Should Knicks stand pat at the trade deadline?

The Knicks are roaring toward the trade deadline, winners of 15 of their last 18 games and one game out of the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. This run took off on the heels of their blockbuster trade for OG Anunoby, and has withstood multiple injuries to starters.

Still, many expect New York to be buyers at the trade deadline. They have an assortment of extra first-round picks, plus the expiring $18 million salary belonging to Evan Fournier — and the right upgrade could solidify them as contenders.

But maybe this run suggests the Knicks are fine without a deal, and should play out the season as-is. They’ve already survived through multiple key absences, and at close to full strength have looked elite, topping contenders like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, and Philadelphia 76ers.

Should the Knicks simply stand pat this trade deadline?

First off, all the assets they could be open to moving won’t disappear if the Knicks hold tight. Fournier has a team option for next season that New York can exercise to maintain their valuable trade chip.

As for the picks, the Knicks should consider using their own given their strong draft history and the fact they’ve largely sat out the last two while moving out young talent. The others they’ve traded for are unlikely to convey in 2024 besides Dallas’, and even that one is in the air.

Quentin Grimes has been the most heavily mentioned rotation name in trade rumors as of late, but he was getting into a real rhythm before his injury and may be worth holding on to for wing depth. His value is at an all-time low, so to trade him now when there’s a real need for him seems silly.

But the Knicks are cognizant of some weaknesses in their rotation that a trade could credibly fix, namely secondary creation. We’ve only seen glimpses of Anunoby flexing his offensive talent, with it mostly being the Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle show since the deal.

Now it’s only the former with Randle out for the foreseeable…