
The last guy that may be worth mentioning, albeit briefly, is Aaron Brooks of the Sacramento Kings.
Kings PG Aaron Brooks and GM Geoff Petrie
With Isaiah Thomas, Tyreke Evans, Jimmer Fredette, Marcus Thornton and John Salmons, the Kings have an abundance of backcourt players.
Brooks has a $3.25 million player option for next season, and he’s probably good enough to fetch more on the open market. The major caveat with him is that as a Seattle native, he’s probably excited about the prospect of returning home as a Supersonic. But being stuck in a crowded backcourt can’t be very appealing.
Certainly, there are worse places to be than 28-15 and the second seed in your conference.
One such worse place, though, is on the wrong side of a first-round upset, a place the Knicks could very well find themselves if the team’s health fortunes do not improve.
The goal must remain dethroning the Heat. Making a move, if possible, might be wise.
Back on Feb. 20, 2004, I happened to be in Detroit at the Palace of Auburn Hills. That was the night Rasheed Wallace made his debut with the Pistons. Behind Chauncey Billups’ triple-double, the Pistons lost to Kevin Garnett’s Minnesota Timberwolves.
In just 12 minutes, Wallace shot 2-for-6 and had four points. It was an inauspicious debut.
Less than four months later, he helped those Pistons to one of the biggest NBA Finals upsets in history as they defeated Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and the star-studded Lakers in five games.
There is historical precedent for a midseason trade netting the final piece to a championship puzzle.
Though it may be a long shot, Grunwald would be wise to inquire.
Moke Hamilton is a Senior NBA Columnist for SheridanHoops whose columns appear here on Fridays. Follow him on Twitter: @MokeHamilton
Knicks basketball is fun thus far this year. Why make it serious. We will make it out the first round this year. True indeed Jasons health is important. But team ball is being played. Question is why the hell we still carrying White on the roster.
You’re kidding me right? I mean, lets ignore the 50 good reasons this article makes no sense and jump right to my personal favorite – that “the knicks are capable of mailing it in any night”
Some people are never happy. KNICKS ARE #1 IN THE ATLANTIC, AND BARELY BEHIND MIAMI!!
I like looking for upgrades – but you are a hater Moke.
You lost me after “Sebastian Telfair.”
Hahaha. This.