I feel like I've done most of the "realistic" mock trades that I'm having to get more and more creative. That doesn't mean that these players are my ideal for the Knicks, there's plenty of those but so many teams have no incentive to trade those players to the Knicks. It's also been a weird season where a lot of teams who don't have their 2026 pick and have no incentive to tank are struggling and there were just some weird front office moves being made. So here's a trade that's weird, but may sort of work for everyone.

Celtics: The Celtics are basically having a gap year after the Tatum injury. But they've still been decently good and good enough to not get as good of a draft pick as they could have. I'm guessing they'll probably move Simons at some point but this is a trade that gives them a potential future starting center while making the team worse in the interim. As I've said in every Mitch trade I make, he's one of the best rim protectors in the league and perhaps the best offensive rebounder as well. While Queta shows promise, Mitch is already delivering and because they can manage his return, they can both give time for Mitch to get to 100% and field a lesser team to lose more and therefore getting a higher draft pick. They also get a couple of second round picks for their troubles as well.

Kings: The Kings have had a hugely dissapointing season and are reportedly shopping several players. Russ may seem like an odd player to trade for given he was one of the last players to be signed this year, but he's been having a pretty great season for the Kings all things considered. The Kings could decide to try and embrace the tank while trading a player who wasn't signed beyond this season anyways, get a couple second rounders (that Washington 1st is protected and won't convey this year and turns into 2 seconds) and taking a flier on Dadiet. Dadiet isn't really any sort of asset as he's barely seen any minutes over the past 2 years and didn't do much in pre-season. But he is only 20 years old and could be a good 3 and D player (could is being generous). Quick note that this trade can't take place until mid February due to the recently signed restriction on Russ.

Knicks: Losing Mitch would be rough, but I'm of the opinion that depth and availability are what the Knicks need in order to contend. I also think they need a little attitude as that's been missing since Donte was traded and Russ would bring that. And I'll be honest, I've always thought it would be fun to have Russ in a Knicks uniform (and apparently Hart has always wanted to play with him too). He's been playing hard and is averaging 14 points, nearly 7 rebounds and 6 assists a game while averaging 38% from 3! In short, he'd bring the floor general the Knicks need for the second unit while also bringing even more rebounding and he's a player who always give it everything. As for Queta, he's looked solid if not spectacular in his first real minutes in the league and would be a good backup center. And Hauser is a great 3 point shooter and is a pretty good defender (he doesn't really look like it but has done a good job on defense). He gives the Knicks more size in the frontcourt and gives them another weapon. Losing Dadiet doesn't really hurt and the second rounders are basically the only draft assets the Knicks would realistically give. The depth chart looks pretty good and there would be arugably 12 players the Knicks could have in their rotation not counting Kolek, Diawara and Hukporti (who've looked pretty decent in their minutes).

PG: Brunson, Russ, Kolek

SG: Deuce, Clarkson

SF: Bridges, Hart, Shamet

PF: Anunoby, Hauser, Diawara

C: KAT, Yabusuele/Queta, Hukporti