The New York Knicks don't have much in the way of financial flexibility or assets to make a huge trade this season for a superstar. A more feasible option, according to Basketball Insiders' Lang Greene, would be to trade for a player like Indiana Pacers veteran David West.
"I know everyone wants to think about the second star the Knicks are going to pursue, but first they need to get more assets who can thrive in the Triangle Offense," Greene wrote on Thursday. "This is important. ... (The) first thing the Knicks need is a power forward who can shoot it from mid-range consistently. I would look at a veteran like David West who could serve as one of those Horace Grant type of contributors offensively. You know a 10-12 point guy who grabs 6-8 boards. D-West is excellent from mid-range. Paul Millsap is another guy who would fit in New York and he would produce at a much higher level than an aging D-West."
Atlanta could be willing to trade Millsap, who's on an expiring contract, but picking up West would be cheaper for New York - especially since Pacers president Larry Bird might decide to blow up the team and have a fire sale.
The only problem with trading for West is his contract. He has a player option for next season that is set to earn him $12.6 million. New York will have the cap space, but do they really want an aging veteran on the books for that much money?
West averaged 14.0 points and 6.8 rebounds last season, and as Greene pointed out, the veteran's ability to hit a mid-range jumper would make him an upgrade at the Knicks' 4-spot.
