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Knicks - Spurs - Wizards: Knicks shore up their frontcourt depth


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I did a similar trade a couple of weeks ago (https://fanspo.com/nba/s/knicks/trades/vPtlwe8-z_keqO/knicksspurs-trade-yabu-dadiet-for-sochaner) and wanted to tweak it a little bit. Ironically, my Knicks and the Spurs are now facing each other tonight in the NBA Cup Finals, but both could make smaller moves with each other that would improve their team while not sacrificing future draft equity and team building. I also looped in the Wizards to further shore up the Knicks frontcourt depth similar to another mock trade of mine. My ideal trade would be to get Saddiq Bey from the Pelicans but I don't see that happening as he's been too impactful for them (whereas Jose Alvarado is a possibility because of a glut of guards on the Pelicans and his decreasing playing time). Team by team below.

Wizards: This one is quick, the Wizards get a prospect in Dadiet who's only 20 years old and is under contract for 3 years. He's not really an asset at this point due to the complete lack of playing time but perhaps a SRP could change their minds. Plus, Bagley is on a 1 year minimum so they're not surrendering a long term asset.

Spurs: The Spurs had hoped for more with Sochan but his playing time has dwindled as the Spurs have gotten more and more young players. He also sadly never developed a solid 3 point shot which is something the Spurs do need more of. Clarkson would be a perfect fit for a 3 point sniper and Yabu showcased solid 3 point shooting last year as well. I will note that the Spurs would be at 16 players and would have to waive a player but they have a few people at the end of their roster who I'm guessing they could part with. While Yabu has hard a difficult time in New York, it seems to be more of a fit issue as he was signed before Mike Brown was head coach and he doesn't fit the system Brown wants to run. But his time in Philly last year showed a solid player who could get more playing time on the Spurs (and would be motivated to do so as he has a player option next season and is likely looking to increase his salary). I don't think Clarkson has been a bust for the Knicks by any means, but he hasn't quite lived up to everything as he can be inconsistent. Still, he's got a solid 3 point shot and that's something this Spurs team could use more of.

Knicks: I've been disappointed with how the Yabu experience turned out because I like the story of his return to the NBA and loved watching his play for the France team. But he hasn't fit what the Knicks are trying to do and his salary provides the means to do so. Similarly, I actually think Clarkson has played well, his shot isn't always falling but he can create his own shot, plays hard on defense and I've felt his decision making has been good. But you do have to surrender good players sometimes in order to find a player that can do even better. I think Sochan has that potential with the Knicks. He's a great defender and the Knicks need another large wing to stand in and give Anunoby a break (his minutes have been pretty high and he does have an injury history). He also had some experience distributing and although that didn't quite work out, it's still a skill he's decent at. Plus, the Knicks shooting coaches have worked wonders on Josh Hart's shot and maybe they could do the same for Sochan's 3 point shooting. Bagley gives the Knicks another power forward/center type to give the Knicks more flexibility there given KAT's foul issues, Mitch's health and Hukporti's inexperience (and foul issues). The Knicks would be at 13 players and I'm not sure if this eliminates the chance at a 15th player as the Knicks would have to sign a 14th player and I don't know if there's enough left over. But the Knicks could hope that a PG would get bought out (Chris Paul?) to fill that 14th roster spot. Note that I listed Bagley as both a PF and C in the depth chart below because I think he'd switch between the two. Or the Knicks could make Sochan the backup SF and Bagley the backup PF.

Depth Chart

PG: Brunson, Kolek

SG: Bridges, Deuce

SF: Hart, Shamet

PF: Anunoby, Sochan, Bagley/Diawara

C: KAT, Mitch, Bagley/Hukporti

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