Tom Thibodeau’s trade deadline experience was a little different this year.
In Minnesota, Thibodeau was the team president and head coach. In New York, his sole focus is coaching.
So he was "in and out" of the room where Knicks team president Leon Rose and his executives were taking and making calls before Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.
And he had a say in the Knicks’ decisions at the deadline – Thibodeau’s voice matters in all personnel decisions – but he didn’t have to make the final call on any trades Thursday.
That was up to Rose, who was conservative in his first official trade deadline as Knicks team president.
New York made one trade on Thursday – sending Austin Rivers to OKC and getting back Terrance Ferguson and two future second round picks – deciding to keep the group that’s overachieved through 44 games in tact.
“Leon and his staff did an unbelievable job. They had a plan that was very well thought out,” Thibodeau said before New York’s come-from-behind win over Washington. “There was a number of possible opportunities and I thought they were very disciplined. We love the team we have. So it worked out well for us.”
The Knicks spoke to the Pelicans as late as Thursday about a potential Lonzo Ball trade. Nothing came to fruition, but a source familiar with the talks expects the Knicks to have interest in Ball again in the offseason.
Fans who wanted to see New York bolster its lineup for a playoff push probably aren’t comforted by that news. They wanted to see the Knicks add shooting or depth, and it didn’t happen.
But the Knicks didn’t want to overextend to trade for a player like Ball, whom they could sign in the offseason. They also didn’t want to overextend for a player who might be a rental. (There was a discussion between the Knicks and Magic about Evan Fournier, who eventually went to Boston for two second-round picks).
Instead of giving up assets in a win-now move, the Knicks held on to their draft picks and cap space for another day. And they could have as much as $60 million in cap space this offseason.
It reminded you a bit of the Knicks’ approach in free agency. Instead of signing veterans to big long-term deals, the Knicks chose to hold on to their cap space and maintain flexibility.
Of course, you can’t hold on to cap space and draft picks forever.
Eventually you have to turn those assets into players who can help you win games.
That didn’t happen on Thursday, which is reasonable. But there’s a chance that the Knicks use some of their cap space before the 2021 offseason.
The club is going to monitor the buyout market. The top name on the market will be big man Andre Drummond.
Drummond will likely have a chance to sign with the top contenders in the NBA – Brooklyn and the Lakers in particular. Or he may have a chance to sign with the Knicks, who can offer him more money and years on a contract than any other suitor.
Because the Knicks have roughly $15 million in cap space, they can sign Drummond to a four-year, $64 million deal after signing him as a free agent.
Would the Knicks make that kind of offer to Drummond? That’s unclear.
As reported earlier this week, there has been no consensus among the Knicks about pursuing Drummond.
Some prominent voices in the organization have supported the idea. Others – as of earlier this week, a majority of the organization – hadn’t seen Drummond as a fit.
The debate over Drummond will likely continue as he completes his buyout with the Cavs and clears waivers.
If New York ends up signing Drummond to a multi-year deal, it wouldn’t bode well for Mitchell Robinson’s future in New York.
Thibodeau has been supportive and complimentary of the third-year center, who is eligible for an extension this offseason.
But if Drummond signs a multi-year deal, it would be strange for the Knicks to then commit significant money to Robinson.
It would make more sense to trade him.
That’s something to keep in mind as we find out more about the Knicks’ approach with Drummond in the coming days.
Drummond isn’t the only big man on the Knicks’ radar. As reported earlier this week, John Henson and Norvel Pelle are also among the players they’re keeping an eye on for their open roster spot. If Gorgui Dieng is bought out, he has a Knick connection: Dieng played for Thibodeau with Minnesota.
