The Knicks are open to trading Guerschon Yabusele before the February 5 deadline, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.
The 30-year-old big man was the team’s top free agency addition over the summer, but he hasn’t been effective in the first two months of the season, averaging 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per night while shooting 39.4% from the field and 30.6% from three-point range. His numbers across the board are down sharply from what he posted in Philadelphia last season as he returned to the NBA after five years in Europe.
Yabusele is making $5.5MM this season and holds a $5.7MM player option for 2026/27, and multiple league executives tell Edwards that New York will likely have to give up other assets to get another team to take that contract.
The Knicks have been reaching out to rival teams in their search for another ball-handler and frontcourt player, Edwards hears from league sources. They don’t have a veteran lead guard in place who can play dependable minutes when Jalen Brunson rests. Edwards notes that Tyler Kolek has shown promise, especially during the past week, but there’s no guarantee he’s ready to fill that role.
New York is also looking for another big man, as the options on the current roster are limited behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Robinson is having another outstanding rebounding season, pulling down 8.6 boards per game in 18.2 minutes per night, but Edwards states that he’s still on a load management program in hopes of keeping him healthy for the playoffs. Robinson has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, and the Knicks aren’t in position to withstand a long-term absence.
The Knicks face financial limitations as they eye the trade market because of their proximity to the hard cap. They’ve been carrying 14 players on standard contracts all season and can’t fill their roster opening until early April.
With those restrictions in mind, Edwards identifies a few potential trade candidates:
- Ayo Dosunmu — The Bulls guard would provide ball-handling and defense, but his $7.5MM salary means New York would have to send back Landry Shamet ($2.3MM), who was productive before injuring his shoulder, or possibly Pacome Dadiet ($2.9MM) or Kolek ($2.2MM) along with Yabusele or Miles McBride ($4.3MM). Edwards is skeptical about Chicago’s willingness to take Yabusele’s contract, so McBride would likely have to be part of the deal.
- Jose Alvarado — Edwards suggests that the Pelicans guard may be more obtainable than Dosunmu, and his contract ($4.5MM with a $4.5MM player option for next season) would be easier to fit onto the roster. He also points out that the Knicks have multiple second-round picks that could be used to entice New Orleans to part with Alvarado.
- Marvin Bagley III — His defense remains shaky, but he has been scoring and rebounding for the Wizards and his $2.2MM cap hit makes him an inexpensive option as a third center. Edwards believes he might be obtainable for a second-round pick.
D’Angelo Russell + Exum for Yabusele + Dadiet. No picks changing hands. Russell gives NY a guard for the second unit. Yabusele gives the Mavs frontcourt depth with Lively out. Dadiet and Exum make the salary math work. Exum is out for the season on an expiring minimum deal.
We know who Russell is. Want no part of him.
No thank you …. Dadiet alone is worth more.
The Knicks wouldn’t have any interest in D’Angelo Russell. That’s not the kind of second unit guard they’re looking for.
Why would the Bulls want him? LOL Rather have Ayo. Tht’s a hoot of a trade for the Knicks.
Writers lol ……
Absolutely HAIL NO to Russell! (didn’t wanna use a curse word)
Or, are you just not a Knicks fan and want them to implode?
“according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.”
I understand they have to sell stories. And pimp for clicks. Yet there are some real stories fans need answers to. For instance why isn’t McBride backing up Brunson. Thats what he was drafted for as a PG. I’m not sure Brown knows this. Or why Knicks management hasn’t pushed for it since training camp. He should be our first choice. Kolek is looking better. You don’t want to go for a title run with an unproven player.
The Bulls would never give up Ayo for Yabusele and whatever. Just ridiculous. Nobody is helping the Knicks out and taking Yabusele. Unless it’s for another failed signing.
McBride is hurt and is not a great playmaker
If he was great he’d be starting. Decent is good enough for 12 minutes of the game.
I actually believe he can backup Brunson. Unfortunately this coach hasn’t explored that. And McBride hasn’t pushed for it. Feb 5 is TD. And McBride, Kolek, Mitch, Diadet, Yabusele all can be moved. Knicks are picked to win the East. Right now they are missing two rotation players in Yabusele n Shamet. I expect a trade or two.
Amazing to me that experts talk about Thibs not playing young players, picks. Yet he played and developed Quickley, Mitch, Grimes, McBride, Sims, Hukporti all lower picks. Even IHart …..
The issue now is you have two players you were expecting to be part of rotation. Both not playing in Shamet, Yabusele. Mitch is Knicks biggest trade chip. They better not mess that up. Knicks want another ball handler. Then they should be looking at Westbrook. You know he wants a ring. I give up McBride or Kolek for him. Kings want young talent. Another guy I would be looking at is Isaac. Magic don’t need him or his contract. I also like a Mitch to Pelicans move. That’s his hometown. Would love to get Looney and Bey somehow. I have been saying since last year. Towns needs a defensive 4 next to him with size. Looney or Isaac can start. And it strengthens the bench with Hart. Hart can still play more mins. But now we have real depth. Mitch is the key. I trust Hukporti can backup Towns.
Not experts, merely 2k’ers.
Bagley is interesting, though given Kolek’s promise and recent play, I don’t want to move him. I’ve been a fan of his since he was at Marquette, and I was thrilled when the Knicks drafted him. At the same time, though, I like Hukporti, even tho his offensive far is very limited. He’s a work in progress.
Imo Hukporti can handle backup mins. Just defense and rebounding. With Towns playing 34 mins means he only has to play 14-20 mins.
I like Kolek too. But he is 24 and is still learning. Knicks are ready now. They can use him in a trade for more experience.
Edwards…
McBride can handle the back up point guard duties. Kolek has been solid lately and has shown that if given the minutes he can produce. It’s not a coincidence the Knicks have been doing well with him instituted into the rotation.
Yab was a bad signing. He’s undersized and not playing garbage minutes for a losing team. Not sure Bagley is the guy they need – his defense is a liability. Put Huk out there for trade – he has potential but it won’t be realized on the Knicks. There’s no room and his value will only continue to drop if they don’t move him.
Jalen Smith for Yabusele. Get it done AK.
Yes sir …. I’m on it. I told you I take that.
Imo nobody wants to help the Knicks lol.
It addresses both teams, for us it would be rebounding and toughness on defense. We still need size but Yabusele can do the dirty work. Buzelis had 28 yesterday but only 3 rebounds. I think he’s allergic to rebounding or is afraid of the body contact down below in the paint. For Knicks, it gives them another big man scoring option who you can play alongside KAT or Mitchell. Smith is a stretch 4 with either guy on the floor. He’s not as good defensively but its passable and he goes into stretches where hes a rebounding machine. It reduces our cap by $4M as well the next two years. The kicker would be a future 2nd rounder in any season for us. Knicks want to win now and Bulls are mildly “r’ so it works both ways.
:-)
Are you kidding? The Bulls play run and gun. They don’t want C’s to protect the rim and rebound. They want undersized people who get brutalized and injured so Smith is perfect for them. They want C’s who stand at the top of the circle and stand around and shoot 3’s. That’s not this guy.
One more thing…
Zubac – he’s the prescription that’s needed. Make it happen. McBride, Clarkson, Yab, PJ Tucker (contract hold), Huk, and toss a couple of 1’s in there. He’s at $18M and locked for two more years after this which addresses the area if Robinson leaves in free agency. He rebounds, great D, and can score. Off the bench, go big, etc. he’ll get minutes. Kolek, Sham wow got the backup spots. They’re both solid for 18 minutes a game.
The Clippers are not trading a cost controlled Zubac for scraps.
(The Knicks also need to be able to field a team under the 2nd apron, so no, a 5-for-1 doesn’t work. Never mind that the Clippers would need to additionally cut four players to make the trade work.)
I’m thinking more in terms of McBride and picks while dumping the contract – the others could be waived/traded for picks (perhaps in a three team deal for example). The others are expiring with the exception of Yab who would be one year at a low cost.
That’s not the point. Zubac is on a great contract and is not someone the Clippers are looking to dump, much less move for spare parts.
Half the teams in the league could and would beat that offer.
That’s a very bad trade for the Clipers. The Knicks first rounders are going to be in the 20’s and because of that not very valuable. Plus they receive players that right now are just average or below average and non of them have high upside.
And i don’t think that the Knicks even have 2 firsts to trade, probably just One, because they trade 5 in the Bridges trade.
Knicks moved picks from other teams in that deal as well (I believe two). Yeah, I hear ya but it’s also the term of the contract that they dump (being the Clips). McBride and picks along with the salary drop would be the attraction for the Clips.
Back to Philly he goes.
NYK should get rid of Yabu if they can, but the deals proposed are silly. National media shouldn’t report on potential trades without some current information. Do they understand that the NYK are trying win THIS year? Moving a 5.5 mm contract is only so important.
An Alvarado trade would have made some sense as recently as a few weeks ago, before Kolek showed what many already knew, that he can play. Getting Alvarado, at this point, means Kolek might as well be moved as well (which I’m not advocating).
McBride is a core rotation player making under 4 mm per year, and the NYK are flush against the 2nd apron. That means he can’t rationally be traded unless some VERY cheap rotation players come the NYK’s way. Few FO’s are dumb enough to trade those players.
Yabu was (yet another) unforced error by this FO in filling out the rotational part of the roster. They needed size, as in length, not width. Rose needs to figure out why this keeps happening. Yabu was a mistake that can’t really be erased, because signing him put in a hard cap that doesn’t go away merely because they trade him.
Kolek has yet to show he can do what Alvarado does consistently. He’s definitely an upgrade and more of a win-now player.
His cheap contract helps with apron considerations in the same way McBride does. They could probably get Alvarado for Kolek/Dadiet straight up I’m guessing given NO’s direction.
Yabu can be better than what he’s shown. The theory of him was a mini-KAT, the shots just haven’t gone down. They had Achiuwa on a similar contract last year who likewise had limitations.
Talented bigs don’t grow on trees. Players in this range are always going to have warts, while minimum bigs like Alex Len or James Wiseman are basically unplayable on any team with real aspirations.
Best response yet. 🙏🏾
It may not be with the Knicks but I’d love to see Alvarado get a shot on a squad that’s playing meaningful games in the play-offs. I always have time for a player who plays with so much heart.
Trade Guerschon Yabusele, Dadiet, Diawara and draft rights to James Nnaji to Chicago for Jalen Smith and Jullian Phillips
Or waive Tosan Evbuomwan, Trey Jemison and Kevin McCullar Jr
Sign Dink Pate, James Nnaji and Bryson Warren on two way contract. Young players at every position 1-5.
Sign McCullar as the next man up