The time has come for the New York Knicks to begin a rebuild. Here is how they can blow it up and start building around Kristaps Porzingis.

As the NBA All-Star Break winds down, the New York Knicks are an abysmal 23-34 on the year. It’s been a rollercoaster ride of a season. Whether it’s their lackluster defense, their inconsistent offense, or their effort night in and night out, the Knicks have been a mess on the court, but off the court as well.

Team president Phil Jackson has publicly called out star forward Carmelo Anthony and is having his motor questioned. Also, to top off the dumpster fire of a year on the court, former Knick forward Charles Oakley got into a confrontation with security at Madison Square Garden, actions that have put the Knicks at the center of attention in the NBA world.

All things considered, the Knicks have been a train-wreck this year and it’s time for them to blow up the roster. With the NBA trading deadline just a few days away, they still have time to make some moves; however, there are a few players who are either untradeable or have potential upside.

With the NBA trading deadline just a few days away, they still have time to make some moves; however, there are a few players who are either untradeable or have potential upside.

Join us as we examine the fine details surrounding the Knickerbockers potential blowup:

 NEXT: Who's off the table? 

 

Jan 27, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) celebrates after a dunk against the Charlotte Hornets with New York Knicks center Willy Hernangomez (14) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Who’s off the Table?

While the Knicks do need to get busy on the trade front, there are a few players who should be off the table in trade talks. Forward Kristaps Porzingis is one of them.

The 21 year old Latvian forward has taken the next step in his game, and it’s imperative that the Knicks begin formatting their roster around him. Fellow big man Willy Hernangomez is another player the Knicks need to start building around.

The 22-year-old Spanish center has been a bright spot for the Knicks this year. He’s been a presence on both ends of the floor. He posts up, grabs both offensive and defensive rebounds, and is a solid defensive force. His youth and potential upside to grow into a tower down low make him a valuable asset for the Knicks. The same goes for guard Ron Baker.

The rookie Baker hasn’t received a ton of playing time this year, but he’s shown that he can play. He’s been a two-way player; he’s come in and hit the three ball, and has been an excellent on-ball defender. Guard Courtney Lee has done the same and given his reasonable four-year, $50 million contract the Knicks should look to keep him on their roster as well.

Also, while they’d probably love to get his massive 72 million dollar deal off their hands, center Joakim Noah is virtually untradeable. He hasn’t produced to the level the Knicks had envisioned, and he has been outplayed by both Willy Hernangomez and center Kyle O’Quinn. Who is tradeable, though?

Here are four deals the Knicks could make before Thursday’s trade deadline.

 NEXT: Trading Brandon Jennings 

 

Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings (3) in action against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Trade Brandon Jennings to the Milwaukee Bucks

The up and coming Milwaukee Bucks haven’t been able to make the jump in their development; however, they’re still just one game out of a playoff spot. While the Greek Freek and the Bucks have plenty of young talent, they’re deprived of a true scoring point guard. A reunion with Brandon Jennings could be a solid short-term solution.

While not a top flight point guard, Jennings is an uptempo scoring guard who can put the ball in the cup. Jennings is averaging 14.8 points game for his career and is also a facilitator. He’s currently averaging five assists a game. If he were to join the run and gun Bucks, he wouldn’t be relied on to be the go-to scorer. He could be a third or even fourth option being forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, shooting guard Khris Middleton and even big man Greg Monroe. He’d also be a facilitator for them, as such a player could do wonders for them. So what’s in it for the Knicks?

Despite his solid production, Jennings is unlikely to resign with the Knicks this summer given the direction the franchise is going in. The Knicks would be wise to get something for him while they can.

In a Jennings deal, the Knicks could take back the expiring contract of Roy Hibbert as well as the Bucks 2017 and 2018 second round picks. Such a move could give the Knicks some more assets if they were to put together a trade package in the future. That’s the same reason why Derrick Rose should also be dealt.

 NEXT: Trading Derrick Rose 

 

Feb 12, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) directs his team during the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Trade Derrick Rose to the Sacramento Kings 

When the Knicks acquired Derrick Rose in the offseason, they envisioned him being their point guard of the future; however, given the Knicks inability to compete in the Eastern Conference, it would be foolish to keep Rose. One team, they could look to trade him to is the Sacramento Kings.

The once Demarcus Cousins led Kings (now in New Orleans as of Sunday night) have improved this year. As opposed to recent years, the Kings are in the mix for a playoff spot. They currently possess the nine seed in the Western Conference, just a game and a half behind the Denver Nuggets. Could Rose get them over the hump?

While point guard Darren Collison has been solid for the Kings in the 2016-17 season, Derrick Rose would be an upgrade over him. Rose is currently averaging 17.7 points and 4.5 assists a game. Both statistics are higher than that of Collison’s. Rose is a more explosive offensive playmaker and has played at a high level before. Because the Kings are in a position to make a playoff push, they should pull the trigger on a deal for Rose.

In a deal for Rose, the Kings could send Darren Collison and forward Rudy Gay to the Knicks, as well as their 2018 second round pick. If the Knicks are going to trade both Jennings and Rose, then they’re going to need some depth at point guard for the remainder of the year, and Collison would give them that. Also, Rudy Gay is out for the rest of the year with an Achilles injury. Gay will likely choose to exercise the player option on his contract for next season given the rise in the NBA salary cap. If he doesn’t the Knicks could see what the former Toronto Raptor has left in the tank. Getting another future pick would be another long-term asset.

The Knicks could net even more future picks if they deal big man Kyle O’Quinn.

 NEXT: Trading Kyle O'Quinn 

 

Dec 22, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Kyle O’Quinn (9) reacts after a dunk against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Trade Kyle O’Quinn to the Boston Celtics 

Big man Kyle O’Quinn has been a more than a serviceable player for the Knicks. O’Quinn has played the role of backup center and has also gone into the starting lineup at times when injuries have presented themselves to Joakim Noah. Averaging 6.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks a game, O’Quinn has been the Knicks best true all around big man; however, with that in consideration, he’s the Knicks best trade chip.

In addition to his two-way play, Kyle O’Quinn is on a very team friendly deal. In the 2015 offseason, he signed a four-year deal, with an opt out after year three worth roughly four million a season. That contract is a bargain for both the Knicks and any team looking to acquire him. A team looking to acquire him would likely be a contender given that he’d be on their roster both this year and next year. One team that makes a lot of sense for O’Quinn is the Boston Celtics.

The Boston Celtics, led by point guard Isaiah Thomas and center Al Horford, have been phenomenal this year. Recording a 37-20 record in the first half of the season, the Celtics are the two seed in the Eastern Conference, just three games behind the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers. One thing Boston lacks though is toughness. While Horford and big man Amir Johnson are good defenders, neither player is a tough as nails, no nonsense player. O’Quinn is.

If acquired, O’Quinn could come off the bench and be a force both offensively and defensively for the Celtics. He’d also provide a harsh and gritty presence, which is something the Celtics could use.

In a deal for O’Quinn, the Celtics could send over forward Jonas Jerebko to help match salaries and one of their 2019 first picks, as well as a 2018 second round pick. Such a deal gives the Knicks even more future draft picks. Also, considering the excess of big men on their roster, the Knicks are going to have to eventually deal away one of their bigs and O’Quinn has a lot of trade value, given his skill set and team friendly deal.

While trading away, O’Quinn would be a tough pill to swallow, given his energy and presence night in and night, no move will be harder to make than trading Carmelo Anthony.

 NEXT: Trading Carmelo Anthony 

 

Feb 12, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) yells to the crowd after hitting a three-point basket during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Trade Carmelo Anthony to the Los Angeles Clippers

Carmelo Anthony has been the heart and soul of the Knicks ever since he was traded to New York back in 2011; however, the Knicks and Anthony have had too many incidents lately to keep the marriage going on.

Throughout the course of the year, team president Phil Jackson has been critical of Carmelo Anthony‘s play, and as a result, he has been shopping him around to other teams in hopes of facilitating a deal.

This year, Anthony is averaging 23.4 points and 6.4 rebounds a game. Those numbers show how Anthony has been playing like his All-Star self; however, what good is it to have a player of this level on a team who is in clear need of a rebuild? There is none.

Anthony has been an excellent and productive Knick, but because he’ll be turning 33 in May, it’s pointless to have him on a team that’s not going anywhere anytime soon. The issue with trading Anthony though is his contract.

When Anthony resigned with the Knicks back in 2014, he agreed to a five-year max deal which included an opt-out after year four, but also a no-trade clause, as well as a trade kicker. As a result of his no-trade clause and trade kicker, Anthony can veto any deal. He will also get paid more per year if a team chooses to acquire him. It’s been reported that Anthony would waive his no-trade clause to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers would make a great trade partner for the Knicks.

In a deal for Anthony, the Clippers could deal point guard Austin Rivers and former Knick shooting guard Jamal Crawford, as well as their 2021 first round pick. In this deal, the Knicks could potentially get their point guard of the future in Austin Rivers. Rivers is a two-way guard; he is a very good defender, and attacks the rim, in addition to facilitating for his teammates. While Rivers is a backup with the Clippers, the time is now for him to become a starting point guard, and the Knicks are in need of one going forward. Rivers is also on a team friendly deal worth around 12 million per year over the next two years. Jamal Crawford is also under contract for the next two years.

Feb 1, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) dunks the ball in the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Crawford is on the books for two more years at roughly 14 million a year. If he came back to the Knicks, he’d be a scoring punch off of the bench, and also a veteran presence for younger Knicks such as guard Ron Baker. The Knicks would also be getting the Clippers 2021 first round pick. Why do the Clippers do this deal, though?

The Clippers are currently on the hunt to finally make it to the NBA Finals. To do that, though, they need to surpass the Golden State Warriors. The only way to do that is to get more scoring, and Anthony helps them do just that. He’d be a go-to option in the post and out on the perimeter. Such a move would also pair Anthony with his buddy Chris Paul.

 NEXT: It's time to officially concede 

 

Feb 2, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) passes the ball to Carmelo Anthony (7) against the Boston Celtics during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

It’s time for the Knicks to Concede

The hardest part of a rebuild is admitting when it’s time to begin the process. That time is now for the Knicks. They’ve been a mess for the last four years, and there doesn’t appear to be a light at the end of the tunnel. The only way to resolve that issue is to rebuild and trade away their best trading chips. Those chips are guards Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings, as well as big man Kyle O’Quinn and forward Carmelo Anthony.

With the NBA trade deadline just days away, the Knicks need to take advantage of the moment and begin to rebuild truly. The only way it does is that is by trading away their veterans and starting to build a nucleus around their youth. That mostly points to a Carmelo Anthony trade and turning the franchise over to Kristaps Porzingis.

The Knicks have hit rock bottom, and it’s clear that they need to concede the season and begin to build around Kristaps Porzingis. That means that the Knicks need to deal away their veterans, but most notably Carmelo Anthony.

 NEXT: 2016-17 New York Knicks NBA All-Star Break report card