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Trade Deadline Mini-Mailbag: Part 1

Trade Deadline Mini-Mailbag: Part 1

Let's keep tabs on the approaching deadline in real time.

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Jonathan Macri
Feb 05, 2025
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Knicks Film School
Knicks Film School
Trade Deadline Mini-Mailbag: Part 1
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Good morning! Going to try something new today and tomorrow…

I put out a call for mailbag questions in the KFS Substack chat, and between now and the deadline, I’m going to put out a series of short newsletters answering as many as I can. My goal is to stay current with the news as it develops and not work on a newsletter that becomes irrelevant by the time it goes out.

Without further ado…

Trade Deadline Mini-Mailbag: Part 1

First question of the day comes to us from Perry:

If the Knicks don’t make a trade that impacts the rotation (i.e., the biggest move is Sims for a mediocre second) would that be considered a disappointment?

I’m always leery of calling any inactive trade deadline a disappointment without knowing what deals were out there and whether other unknown factors are at play. In that sense, I don’t think I’m coming at this question as an unbiased observer.

So it should not surprise you that my answer is no, I don’t think we can call a quiet deadline a disappointment. Here’s why:

The Knicks are currently hamstrung in a few ways. For one, they can’t take back more salary than they send out in any trade. Second, they’re pick poor, with no (real) tradable firsts and only two swaps and a bunch of seconds at their disposal. Third and most importantly, they’re limited in the number of fungible salaries they have to deal because all of their non-minimum money is tied to either a current rotation player (Precious, most notably, who has elevated importance for as long as Anunoby is out) or a potential rotation player who might just be the answer to many of their questions (hi big fella).

And as an extra added bonus, with all due respect to the recent emergence of Ariel Hukporti, Precious and Mitch are somewhat tied at the hip. If Mitch can’t make it all the way back, Precious remains a vital piece. On the flip side, dealing Robinson at the nadir of his value would be a tough pill to swallow given the likely return.

If they know for sure that Mitch is damaged goods and want to treat him as a negative asset? In that case they’d have to attach what little assets they have to dump him for…what, exactly, I don’t know. Either way, you’re not approaching things from a position of strength, whereas waiting for him to become an expiring contract this summer would make life easier.

For all those reasons, I’d have a hard time mustering any serious consternation over a quiet deadline. Leon has more than earned our trust as a mover and shaker who won’t sit on his hands when there’s a good deal to be had. I’m sure if something emerges that can help them, he won’t sit on his hands.

Next up, Jonas P:

Wonder if the Wiz trade Middleton somewhere…

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