Oladipo deal unlikely without commitment
If the Knicks are to make a splash at Thursday’s trade deadline, it won’t be with a purely rental philosophy in mind, according to NBA sources.
The Post has learned if the Knicks pull the trigger on a Victor Oladipo trade, it would be with either a firm commitment he would resign as a free agent or agree to an extension.
The most the Knicks can offer Oladipo now is two years, $45 million, which he declined with the Pacers.
The Rockets are seeking at least a first-round pick in return for Oladipo, and the Knicks have the cap space to make a trade much easier, especially with the painless addition of banished Austin Rivers.
The Knicks have a plethora of draft picks, including three in the upcoming draft. Team president Leon Rose has the team’s own firstrounder, Dallas’ firstrounder and Detroit’s second-rounder, which could be No. 31.
“I don’t think they want any more young players, so their picks are in play,” one NBA official said.
Knicks general manager Scott Perry, then with the Magic, drafted Oladipo with the second pick in 2013, and the Knicks believe the 28year-old still has enough left in the tank to boost their chances in the future.
Perry no longer has the same clout as when he was GM to Steve Mills. Miami is also in play for Oladipo at the deadline and has long been rumored a favorite to sign him in the summer.
“I think the Knicks still have to worry about his health, and the year on a new deal is a major issue,” one team executive said.
The Knicks, who also have Dallas’ 2023 first-round pick, are hesitant to give up futures just for a rental.
The thought process is they aren’t ready to be a title contender. Hence, Rose is leaning toward playing it conservatively. Though he wouldn’t mind a small talent upgrade, Rose thinks this squad under Tom Thibodeau
is strong enough for at least a play-in tournament berth.
The Knicks could be more active on the buyout market. New Orleans sharpshooter JJ Redick, who wants to be in New York as he and his family live in Brooklyn, would be a target.
The Knicks want to make better use of their roster spot occupied by Rivers, who has likely played his last game for them and is expected to be either traded or bought out.
While the Pelicans have to decide whether they would deal point guard Lonzo Ball, the Knicks feel they would have a chance to sign Ball as a restricted free agent. The Post has reported Ball prefers to stay put and target restricted free agency this summer. He has the Knicks on his free-agent radar.
The Knicks have kept tabs on banished Cavaliers center Andre Drummond, who likely will be bought out due to the complexity of trading for him. The only way the Knicks would be interested in a trade is if they locked him up for next season, too, not just to plug in as a rental.
Oladipo and Ball are larger priorities.
“The Knicks know this was a year of creating a culture and development,” said one NBA executive who has been in touch with the team. “I don’t think anyone was talking about winning a championship this year.”
The Knicks don’t appear to be in on Toronto point guard Kyle Lowry, who reportedly is being shopped, or San Antonio’s on-theblock power forward LaMarcus Aldridge.
However, new names of interest have surfaced as potentially being on the market — Pacers combo guard Malcolm Brogdon, who isn’t a free agent until 2023, and their big man Myles Turner.
The Knicks also have inquired about guard Evan Fournier, another Perry draft pick in Orlando whom the Magic reportedly are looking to deal.