The NY Knicks have been mentioned as a trade target for Goran Dragic at the deadline with the Suns and players like Isaiah Thomas, Miles Plumlee and Gerald Green also could be options, as New York is looking to the future after Carmelo Anthony decided to shut things down to get knee surgery following the All-Star game in NYC.
According to ESPN.com, Dragic has told the Suns that he will not sign an extension with the team and that means he likely will be traded at the deadline. Dragic's agent gave the Suns a list of teams that he wants to be traded to and the Knicks are on it. ESPN.com is reporting that the Lakers are also interested and are looking to give Dragic a max deal this summer.
The Knicks now will have Anthony out for the season and reports say he will get surgery soon on his left knee. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Knicks would like to target Dragic this summer and the team also could be interested in deals for Thomas or Plumlee. Plumlee has been shopped since earlier in the season, as he is back in the rotation behind Alex Len and Brandan Wright and could get moved. The Lakers are also reportedly a target for Plumlee.
The NY Knicks have already bought out Amar'e Stoudemire and traded both JR Smith and Iman Shumpert and now they could look at more trade deals at the NBA trading deadline. Players like Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani or Tim Hardaway could be on the move, as Phil Jackson plans on targeting Reggie Jackson and Marc Gasol in the future for Carmelo Anthony support in free agency. The team also wants to target Dragic and he has shown a willingness to consider the team in free agency, as they are on the trade list.
The Knicks have already made a number of trades this year, including moving Iman Shumpert and JR Smith to the Cavaliers. That deal came after the Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton trade to the Mavs and now Phil Jackson may have some more moves up his sleeve. According to ESPN New York, the Knicks are considering making more trades as the deadline gets closer, with Calderon, Pablo Prigioni and Andrea Bargnani the most likely candidates to move. Reports have the team considering a buyout over a trade with Bargnani, as most teams will not want to take on his large contract, even with it expiring at the end of the season.
The New York Knicks have been one of the worst teams in the league this season and they have worked at clearing cap space so that Phil Jackson can add players this summer. The team is looking to target a number of players, including Marc Gasol, Greg Monroe, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, Brandon Jennings, Goran Dragic, Reggie Jackson, LaMarcus Aldridge and Zach Randolph in free agency or trades this summer.
The Knicks have struggled all year and they are headed towards the draft lottery rather than the playoffs for the second straight season. Iman Shumpert was traded after he wasn't signed to an extension in the offseason and will be a restricted free agent, while Stoudemire is now gone and is finally coming off the books. Phil Jackson will have more money to spend and he is planning on doing it, as the Knicks need to add some major talent to the roster around Carmelo Anthony.
