In exactly one day, on Dec. 15, most players who changed teams this offseason will officially be available to be included in trades. That means NBA trade season will be underway, and with the Knicks in obvious need of a two-way point guard, it also means you could be hearing some chatter coming out of New York.
Who should the Knicks go after? Marc Berman of the New York Post has an idea:
Jennings is hardly an elite defender and has never been an efficient player for a full season, but he would be a defensive upgrade on the slow-footed Calderon, assuming he can regain his preinjury form.
Also, let's not forget that he may have been in the midst of a leap before going down last season. Over his final 15 games of last season, he averaged 20.1 points and 6.8 assists per game. He shot a respectable 44 percent from the field and 39 percent from three in that time.
If the Knicks could get that Jennings, you wouldn't mind them giving up young talent to acquire him, especially since BJ is still just 26 years old. But that's not guarantee, especially after the injury, and he could take some time to get back into game shape after being cleared to play.
Knicks fans better hope their team doesn't see a big name and go after him purely on reputation. You don't want to sacrifice your future if you don't have to do it.
Sources indicated most teams would wait until Jennings plays a few games because of the nastiness of Achilles injuries.
The Pistons have their new starting point guard in Reggie Jackson, and Jennings is in the last year of a three-year, $24 million deal. Trading the pact of Calderon, a former Piston, for Jennings straight up wouldn’t do the trick, but adding Grant or a big man to a package could be more enticing. Grant did not play in Portland on Saturday after playing three minutes in Sacramento.
The Knicks players who become eligible to be traded Tuesday are Grant, the untouchable Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick Williams, Robin Lopez, Kyle O’Quinn, Kevin Seraphin, Sasha Vujacic, Arron Afflalo, Lance Thomas and Lou Amundson. Sources believe the Wizards and Nuggets eventually could be in fire-sale mode. The Wizards had interest in Williams in July.
