The New York Knicks were able to get back into the win column after losing four straight games, beating the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, but there are still shining flaws that have resulted in the team going through an unfamiliar stretch of bad games.
Defense has been the most notable subject for first-year head coach Mike Brown. New York has tried different ways to fix it, from switching to zone defenses to having to pivot with other players due to recent injuries to Josh Hart and Landry Shamet.
So what exactly could the Knicks do before the trade deadline to help improve the team's perimeter defense?
Reports have suggested that a struggling 3-and-D wing with the Sacramento Kings could help find a solution.
Kings' Keon Ellis labeled as potential trade suitor for Knicks
Keon Ellis, 26, has struggled to put together a successful season in 2025-26, but that goes for the entire Sacramento Kings team as they are currently in the second-to-last spot in the Western Conference with an 8-29 record.
After averaging 8.3 points and 1.5 steals in 24.4 minutes per game last season, Ellis' numbers have deflated to averaging 5.7 points and 1.2 steals over just 17.9 minutes a game this season.
A change in scenery could be in the works.
"The 6-foot-4 guard is skinny but plays with great energy defensively and has good hand-eye coordination. New York could use a bigger guard in its rotation," wrote The Athletic's James L. Edwards III. "Also, (Mike) Brown coached (Keon) Ellis. His intel could certainly steer the decision-makers in a certain direction."
It's also worth noting that Keon Ellis' contract has him earning $2.3 million this year. This is something that also attracts not just the Knicks, but many other teams as well, in trade talks.
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