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A few notes as the Knicks and Nets approach the NBA trade deadline at 3 p.m. on Thursday
Many teams are still interested in trading OG Anunoby. The Knicks are one of them.
It will take a significant amount of picks/players to get Anunoby out of the Raptors. The Knicks, as reported by SNY, told Toronto earlier in the season that they would be comfortable posting three first-round picks for Anunoby. Members of the organization remain interested in the 25-year-old as of late Tuesday evening.
Any team that acquires Anunoby will do so knowing they can test free agency in 2024 (Anunoby has a player option in 2024 and would be surprising if he didn’t exercise it). So teams would presumably have some assurances that he would re-sign next summer before trading for him.
If the Knicks did land Anunoby, it’s fair to assume he would have beaten someone in the starting lineup. The most logical move would be to slip RJ Barrett to the shooting guard.
In that scenario, Quentin Grimes would go to the bench.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Knicks are among many teams interested in Anunoby and it’s unclear if Toronto will move him.
WHAT ABOUT BEASLEY AND VANDERBILT?
The Knicks did some homework on jazz players Malik Beasley AND Jarred Vanderbilt. HoopsHype reported that Beasley, Vanderbilt e Obi Toppin they were discussed in trade talks between the Knicks and Jazz.
The Jazz have an interest in Toppin. But the Knicks’ interest in Beasley and Vanderbilt is less clear.
What we know: the interest for both players is not unanimous. There is a small group on the basketball side that sees both players fit. But others are unsure of the suitability for either player with the current roster. Things can change by the hour this time of year. But there was pessimism that a deal for both players would materialize as of late Tuesday night.
REDDISH INTEREST
As noted on The Putback, the Pistons and Nuggets have registered interest in Reddish cam recently. The Knicks will be looking to move Reddish between now and Thursday afternoon. As we noted in our mailbag last week, the Reddish team expects it to trade by the deadline and has no interest in Duke’s product continuing to collect DNP after the deadline if it doesn’t trade.
STRIKES IN FORCE ON CLAXTON
The Raptors and the Nets only discussed potential trades on Monday. They will likely continue to touch base before expiration. Something worth noting: some members of the Raptors have been adamant Nic Claxton be included in any significant trade with the Nets.
Claxton, of course, has been a key part of the Nets’ success this season. The club presumably sees him as an important part of the future. The Raptors don’t have to trade a player like Anunoby either Pascal Siakamthus they would appear to have the upper hand in most trade talks involving these actors. Fred Van Vlet he is a pending free agent. So the Raptors presumably have less power in the business negotiations over Van Vleet.
One factor that had slowed trade talks as of Tuesday night? Kevin DurantStatus uncertain with the Nets.
Several teams said the talks were influenced by Durant because many teams are waiting to see if the All-Star will be available via trade at the deadline. So teams are holding off on any big moves until they get some clarity on Durant.
