Aaaand we're back to defending my trades. PUT YOUR PITCHFORKS DOWN! I KNOW OG IS MORE THAN A 3&D GUY OK??

Alright, alright. Now, the basics. Why do the Knicks do this trade? First, and this is my most insane reason yet, Oso Ighodaro. Okay not exactly him but more so what his unique skillset provides. You see, there aren't many true big men out there that can be that roaming presence and swat away your shot as a help defender at the last minute consistently. Neemy on the C's, Bam on the Heat, Isaac on the Magic before he got exposed as having absolutely zero offensive game, Chet and Wemby obviously, Timelord on the Blazers who carried an entire Celtics defensive structure with that playstyle, and then finally Ighodaro on the Suns. I don't know 'bout y'all, but the most realistic trade option out of all those, aside from Isaac but that's just cause the Magic would take any form of value for him atp, is Oso. The reason I bring up that style of play in the first place is cause I think it's really what would fix KAT's still clunky fit on this team. We know the dilemma atp, amazing offense, terrible defense, can only play him next Robinson in spurts to supplement the defense, but not for a long stretch because then the offense gets weird. And I really think one really good way to fix that is to have one of those unique big men builds of tall, long, strong and somehow really athletic for their frame, specifically to have them roaming on defense as that last minute help defender to make drivers hesitate or just stop their shot directly. I think that would really fix a ton of issues with KAT's fit into the Knicks' defensive structure, and on offense you can actually keep him on for elongated periods next to KAT, because while he doesn't stretch the floor, he can be hidden as a cutter and dunkers spot guy, perks of being uniquely tall, long, strong and somehow really athletic for their frame.

"So you nuke the roster just for Oso Ighod-!" I'M GETTING TO THE REST OF THE TRADE PIECES!

Yes OG isn't just some tradeable piece for them, but I do think his production can be re-created, nod to Billy Beane. And Grayson Allen plus PJ Washington certainly seems more than enough to do it in my eyes. Grayson Allen broke out as a legitimate 3rd shot creator this year on the Suns, on the Knicks he'd be the 4th after Brunson, Bridges and KAT. OG in spurts was a good top of the key ball handler for the Knicks, Grayson is a legitimate creator in that same position. And he's a far FAR better off-ball player, like legitimately the difference is astronomical, perks of first building your reputation as a movement shooter 3&D guy, then exploring more of your bag later. Now the defense I'll admit OG clears, but that doesn't mean Allen doesn't hold his own defensively, he wouldn't have gotten the moniker of a 3&D guy if he didn't. And PJ, we all know what PJ does right? Corner 3 merchant who becomes his teams' POA in crunch time and crucial games. That's where OG's defense is recreated in this equation. Okay but calling him a corner 3 merchant's kinda selling him short, he's been doing for the Mavs what you see Josh Hart doing for the Knicks, hand-off guy, except he can actually position himself to shoot from 3 afterwards because he's a legitimate shooter.

And that's all I had to say for the Knicks' end, pls don't hate me.

Now why do the Suns do it? Because OG is still a hell of a piece to have. Defense can't be overstated, and he dealt with ball handling duties for the Knicks like mentioned before. And I just feel like a wing pairing of Brooks plus Anunoby would be a hell cage for any ball handler. Offensively I do think he is a step down from Allen, but not that much where they all of a sudden become uncomfortable when the ball's out of Booker or Brooks' hands. OG was doing ball handling duties for the Knicks as well like I sad. I feel like it would be a developmental trade, but the payoff shouldn't be that far off on the road. And getting Daniel Gafford is huge for them after losing Oso as he was their backup big and sometimes started. Gafford assuming that role of a backup and occasional starter was exactly his role in 2024 for the Mavs and he flourished, I think it could absolutely be the case once more in Phoenix.

And the Mavs, honestly my favorite side of this trade because they take on Jalen Green's development, and what better pairing than with Cooper Flagg, right? But legitimately this pairing intrigues me so, Green's off-ball catch and shoot ability, and his incessant ability to put pressure on the rim, both those things could be real synergy points with Cooper's game.