The New York Knicks remain without a steady backup for starting point guard Jalen Brunson, and team officials are preparing to explore the market when NBA trade season begins on Dec. 15.
Targets on the early watch list
According to people familiar with the club’s thinking, New York has identified two experienced ball-handlers as potential trade options:
- Chris Paul – The 38-year-old future Hall of Famer is currently coming off the bench for the Golden State Warriors but could be moved if the defending champions look to reshape their roster.
- T.J. McConnell – The Indiana Pacers reserve is widely regarded as one of the league’s most reliable second-unit playmakers and would add tempo and defense to the Knicks’ bench.
New York’s front office, led by president Leon Rose, is expected to monitor both situations closely while evaluating how much draft capital and salary it is willing to include in any future deal. League rules allow most recently signed free agents to be traded after Dec. 15, traditionally marking the unofficial start of the NBA’s in-season trading period.
The Knicks have leaned on internal options to spell Brunson early in the campaign but continue to search for a veteran capable of running the offense and stabilizing the second unit.
The formal trade deadline falls in early February, giving New York roughly two months to decide whether Paul, McConnell, or another available guard best addresses the lingering need behind its All-Star floor general.
Source: New York Post
