No, the Knicks shouldn’t trade for Jimmy Butler.
New York doesn’t need a star. The city needs finishing touches.
Entering Friday’s matchup against the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, the Knicks (24-10) have established themselves as one of the NBA’s top teams. They own the fourth-best record in all of basketball, powered by a starting five that boasts one of the league’s most efficient offenses.
Any move they make should focus on fine-tuning the roster, not overhauling it.
These finishing touches — or the lack thereof — will define New York’s championship odds in an Eastern Conference ruled by two buzzsaws: the Boston Celtics and league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.
Yes, you’ve read correctly. The Cavaliers are that good. Kenny Atkinson has supercharged this team beyond even his wildest dreams.
And like New York, Cleveland, too, will be judged on postseason success, not regular-season standings.
Yet the Cavaliers’ edge lies in their size — both in the frontcourt and off the bench. The same can be said for teams like the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets, who have beaten the Knicks this season by outmuscling them with versatile forwards and strong positional size all over the floor.
The Knicks, meanwhile, lack depth in size. Jalen Brunson is 6-1, and while Josh Hart is a double-double machine, he’s just 6-4. So is Landry Shamet, the tallest of the three guards (including Miles McBride and Cam Payne) Tom Thibodeau likes to bring off the bench.
Which brings us back to Butler, whose profile, age, and contract status makes him a bad fit for the Knicks plans. Supersizing should be priority No. 1 for a team with title hopes.
It can happen internally with Mitchell Robinson’s return from a second procedure to repair a stress fracture in his left ankle, but choosing this route would leave the Knicks reliant on a player with a long recent injury history.
The Knicks have taken a cautious approach to Robinson’s rehab, hoping this time he can stay healthy through their playoff push.
A healthy Robinson unlocks new lineup possibilities:
- Twin Towers: Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns could play together, flanked by Brunson, Hart, Mikal Bridges, or OG Anunoby.
- Staggered Starters: Robinson could play alongside Brunson, Hart, Bridges and Anunoby, allowing the Knicks to stagger Towns with the second unit to provide size and scoring. New York’s bench ranks last in points per game this season.
- Lock Up: With the Knicks enjoying a spread offense where all five starters can hit an open three, the pairing of Robinson and Precious Achiuwa anchor one of the best defensive lineups in all of basketball. With Robinson protecting the paint, and Achiuwa, Anunoby and Bridges defending multiple positions, the Knicks should be able to hastily turn defense into offense, particularly if Hart rounds out this five-man unit.
Robinson’s presence significantly reduces the Knicks’ glaring needs. But “healthy” remains the operative word. Thibodeau noted this week that while Robinson is making progress, he hasn’t yet resumed full-speed running or contact drills, putting his potential return right up against the Feb. 6 NBA Trade Deadline.
That puts the Knicks in a tough spot.
They need a big man to support Towns and shore up their frontcourt, but Robinson’s $14.2 million salary would be difficult to replace with a player equal or better value. Trading him now would be a risk, especially given his potential fit with the team once he’s healthy.
Other trade options? Achiuwa waived his no-trade clause to return to the Knicks on a one-year, $6 million deal, making him a practical candidate. Achiuwa has provided quality size and rebounding off the bench, but his salary makes him one of the few movable pieces outside of the starting lineup if Robinson is not on the move.
McBride, who signed a three-year, $13 million extension last season, is another option, but finding equal value for his production per dollar is unlikely.
Backup big man Jericho Sims is largely outside the rotation and could be a straight-up trade candidate. A potential deal with Sacramento for Alex Len, for example, could help bolster the Knicks’ depth at center.
The Knicks are expected to be active on the phones as the Feb. 6 NBA Trade Deadline approaches. But they’ve already taken their home-run swing, and the ball is well on its way to clearing the fences.
Towns has reshaped the Knicks’ offensive identity. His dominance is reflected in his penciled-in status as a first-time All-Star starter in New York.
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Meanwhile, Bridges, who struggled beyond belief to find his rhythm early in the season, has flipped the script. His recent scoring tear has not only silenced critics but elevated the Knicks to a new level of play.
The front office understands the stakes. This isn’t a team that will agree to just any trade, nor will the complexities of the new CBA allow teams the rope to do so.
The Knicks are searching for the player who can push them closer to true championship contention. That player may already be on the roster, recovering from injury.
Will the Knicks wait long enough to find out?
WHAT ABOUT BUTLER
Butler’s time in Miami seems to be nearing its end. He’s formally informed the front office he wants to be traded and told reporters in a press conference he doesn’t think he can be happy playing basketball on South Beach.
Yet while Butler has proven his ability to lead teams deep into the playoffs, his age and contract make him a questionable fit for most contenders.
The Phoenix Suns have been linked to Butler, but their trade assets — namely Bradley Beal — don’t move the needle much for Miami.
A more intriguing destination could be the San Antonio Spurs. Pairing Butler with Victor Wembanyama could accelerate the Spurs’ timeline, giving the young phenom a veteran leader who thrives in high-pressure moments.
The Spurs have wiggle room in trade negotiations.
In this scenario, they send Keldon Johnson — who averaged 22 points per game in 2023 — big man Zach Collins (or veteran big man Harrison Barnes, though San Antonio should try to keep him off the table), and backup point guard Tre Jones, plus the Atlanta Hawks’ 2026 first-round pick to Miami for Butler and Alec Burks.
The Spurs have already cashed in on their first bet on veteran leadership: going after Chris Paul during the offseason was quietly one of the best moves of the summer.
Wembanyama is ahead of his time, and he might be vaulting the Spurs into contention quicker than they anticipated.
Butler to San Antonio. Who says no?
