The New York Knicks have been linked to several players as they seek to solidify their championship aspirations. However, there is one move the Knicks must now make to keep the chemistry flowing positively.
The Knicks need to give Guerschon Yabusele the trade he reportedly wants. Yabusele, who has struggled mightily this year, recently reposted a tweet from 50 Nuances:
“Because Guerschon Yabusele when he’s well used and confident in the NBA, THAT’S what he looks like,” the tweet stated. “A trade and a good situation for the Captain, that’s all we’re asking.”
Disgruntled Forward Wants Out Of Big Apple, Where Could He Land?
Coming off a career season with Philadelphia, Yabusele signed a one-plus-one deal worth $11.7 million as New York was looking to upgrade its bench upfront. However, the 6-7 big got off to a slow start and has never recovered. He seen just about 35 minutes of playing time over the last six contests.
“It’s definitely not what I was expecting to [do] coming into the season,” Yabusele told Jared Schwartz of the New York Post yesterday. “I thought it would be a little different.”
Yabusele averages 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds with shooting splits of 39.2/30.8/66.7 in nine minutes over 39 contests. He has scored in double figures just once. Now that the Knicks are healthy, the 30-year-old is relegated to the end of the team’s second unit (i.e., 9th-11th man).
“When we’re healthy, it’s a little tough,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said of finding minutes for Yabusele. “Because how it is right now, our top eight guys are our starters, Mitch [Robinson], Landry [Shamet], and Deuce [McBride]. And if you take those eight guys, I have a threshold for the maximum minutes I like to play guys in the regular season. With those, I can’t even meet the minutes for them a lot of times, because there just aren’t enough minutes. Sometimes, to factor in a ninth and/or 10th guy can make it tough.”
Several teams have reportedly expressed interest in Yabusele, including New Orleans and San Antoni, according to Siegel. Despite his struggles, Yabusele still has value due to his physicality and defensive versatility. He is a good cutter and a strong offensive rebounder.
What Do The Knicks Need to Add At Trade Deadline?
New York has been the second-best team in the Eastern Conference for much of the season, but the Knicks have cooled off. The Knicks have lost nine of their last 13, though they have won two straight. The Knicks are tied for third place in the conference with Toronto, with a record of 27-18. They are just one game behind Boston and 6.5 games back of top-seeded Detroit.
New York, which has one of the league’s best starting units, is one of the best offensive teams. Ranked third in the league in efficiency, the Knicks average 117.8 points while knocking down 14.9 threes at 37.6%. They thrive at MSG, are one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the league,e and don’t turn the ball over.
The Knicks are not great on defense, with defending the 3-point line their biggest issue. The Knicks also don’t have a consistent rim protector besides Robinson, and they foul too much.
While New York isn’t likely to make a major splash at the trade deadline, they have been looking for a capable backup point guard since the season started. One name that has emerged and could be a real possibility is New Orleans’ Jose Alvardo.
“The Pelicans have also received a lot of interest in Jose Alvarado, who is their most likely player to be dealt this season,” Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported recently. “The New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Detroit Pistons are all said to have interest in the defensive-minded guard.”
Alvarado is a relentless ball-hound on the defensive end who has super quick hands. He has a high motor and is a reliable secondary playmaker who doesn’t turn the ball over much.
Alvarado averages 7.8 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 22 minutes over 35 appearances this year. He has also one steal per game and 1.6 threes while shooting 42.4/36.1/82.8. He has scored in double-figures 10 times.
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