The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs are off to similar starts to the season. New York is currently 8-9 while the Spurs are 8-8. Another similarity is that both teams could be looking to make some moves prior to the NBA trade deadline.
The front office in New York has been signing players to short-term deals over the last few years. This makes them easier to deal when the time is right. This continued with Alec Burks, who signed a one-year deal worth $6 million. Burks could be on the move prior to the deadline but he is not the only one.
Julius Randle is averaging 22.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per contest this season. He leads the Knicks in every category. Randle is currently in the second year of his three-year deal with the Knicks. If the team gets the right offer, he is their biggest trade piece moving forward.
One team that could be interested is the Spurs. They have been interested in moving players like DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge prior to the deadline. They are veteran names that are not part of the future in San Antonio.
DeRozan is playing in the final year of his deal after opting in this year that will pay him $27.7 million. After missing the postseason a year ago, the Spurs are heading in a different direction and that means trading their veterans to build around Dejounte Murray.
DeRozan would give the Knicks a much-needed star presence within the roster. Let’s take a look at what it might take to land DeRozan in the Big Apple.
