The proposed trade would send Jaren Jackson Jr. to the New York Knicks
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The proposed trade would send Jaren Jackson Jr. to the New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are in freefall. Mike Brown’s team has lost eight of its last 10 games and is showing no signs of stopping the slide any time soon.
With the Feb. 5 trade deadline fast approaching, New York’s front office may decide now is the perfect time to mix things up. With that in mind, SNY’s David Vertsberger has proposed a trade that would land former Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson Jr., with the franchise.
The proposed trade looks like this:
Knicks Get: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Memphis Grizzlies Get: Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, Pacome Dadiet, a 2026 first-round pick via the Washington Wizards (protected), a 20230 first-round pick swap, a 2032 first-round draft pick and up to five second-round picks.
“Losing Hart, a core piece of the team’s identity and best friend of the team’s best player, won’t be an easy pill to swallow,” Vertsberger wrote. “But he has his flaws — size and how defenses treat him from behind the arc. Same goes for Robinson, who is limited offensively and can’t make free throws.”
Vertsberger continued.
“Jackson isn’t perfect, but he can be a defensive upgrade at the four, make up for some of New York’s lack of size, somewhat spread the floor, and slide down to the five at times if needed. He also happens to be a former client of Leon Rose, making him a more realistic target than one would think.”
Adding Jackson Jr. to New York’s rotation would undoubtedly unlock Karl-Anthony Towns’ offensive skill set. He thrived when playing next to Rudy Gobert during the latter part of his Minnesota Timberwolves tenure.
And while Jackson isn’t the same level of rim protector as Gobert, he’s an elite multi-positional defender. Jackson will begin a five-year $205 million contract extension next season.
Knicks Could Also Be Open To Trading Towns
According to Steve Popper of Newsday Sports, the Knicks are exploring their options regarding a potential Towns trade.
” His name surfaced when the Bucks and Knicks discussed the chance of a deal involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, but now league sources said that talks have involved other teams including Memphis, Orlando and Charlotte”.
Towns has struggled to fit into Mike Brown’s system. His counting stats are all down compared to previous years, and his overall production has led to growing criticism from the fanbase. If the Knicks aren’t convinced that Towns is capable of helping the franchise secure a championship, it may be worthwhile exploring his trade market.
The Knicks Need To Capitalize On This Season
Coming into the 2025-26 season, this was supposed to be the Knicks’ year. The Boston Celtics, without Jayson Tatum, weren’t expected to be a contender. Neither were last year’s NBA Finalists, the Indiana Pacers, due to Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury.
The only genuine threat was the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, Kenny Atkinson’s team is struggling to hit the heights of 2024-25, and doesn’t appear to be a genuine contender. The path is open for the Knicks to be the dominant force in the East. Yet, for some reason, they can seem to find their identity on either side of the floor.
Perhaps a trade for Jackson is precisely what the Knicks need to get their season back on track.