Knicks urged to trade for former Mike Brown player to bolster depth

Charlie Baduini

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Knicks urged to trade for former Mike Brown player to bolster depth image

The New York Knicks have lived up to their lofty preseason expectations to start the 2025-26 season, boasting a 23-9 record and holding the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

As the trade deadline approaches, it's fair to wonder if this Knicks roster will be able to withstand a full playoff run the way they're currently constructed, and if the front office doesn't think so, they would be wise to make a trade that doesn't shake up the roster but adds valuable depth to the bench.

That's exactly why SNY's David Vertsberger proposed a trade for New York that would land a bench player who's familiar with head coach Mike Brown's system.

Knicks urged to trade for Kings guard Keon Ellis

Vertsberger proposed a trade for Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis, a strong 3&D guard who would be a valuable addition to the Knicks' second unit.

"A 6-foot-4 guard doesn’t seem like it should be on the top of New York’s priority list, but as far as realistic short-term upgrades go, they may not find a better one in the league. Ellis is only a four-year player, but even spending all that time with the Sacramento Kings, his strengths have popped through," wrote Vertsberger.

"He’s a strong defender and career 41.7 percent three-point shooter, and had his best years under Knicks head coach Mike Brown. The Kings don’t appear to value him highly despite being one of their few young talents, giving the Knicks a chance to boost their depth at a discounted cost."

Ellis' salary matches Knicks forward Guerschon Yabusele, a player who hasn't received a lot of minutes since signing with New York over the summer.

Swapping out Yabusele for Ellis would be an upgrade for the roster and put the Knicks in a better position to compete for a championship.

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News Correspondent