The New York Knicks have a talented roster, which has made it tough on one of their offseason signings.
Guerschon Yabusele simply hasn't been able to break through.
His return to the NBA in 2024-25 with the Philadelphia 76ers had been extremely promising. But with the Knicks, Yabusele has struggled to stay in the rotation.
Now, he might be a trade candidate, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
"Yabusele has struggled to find a role with New York this season after averaging a career-high 27.1 minutes and 11 PPG with Philadelphia last season," Marks writes. "Instead, he has been a DNP in three games and has played fewer than 15 minutes in his other 27 games."
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Marks goes on to explain multiple cap reasons that the big Frenchman might be more valuable to the Knicks as someone they trade away.
"The 30-year-old veteran signed a two-year, $11.3 million contract with New York over the summer with 2026-27 as a player option," Marks writes. "New York is $148,000 below the second apron, and trading Yabusele would allow the franchise to sign two players while remaining under the second apron. Removing Yabusele's salary next season would allow New York to re-sign Mitchell Robinson and possibly remain below the apron. The Knicks are a projected $16.3 million below entering the offseason."
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It's the kind of move that executives don't always love to make. A quick trade of Yabusele would essentially be admitting a mistake for the Knicks front office.
But there's no time for pride to get in the way. The Knicks have a good enough team to make noise in the Eastern Conference.
It's up to them to maximize things in the second half, even if that means trading a guy they signed to play a key role this season who simply hasn't worked out.
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