Knicks Eyeing Trade for Former NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Report

Expectations for the New York Knicks in the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season have skyrocketed with the recent trades they have made.

In July, the Knicks acquired Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Bojan Bogdanovic and five first-round draft picks. Bridges joins his former Villanova Wildcats teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.

On Wednesday, New York made an even bigger acquisition by trading Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl Anthony-Towns.

However, even with the two blockbuster deals, the Knicks might not be done making moves.

According to Kris Pursiainen of CBS Sports, the Knicks have shown interest in trading for Memphis Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart.

"The New York Knicks have had internal discussions about a potential deal for Marcus Smart per sources familiar with the situation," Pursiainen wrote on X. "NYK has had rumored interest in Smart before. No deal is imminent but several sources indicated the Knicks are willing to be active on the market."

Smart would be a huge upgrade for the Knicks on the defensive side of the ball. However, his offensive deficiencies could be a cause for concern. For his career, the former Oklahoma State star is averaging only 38.8% shooting and 32.3% from three.

The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2014. After nine seasons with the Celtics, Smart was traded to Memphis last offseason as part of a three-team deal that saw Kristaps Porzingis land in Boston. In his one season with the Grizzlies in 2023-24, Smart was only able to play in 20 games due to injury.

Smart signed a four-year, $76.4M contract extension with the Celtics before the 2022-23 season. The 30-year-old is set to make just over $20M this upcoming season. If the Knicks want to land the veteran guard without trading away any of their big pieces, they would likely have to part ways with center Mitchell Robinson and a few bench assets.

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