Knicks - New York has its core locked in for the long run so here they make a move to improve depth. Adding Ellis gives them another ball handler, with size and outside shooting that can play alongside Brunson and cover his defensive weaknesses. The cost isn’t too high either as they keep their rotation in tact, just giving up second rounders and prospects. Ellis isn’t a major move or anything but he adds depth that the Knicks so desperately need to win a title.

Kings - Sacramento isn’t good enough to contend but not bad enough to tank, and this is them picking a direction. The West is loaded, with pretty much every team outside of Utah having a reason to look for the playoffs or play in. This would be there first of many moves of the Kings acknowledging that not all of those teams will make it so they reset and take advantage of there being so many teams looking to add players. Guys like Derozan, Lavine, and Jonas would be moved with this trade as well. This move adds them a couple young guys in Kolek and Hukporti who could hopefully develop into rotation players, along with 3 seconds, which is a solid return for a rotation guard like Ellis.