NBA Trade Rumors: Knicks Could Pull Off Deal For Sexton By Offering Cavs’ 2018 Rookie Target

The New York Knicks are expected to target a star guard and Collin Sexton of the Cleveland Cavaliers is reportedly on the list. The Knicks do have a plethora of players they could offer although there is no clarity on who.

One player that could make sense is Kevin Knox. The 21-year-old was reportedly someone the Cavs were interested in during the 2018 NBA Draft but opted to go with Sexton instead. The Knicks picked him up after drafting Sexton at no. 8.

Cavs general manager Koby Altman was reportedly high on Knox at that time. It remains unclear if he and Cleveland feel the same way since then.

“Cleveland liked Kevin in the draft,’’ the source said. “Whether there’s still that feeling since they’ve watched him in the pros is not clear. But they liked him then.’’

With the Knicks, Knox has been struggling. He was taken out of the rotation by coach Tom Thibodeau because of his low-energy defense.

There is no question that Knox’s underwhelming performance has decreased his trade value. It appears he was not able to blend in with Thibodeau’s system, yet another reason why he could be on the block. However, it would be best to note that assistant coach Kevin Payne also failed to make it work with the 6-foot-9 player when they worked together in Kentucky.

Also, there is Knicks chief strategist Brock Aller to consider. Having held a front-office position with the Cavs when they took in Sexton, he still holds a good relationship with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. This is another factor that could help sway a Collin Sexton trade.

One twist that could be worth considering as well is Obi Toppin. He struggled in his rookie year but allegedly would not mind swapping places with Sexton. Both players are under Creative Artists Agency agent Austin Brown.

But some feel that dealing Toppin for Sexton is too much. Sexton could demand a five-year deal worth $168 million while Toppin is headed into the second year of his four-year rookie deal.

For now, it would be best to take this with a grain of salt. Sexton could be headed to Gotham but the player/s included remain a mystery.