Wow, what a difference a month can make. In early to mid December, the Knicks were riding high, playing well and eventually won the NBA Cup. A month later, they've come crashing down to earth and it's clear that there's issues in this locker room. Literally everyone seems pretty unhappy right now and although it also seems like some blame falls on Mike Brown, I think the roster at this point is just too messy and it may be time for the nuclear option - trading KAT. I'm probably undervaluing KAT too much, but everyone in the NBA is watching this train wreck which would certainly hurt his trade value. I'm hoping I'm wrong and the Knicks could get more for KAT (I'd prefer Ayo going to the Knicks for example) but I was trying to be more realistic and less of a Knicks homer. Team by team below.

Bulls: The Bulls started the year well and also came crashing down to earth. The difference? The Bulls didn't have championship aspirations this year while the Knicks do. They've reportedly put everyone on the trading block except for Giddey/Buzelis/Essengue so they've at least considered sending several of these players out. Vucevic is on an expiring and may have been leaving at the end of the season when his contract expires. And they would love to move on from Patrick Williams, who they inexplicably signed to a 4 year / $90 million contract when no one else was really bidding against them. Coby White is the big one here, but he's looked like we was going to leave Chicago at the end of the season as well. Losing Ayo as well is a tough sell, but I have trouble seeing the Wolves move on from Donte without another player. Despite KAT being a multiple time All-Star and All-NBA player, the crazy thing is that since the whole league is watching the Knicks spiral, the Knicks may actually need to add some draft capital in this trade, despite KAT being the best player. It's actually why I could see the Knicks having to include a pick swap or the protected Washington FRP. They were also reportedly considering trading for Anthony Davis so why not a different center who while he isn't the defensive force that AD is, he's not nearly as injury prone.

Wolves: The Wolves have been having a great season, but the one thing missing is the same thing it has been for several seasons: a top PG. Enter Coby White, who can provide instant offense, is solid on defense and has good size for a PG. He's having a down year but the Wolves buy low on him and get a player who can average around 20 per game, pass well and has solid size that wouldn't compromise their identity on defense. Losing Donte is probably the most controversial part of this trade as while he's not a PG (and has been playing it some), he's been great for them. It's because of this that I have the Wolves also receiving Ayo who would give them another player who can play solid defense, shoot well and provide assists too. Dillingham has seemed gone for a while now, so I don't see that part being too tough for them. Essentially they turn Donte into 2 players who would be large parts of the rotation and who both fit the timeline.

Pelicans: This piece of the trade is more to show how the Knicks shedding salary can allow them to take on another player to fill a role they need and since the Pelicans are reportedly okay with moving Alvarado, I'm keeping it short. They get Dadiet, who's a project and doesn't have much value on his own, but is still only 20 and has the tools to be a good 3 and D wing, in exchange for Alvarado, a player who doesn't get a ton of run for them anyways and a couple of second round picks.

Knicks: The Knicks making this trade means they realize that to some extent, despite the conference finals appearance last year, that the Randle/KAT trade was a mistake (for them). They reverse part of that mistake by re-uniting the Nova Knicks that almost were: Brunson, Hart, Bridges and Donte. He'd immediately fit in with this team and also provide the attitude and fire that the Knicks have been missing since he left. Donte and Hart would feed off of each others energy and would be able to hold other players accountable if they didn't provide enough effort (as we're seeing now). The Knicks get Vucevic who is also a stretch 5 and is much more low maintenance on offense, which has been an issue with KAT all year. He's not a good player on defense, but he does know his role, is a solid veteran and is on an expiring so the Knicks could try him out and re-sign him at a lower number if they think it works. The Knicks also take on Patrick Williams contract which is why I don't have them including any draft capital (similar to the Trae trade). As I said above, the Bulls vastly overpaid them but the Knicks may prefer KAT's large contract being split up into several smaller ones, along with fixing the locker room issues. I also basically included another trade on top of this to show another benefit of this trade: the Knicks shed salary. This allows them to send out Dadiet and a couple of second round picks in exchange for Alvarado. Alvarado is a great defender (despite his size) and several players on the Knicks have advocated for him on the team as well. Kolek has been a good story but is probably not consistent and experienced enough for the Knicks to have him as their backup PG. Alvardo is an efficient player who can run the second unit and would also bring the attitude and fire the Knicks have needed this year. The Knicks still retain the protected Washington pick to make additional moves. The depth chart looks less spectacular without KAT, but arguably more well rounded and the Knicks could extend their window without his salary on the books.

PG: Brunson, Alvarado, Kolek

SG: Donte, Deuce, Clarkson

SF: Bridges, Hart, Shamet

PF: Anunoby, Williams, Diawara

C: Vucevic, Mitch, Hukporti