The Knicks have their eyes set on the 2019 free-agent class, but that doesn't mean they aren't thinking about making some trades midseason.
In fact, ESPN's Ian Begley reported the team has shown some "preliminary interest" in trading for Bulls' SF Jabari Parker.
Parker signed a two-year, $40 million contract with a team option this past offseason, but according to ESPN.com's Malika Andrews, the Bulls don't appear to be keeping him in their regular rotation. If that's the case, exploring a trade would be the best option for the club.
As of now, the Knicks' small forward depth chart is rookie Kevin Knox and Mario Hezonja. Parker has been putting better numbers up than Hezonja this season, averaging 15.2 points and 6.9 rebounds compared to 7.2 points and 3.2 rebounds. The Duke product was also a former second overall pick back in 2014 by the Bucks.
What exactly the Bulls will be asking for is unknown, but as Begley points out, the Knicks don't intend to be giving up any first-round draft picks in trades. When Jimmy Butler was on the market, president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry both made it clear they weren't interested because they didn't want to let up their picks.
Players like Courtney Lee, Hezonja, or one of the three point guards in Frank Ntilikina, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Trey Burke could be included in a deal.