Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Knicks Explore Defense-First Guard Targets as Trade Deadline Nears

A recent slide has sharpened New York’s pursuit of low-cost backcourt help ahead of the Feb. 5 cutoff.

Overview

  • The Athletic and other outlets report the Knicks have interest in Jose Alvarado of the Pelicans and Keon Ellis of the Kings, with Toronto’s Ochai Agbaji also mentioned.
  • One reported concept sends Guerschon Yabusele and second-round picks to Sacramento for Ellis and Doug McDermott, though the Kings could seek a late first-rounder.
  • League tracking on NBA.com shows opponents shoot 1.6 percentage points worse than their averages when Ellis defends them.
  • To match salary for Alvarado, a package built around Yabusele and multiple second-rounders is viewed as feasible, according to reporting, with competition from other suitors expected.
  • New York has dropped four of its last five games and is evaluating complementary depth pieces to ease defensive and secondary ball-handling burdens on Jalen Brunson, with no deals finalized.