Nicolas Batum #33 of the LA Clippers fight for position with Guerschon Yabusele #28 of the New York Knicks
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Nicolas Batum #33 of the LA Clippers fight for position with Guerschon Yabusele #28 of the New York Knicks
If the goal for the New York Knicks, in parting ways with coach Tom Thibodeau in a stunning move last offseason, was to find a coach who would use the bench more liberally and develop younger players in doing so, then it’s been mission accomplished for coach Mike Brown.
The Knicks have better bench depth than they’ve had in recent years under Thibodeau, with the play of Jordan Clarkson and, more recently, Tyler Kolek. Last year, the Knicks bench contributed an average of 21.7 points per game, which was dead last in the NBA. This year, that number is up to 31.7, and obvious improvement–though still not great, as the Knicks rank No. 28 in points coming from reserves.
The Knicks have not gotten what they’d hoped from backup forward Guerschon Yabusele, and there’s hope that, when Josh Hart returns from his ankle injury and Miles McBride goes back to the bench, that New York’s depth will be on par with the rest of the league–or, at least, the rest of the East. Still, they could use more and ESPN suggests a realistic trade target: Nicolas Batum of the Clippers.
Nicolas Batum Would Be a ‘Reliable Veteran’ for Knicks
At 37 years old, Batum is not the player he once was, but still fills a nice role in the NBA, a smart, versatile player who can play 2-through-4 and who has made himself into a fantastic 3-point shooter in his old age–Batum is shooting 40.3% on 3s in the last six years, a number that has helped keep him in the league despite being well past his sell-by date.
Here’s how Zach Kram of ESPN sees a potential Knicks fit:
“The Knicks’ depth has improved despite a disappointing showing from Guerschon Yabusele, whose scoring average has dropped from 11 points per game in Philadelphia last season to 3.2 in New York. Trading for the Clippers’ Nicolas Batum would give the Knicks a more reliable veteran in the frontcourt, and it wouldn’t require a lot to acquire him, which is a necessity because New York can’t deal any of its future first-rounders after the Mikal Bridges blockbuster.”
Would Clippers Trade Nicolas Batum?
There is the question, of course, of what the Clippers would want from the Knicks to send out Batum, who is a well-liked presence on and off the floor. The Clippers have played well lately, winners of seven out of their last eight games before losing to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
The Clippers have gone from a 6-21 start to pulling themselves just 2.5 games out of a play-in spot, so they might not be so eager to give up Batum as they might have appeared to be three weeks ago.
Knicks Would Have to Stretch to Make a Trade
Still, he is on a $5.6 million contract this year, with a team option at $5.9 million next year. Though the contracts are close to the same value, the Knicks can’t do a straight Yabusele-Batum trade unless they free up money elsewhere, either in a separate deal or by including, say, Ariel Hukporti.
Would Yabusele and a gamble on the 23-year-old Hukporti be enough to persuade the Clippers to deal Batum? Would the Knicks have to include one of their trove of second-rounders to get the Clippers to make the deal–and would the Knicks be willing to go that far for a player of Batum’s vintage?
All relevant questions. But the Knicks do need another bench piece, and Batum at least makes some sense.