New York Daily News

WORTH A TRY

Knicks need to step up in class and D’Angelo Russell would be good move

- STEFAN BONDY

Fixing the Knicks is a multilayer­ed and thorny task given their power structure, but here’s a starting point for this week: trade for D’Angelo Russell. This is a talent league and Russell, a 23-year-old ace scorer, is the type of special playmaker the Knicks have sorely missed from their roster. Russell is certainly flawed defensivel­y and doesn’t get to the foul line enough, but he’s worth a reasonable gamble — especially for a Knicks front office that desperatel­y needs to justify its employment.

To date, Steve Mills and Scott Perry have avoided the big trade while largely sitting out the negotiatio­ns for Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler and Anthony Davis — all within the last two years. They’ve settled on a strategy of maintainin­g assets by gambling on low-risk projects, believing their scouting, coaching and, above all, player developmen­t will carry the organizati­on. They acquired Emmanuel Mudiay, Dennis Smith Jr. and Mario Hezonja. Then they signed C-level free agents.

It hasn’t worked out. And it’s time for a step up in class.

Russell, while still developing, is already an All-Star and handled the New York market well during his two years with the Nets. He’s also under contract for three more seasons, and has demonstrat­ed improvemen­t each year he’s been in the league (both on and off the court). He’s a gaining asset and the Knicks, riding a sixyear streak (and counting) without the playoffs, need to restart somewhere after shooing away Kristaps Porzingis for cap space. Russell, it should be noted, is good buddies with the two top members of the 2015 draft class: Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns. In today’s NBA, one star in the fold makes it more likely that a second comes aboard. Two stars often evolves to a third. Three stars means you’re in business.

Of course, there are plenty of reasons why the Knicks won’t trade for Russell. They are among multiple teams pitching offers to Golden State, according to the Athletic. The Knicks’ competitio­n includes the Timberwolv­es, who are more desperate to acquire Russell to appease Towns. The Warriors (11-39) have the worst record in the NBA and would like to shed salary, but they’re not under heavy pressure to deal Russell. Negotiatio­ns between the Warriors and Timberwolv­es “reached an impasse” because Minnesota wasn’t willing to include its 2020 firstround pick, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Sounds like the Warriors are playing hardball.

The Knicks own a trove of picks — including two future first rounders from Dallas — but they also have to draw a line in the sand. Aside from RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson, their prospects aren’t worth much in the trade market. The Knicks’ package will require first-round picks. There will certainly be members of the fanbase and front office hesitant to part with significan­t picks, given the franchise’s history. But after drafting in the lottery in four of the last five years, the Knicks have zero players on the level of Russell. They’re also on pace to lose at least 50 games for a sixth straight season.

Russell’s a good starting point for change.

WANTED: POINT GUARD

Regardless of what happens with Russell, the Knicks, according to sources, are in the market for a point guard. As the News reported, they’re also high on OKC’s Dennis Schroder, another scoring point guard and less of a financial commitment than Russell (Schroder is guaranteed for just $15.5 million next season while Russell has three years, $90 million remaining on his deal).

Schroder is currently the Thunder’s backup but is averaging a robust 19.1 points on a career-high 47.2% shooting.

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 ?? AP ?? Marcus Morris, who could be gone by Thursday’s trade deadline, carries Knicks past Cavaliers in overtime.
AP Marcus Morris, who could be gone by Thursday’s trade deadline, carries Knicks past Cavaliers in overtime.

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