The Knicks were interested in both Emmanuel Mudiay and Elfrid Payton as minutes winded down to the trade deadline and the team ultimately decided to swing a deal for Mudiay. Both former lottery pick point guards have been disappointments but Mudiay may have been the more sensible target for the Knicks, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes.
While Mudiay and Payton both come with some downside, they are also both still young and possess talent. Berman quotes two executives who believe Mudiay — who is still under contract for one additional season beyond 2017/18 — is a better fit for the Knicks. The Knicks also gave up Doug McDermott, who was not in New York’s future plans, Berman notes.
In 42 games this season, Mudiay has averaged 8.5 PPG and 2.9 APG.
Check out other Knicks news below:
- While adding another young point guard could be interpreted as the Knicks losing faith in Frank Ntilikina, he is not worried about the acquisition, Newsday’s Al Iannazzone writes. Ntilikina views the addition of Mudiay as a positive that will benefit both sides. We’re not competing against each other,” Ntilikina said. “We’re going to bring each other to the top to make the Knicks a competitive team. We can both play with the ball, we can both play off the ball, so it might be great for us.”
- The Raptors‘ trade of Bruno Caboclo to the Kings for Malachi Richardson may not be a major deal on a blockbuster deadline day but it has salary cap implications, Josh Lewenberg of TSN writes. Trading Caboclo sheds nearly $1MM in salary, which gives Toronto flexibility to fill its 15th roster spot without going over the tax line.
- Despite numerous rumors entering the deadline, the Celtics ultimately kept Marcus Smart. Greg Monroe‘s deal with Boston also became official and the chase for Eastern Conference supremacy continues. Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe spoke to general manager Danny Ainge about the deadline, Smart staying in Boston, and the team’s future — including plans to explore the buyout market.
They could have had Peyton but chose Mudiaye. Yikes. That’s not something they should have advertised. Perry is still a questionable hire. Anyway this is something to judge a GM on.
They have Mudiay under contract for next season whereas Payton is a restricted FA … They have an extra whole season to decide on Mudiay they wouldn’t have had with Payton .. it makes absolutely perfect sense
Good point, though I like the superior position RFAs puts the club in.
Ainge comes up small at the trade deadline two years in a row. They should have worked something out to get Tyreke. The Cavs jumped ahead of Boston again with their moves today.
It remains to be seen. Don’t underestimate the Monroe addition and it’s quite possible Hayward makes it back this season. Plus, a guy like Joe Johnson may be available via buyout. So don’t confuse patience with failure.
Trading Marcus Smart would have been the worst thing to do. With Bradley gone he remains their grit and toughness and defensive excellence and effort.
Sometimes the best deals are not making them. Cavs did an overhaul. Boston didn’t need to. They’re coming out of the east and there’s no one I can see getting in their way (until they meet GS).
What trades were out there for him? I only saw them mentioned for Evans, which I would have done for his own 1st this year – but I can see holding off as well.
Cavs really needed to add a big guy. I liked there moves a lot. But I don’t feel like they moved the needle enough this year to beat Golden State. They matchup better with Boston now tho. For the Cavs to compete with Golden State they need someone like Tobias Harris. Who can “guard” Durant most of the game and LeBron can matchup with him late. LeBron guarding Durant the entire game isn’t ideal.
Van Gundy was going to be very reluctant to trade Tobias. Cavs were looking at him. It would take a Blake G.
Payton is starting and having a good year, but as a rising RFA, a rebuilding team would have to be ready to commit to him pretty much right away. Mudiay is still a year away from that point, and makes more sense for the Knicks if they can get him starter minutes or close for a good portion of the next 25 games and next year. Always hard to know what the Knicks plan is (if they have one).