There’s plenty of reason why the New York Knicks would look forward to the 2024-25 season. Jalen Brunson continues to live up to his promise; he took a more team-friendly contract to help the team win; and the front office brought over Mikal Bridges to help improve the team’s chances.
But while the Knicks’ Villanova core is something worth being intrigued about, there’s still a gaping hole in the roster: their frontcourt depth. Julius Randle’s absence due to his shoulder surgery in early April was felt when they lost a tight series to the Indiana Pacers in the second round.
Isaiah Hartenstein was a great contributor to the Knicks roster, but he decided to move west to Oklahoma City. With Mitchell Robinson still trying to return to form, the only way the Knicks would be able to acquire a big man is through trades.
While there are a couple of big men being linked to the Knicks, one particular big poses to broaden the Knicks’ offensive approach like never before.
Milwaukee Bucks C Brook Lopez is a terrific trade target for the New York Knicks
SNY’s David Vertsberger wrote a comprehensive piece about which big men the New York Knicks can target as they prepare for the 2024-25 season. While Clint Capela is at the top of the list of prospective bigs the Hawks can trade for, he thinks Lopez can offer a new dynamic for the Knicks if they send Miles McBride and Precious Achiuwa in exchange:
Although he’s 36 years old, Lopez is still a solid defender, and while his rebound numbers don’t stand out, he boxes out well to create opportunities for others to grab the boards. He’s also a 35.4 percent shooter from three on five attempts a game over the last six seasons in Milwaukee, providing some spacing from the position the Knicks haven’t had to this point, which can open up a lot offensively for Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.
Lopez was a solid contributor for the Bucks last season, and his numbers were close to his efficiency when the Bucks won the 2021 NBA Finals. He finished last season with 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 48.5%/36.6%/82.1% shooting splits. He also proves his value as a defender, stopping 2.4 block attempts per game.
If the New York Knicks push for Lopez, they’ll bag a reliable big man who will stretch the floor for their Villanova core to operate inside while also being a solid defender under the rim.
For More Content
Message me at c.alamodin.writes@gmail.com for questions and opportunities. For more basketball content, click here!
