The Knicks are targeting Jeremy Sochan, Jose Alvarado, and Yves Missi as they look to upgrade their bench prior to the trade deadline, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports.
Each of those players could offer a different element to New York’s second unit.
Sochan, who has fallen out of the Spurs’ rotation, would give the Knicks another defensive-minded wing with size. He’s a subpar outside shooter but a solid rebounder. He’s making $7.1MM and will be eligible for restricted free agency at season’s end.
Alvarado is a scrappy point guard who could solve New York’s dilemma with finding a steady backup for Jalen Brunson. Alvarado is averaging 7.9 points and 3.2 assists in 21.9 minutes per game off the bench. He holds a $4.5MM option on his contract for next season.
Missi would give the Knicks a young big with the potential to be a starter in the future. He started 67 games last season for New Orleans as a rookie but his minutes have declined in his second season. He’s averaging 5.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 19.1 minutes per game. He’s still on his rookie deal and New Orleans already exercised the $3.5MM option on his contract for next season.
The Knicks have been discussing a few different avenues to move Guerschon Yabusele, who has been a free agent bust. He holds a $5.775MM option on his contract for next season. Both the Spurs and Pelicans have held talks with the Knicks regarding Yabusele, according to Siegel.
Siegel also lists Mavericks forward Naji Marshall as another New York trade target, but that may be more of a pipe dream. League interest is high on Marshall and the Mavericks have pinned a heavy price tag on any deal involving the much-improved forward.
The Knicks’ ability to make any deal is complicated by the salary cap issues. They are hard-capped and approximately $150K below the second tax apron, as Luke Adams notes in our latest Front Office post for subscribers.
New York can’t take in more salary than it sends out. The Knicks are also carrying 14 players on their standard roster, one below the limit, making it more difficult to send out more players than they’re bringing in due to roster requirements.
Surely the Knicks are targeting Giannis… I hear a trade story about him every day.
TARGET DANNY WOLF ALREADY!!
they should be targeting a location at the top of MSG to hang their Cup banner.
Naji should have been a NYK signing/acquisition years ago. So, it makes sense that Rose would chase him now, when he’s having a career year and we have no trade assets.
Alvardo is within their reach; I’m not sure about Missi. Yabu and Dadiet’s contracts and SRPs is only going to get you so much.
Sochan is no longer the prospect he was, and has to be considered a rehab project in free agency this offseason. He’s not a deadline target. Other than to get rid of Yabu of course.
Marshall makes no sense unless they’re sending out Josh Hart. Not sure what he does as a driver on a team with Brunson and KAT.
These writers are just trying to make their word count minimums.
Not sure you can label Naji a driver. Dude does absolutely everything at a high level on a basketball court. Anyways,im not sure Sochan belongs in the league. Defense largely out lawed and brings absolutely nothing on the offensive end. Sochan is looking at minimum contract for his first big boy contract. Probably with a team option.