With the NBA trade deadline set for Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, the New York Knicks find themselves in a promising spot, having won seven of their last eight games and with good news about Mitchell Robinson’s injury recovery.
A notable development from their recent victories over Houston and Toronto is the increased playing time for rookie Ariel Hukporti.
Coach Tom Thibodeau inserted him into the game early against the Raptors, where he contributed six points and five rebounds in 19 minutes, while veteran Jericho Sims barely played.
Fans have been vocal about wanting Hukporti to play ahead of Sims all season. Although the rookie has much to learn, he can’t do so effectively from the sidelines.
He’s not expected to play 20 minutes each night, but with the Knicks needing frontcourt depth until Robinson’s return, Hukporti’s role seems justified. Sims, who has been with the Knicks since 2021, hasn’t shown he merits a consistent rotation spot.
This situation suggests the Knicks might look to make a trade. With Sims set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, there’s little urgency for New York to re-sign him.
Jericho Sims’ time with the Knicks could be coming to an end
On Tuesday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that Jericho Sims has caught the attention of teams like the Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks.
Sims’ trade value is estimated to be around one or two second-round picks. At this point, it makes more sense for the Knicks to trade him rather than lose him for nothing when he becomes a free agent.
However, the Knicks face a complex situation. Mitchell Robinson was given the green light for contact on Monday, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready for game action immediately. He’s been out since last May due to ankle surgery, and conditioning will take time.
There have also been whispers about trading Robinson himself. James L. Edwards III from The Athletic mentioned that league sources thought the Knicks were “open” to moving him, though this might have shifted since Robinson’s medical clearance. Alternatively, the Knicks might look to move Sims’ expiring contract to gain more frontcourt support.
Fortunately, fans won’t have to wait long to see what the Knicks decide, with trading Sims seeming like part of the plan.
