The New York Knicks are not happy with the results of last season. If they were, they wouldn’t have fired Tom Thibodeau just days after the season ended. There are also Knicks trade rumors going around that the team could be looking to shake up their roster with a big trade. 

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report made some bold NBA predictions. One of them is that the Knicks will trade one of their five starters from last season. 

“The Knicks need to deepen their rotation and won't have more than the mini mid-level exception of $5.7 million to spend. Even without any outright first-rounders to dangle, trades are the vehicle through which they will extend their rotation. That requires sending out matching money of consequence—more than reserves like Deuce McBride ($4.3 million) or even Robinson ($13 million) make. 

Brunson and Anunoby clearly seem off-limits. The other three? Not so much.”

It seems wild to think that the Knicks would trade one of their five best players after such a successful season. They were just a couple of wins away from going to the NBA Finals. Is trading one of the key pieces that got them there a good idea?

It probably depends on who and what they can get in return. If the Knicks can trade Josh Hart for two solid rotation players, that probably would be worth it. If they can trade Karl-Anthony Towns for a more defensively gifted starter and a solid bench player, sure. 

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That being said, making major tweaks when the team is maybe just a few minor tweaks away from making the NBA Finals is risky. The Knicks may be better off keeping their core in tact and seeing if a new coach can help bring this team over the hump. 

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