The New York Knicks are still trying to decide if they are going to be buyers at the NBA trade deadline. The team has toyed with several options but have yet to actually formalize a deal. With the deadline just five days away, if the Knicks intend on getting an impact player, they better act fast. Despite having little to offer in return, the Knicks have a few players left in mind.
Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders reports the Knicks are one of the suitors looking at Arron Afflalo of the Orlando Magic. The Knicks have been considering getting some kind of backup shooter to create roster depth in order to turn their disastrous season around before it is too late.
Afflalo would be a solid option. He is having a career-high season with the Orlando Magic. The guard is averaging 19.4 points per game. He would be a true shooting option for New York, something that has been lacking with the struggles of players like Iman Shumpert and JR Smith. The interest makes sense, but the Knicks will continue to run into the same issue during the deadline, they have nothing to offer in return.
The Knicks cannot afford to offer draft picks in return for Afflalo. As it stands now, the team does not have a first-round pick for years. At most, New York can offer up young talent in either Shumpert or Tim Hardaway Jr. The Knicks have been dangling both players in potential trade packages for weeks. The issue is those two players represent the lone youth on the Knicks' roster. Giving up Shumpert or Hardaway could hurt in the future.
The Knicks have run into this same issue when inquiring about Kyle Lowry and Kenneth Faried. They want a legitimate player and shooter, but do not have the proper assets to construct a fair deal. Bringing in any of these players would be nice for the Knicks, but they would have to give up depth in other positions to make it work which will not solve anything.
Several other teams are in play for Afflalo. The Charlotte Bobcats, Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns are also in play for the guard which means the Knicks could be out numbered.