The New York Knicks are now short a center in their rotation after Isaiah Hartenstein departed in free agency. John Hollinger of The Athletic suggested that the Knicks consider trading for Draymond Green.
While discussing the upcoming Knicks season with colleague Fred Katz of The Athletic, Hollinger proposed that New York could strengthen their center rotation after the 2024-2025 season is underway.
“For example, if Golden State struggles and decides to put Draymond Green on the market, or if the Suns find themselves in a similar situation and look to trade Jusuf Nurkić, these are two players who could be a good fit in New York,” Hollinger noted.
Green, a future Hall of Famer, boasts an impressive resume with four championships and eight all-defensive team selections.
Last season with the Golden State Warriors, he averaged 8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal per game over 55 appearances.
However, the question remains: is Green the right fit for the Knicks? Trading for him would come with significant challenges.
A Knicks Trade for Draymond Green: High Stakes and Uncertain Rewards
A trade between Golden State and New York would need to be asset-driven. The exact amount of draft capital the Knicks would need to surrender is uncertain, but a package of mid-tier contracts would likely require the inclusion of multiple picks.
Alternatively, the Knicks could include Miles McBride in the trade. With his contract being one of the best values in the NBA, his inclusion could shift the balance of the deal and potentially allow New York to retain some of their future draft picks.
New York would need to include some form of draft compensation along with the three players involved in the trade. Additionally, they would have to take on another minimum-salary player from Golden State to balance the roster numbers.
The financial aspects of the trade are feasible within this structure.
As Hollinger suggested, a trade for Green would be best attempted during the regular season. Achiuwa would be key to making the salaries match, but he won’t be trade eligible until December 15.
This move would significantly alter the Knicks’ locker room dynamics. Robinson is the team’s longest-tenured player, and McBride is a homegrown talent who was a second-round pick.
This trade would also signal confidence in veteran guard Cam Payne and rookie guard Tyler Kolek. However, if Leon Rose and the Knicks’ front office believe that Green is the missing piece for a championship run, they’ll need to consider it.
How Does Green Fit With The Knicks?
Head coach Tom Thibodeau would likely relish the opportunity to coach Green, given his defensive prowess, which aligns with Thibodeau’s coaching philosophy.
But does Green fit with the current roster? Would a starting lineup of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Green make the Knicks stronger contenders?
Robinson has had his share of health issues, but his above-the-rim play has been vital to his Knicks career. At 34, Green doesn’t bring that kind of vertical athleticism.
However, Green’s three-point shooting would be an upgrade over Robinson’s, who has a career 0% average from beyond the arc. Last season, Green shot 39% from deep, hitting a three-pointer in 29 of his 55 games.
While Green’s defensive skill set isn’t based on verticality, it is physical and would be valuable in matchups against contenders like the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.
Green’s ball handling and ability to facilitate an offense are also assets. Thibodeau could rely on him to stabilize the second unit at critical points during the playoffs.
According to Cleaning the Glass, in 409 possessions with Green on the floor and Stephen Curry off, the Warriors outscored opponents by 5.4 points per 100 possessions.
While backup point guard Chris Paul contributed as well, in the 128 possessions with Green on and Paul off, the Warriors’ offense still ranked in the 91st percentile, even though they were outscored by 0.3 points overall.
Green isn’t a substitute for elite point guard play, but he can help maintain stability when Brunson is off the court—an area where the Knicks struggled last season.
