How This Trade Impacts New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have had at least two different opportunities to acquire Russell Westbrook in a trade. They didn’t do it either of those times and they aren’t about to do it this time should the Los Angeles Lakers look to make a drastic change.

The Knicks of old would have already had Westbrook on the roster a year or two ago. Bringing in name brand, aging stars regardless of the price or fit was the MO of some past regimes. But, with Leon Rose and William Wesley running the show, New York finally looks like they have a plan in place and are executing it.

While Derrick Rose relieving has been quite effective coming off the bench, Kemba Walker hasn’t sustained a highly impactful level of play as the starter. Adding someone with the stature of Westbrook could potentially ruin the dynamic they are building, however. Parting with Rose would be risky since Walker and Westbrook have been quite up-and-down in impact.

Thus far in the 2021-22 season, the Knicks have become an uptempo team that lets it fly from 3-point range with regularity. After finishing last season as one of the lower-volume teams but with high efficiency, New York is now attempting shots at a high volume and still connecting with efficiency.

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Evan Fournier has been a big part of that, as he has brought an added dimension to the team’s offense. Rose and Walker are providing production at the point guard spot that the Knicks haven’t gotten in a long time. Unless if Walker were to become intolerable with struggles later, the Knicks should stand pat.