Knicks Trade Rumors: Reviewing Latest Chatter on 2025 NBA Deadline Day
Blockbuster moves are a thing of the past for the New York Knicks.
Well, for now at least.
While other teams contemplate—or in some cases make—major moves between now and the 3 p.m. ET NBA trade deadline, the Knicks' significant shake-ups are behind them. They paid premiums for all three of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. They are, at least in terms of key contributors, set with what they have.
There is still a bit of deadline-day buzz around the 'Bockers, though, so let's dig into the latest discussions.
Have Searched for Backup Bigs?
The Knicks have reportedly poked around for possible backup bigs.
SNY's Ian Begley reported Tuesday that New York's center search included the likes of Jonas Valančiūnas, Guerschon Yabusele and Daniel Theis. Of course, since the market moves at ludicrous speed during deadline week, both Valančiūnas and Theis have since been traded.
Yabusele is still with the Philadelphia 76ers, though his availability has been the hardest to pin down. The Sixers, who easily rank as this season's biggest disappointment, could consider abandoning ship and getting whatever assets they can, at least for players they deem as non-essential to their future. Then again, they might feel that an overdue clean bill of health could change everything, so they may not want to take that possibility off the board.
This is speculation, but the wager here is the Knicks have been doing their due diligence regarding backup bigs in case they received bad news about Mitchell Robinson's recovery. If they're confident he'll make it back in time to not only contribute but find enough rhythm to fit into the playoff rotation, New York may not feel the need to add another reserve center.
Mitchell Robinson Staying Put?
Mitchell Robinson has yet to return from May ankle surgery. The Knicks, meanwhile, are winning at a rate this franchise hasn't seen in decades (.667).
A bit of between-the-lines reading might lead one to conclude that he isn't a vital part of this team's success. Add that to the fact he's collecting the sixth-highest salary on the team, per Spotrac, and there were reasons to wonder whether he might be finding a new hoops home soon.
However, SNY's Ian Begley reported the Knicks are "not in significant talks" on Robinson trade and will keep him around "barring an unforeseen, unlikely change of plans."
That feels like the right move to make (or not make, rather). A healthy Robinson can be a difference-maker for this team. And since he hasn't been healthy yet this season, teams were surely only lobbing low-ball offers in New York's direction. Maybe the Knicks rethink his future with the franchise at some point, but now is not the time.
Delon Wright Sticking Around?
The Knicks made their first move of trade season late Wednesday.
They found a taker for backup big man Jericho Sims and sent him to the Milwaukee Bucks, per ESPN's Shams Charania. New York landed Delon Wright and cash in the exchange.
The Knicks saved a bit of money in the swap, but is it possible they added some perimeter depth, too? Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reported that the "Knicks plan to keep Delon Wright for now."
Perhaps that for now qualifier proves prescient, but Wright is capable of providing a decent amount of perimeter defense and distributing. He just doesn't pose any kind of scoring threat on the offensive end. In 26 games for the Bucks this season, the 32-year-old averaged just 2.5 points with a disastrous 26.8/24.5/56.3 shooting slash.