Knicks Making a Mistake With Rumored Trade Target

The New York Knicks are playing the best stretch of basketball so far this season, having won five of their last six games after trading for OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors. This has catapulted them into sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 22-16 record. However, the East is as competitive as ever with only two games separating the fourth-seed from the eighth-seed. In order to avoid the play-in tournament and secure themselves a playoff spot, the New York Knicks are looking to add more talent to their roster ahead of the trade deadline.

According to the latest reporting by Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Jake Fischer, the New York Knicks are interested in Dejounte Murray's services. The All-Star guard has been on the trading block for the Atlanta Hawks since the experiment to pair him and fellow All-Star Trae Young failed miserably.

Knicks Reportedly Trying to Trade for All-Star Guard Dejounte Murray

After trading for Murray in the 2022 offseason, the Atlanta Hawks had hopes of making it back to the Conference Finals as they did in 2021. However, the team never clicked as they lost in the first round last season and are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference. Now, they are understandably changing directions.

The Knicks have already shown their willingness to be active in the trade market. They should continue making calls to upgrade their roster. Yet, as good a player as Dejounte Murray is, he is not a good fit for the Knicks.

Murray has improved his shooting this season but is still not a reliable shooter as a career 34.6% three-point shooter, making him not the best option as an off-ball player.

Murray is better suited to be an on-ball creator but the Knicks already have Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle who are better scorers and playmakers than Murray. Taking the ball away from Brunson and Randle and giving it to the less-efficient Murray doesn't make too much sense. His fit is questionable at best next to other ball-dominant players, as exemplified by his dynamic with Trae Young over the last season and a half.

If the Knicks are going to make another in-season move, they need to go for more reliable shooters who can space the floor for Brunson, Randle, and Anunoby. If that player isn't available, that's fine. The Knicks are already a threat to make a deep playoff run. There is no need to rush the process by trading for an ill-fitting talent.

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