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A hot dog is a sandwich.

Did I get your attention with that factually incorrect statement? I hope so.

Look, let’s face it. Chances are you’re going to scroll down to quickly glance at each trade scenario and ignore the explanations. Hell, you might not even be reading this paragraph. How do I know this? Because I probably wouldn’t be reading it either, having instead skipped to see all of the trade scenarios.

You’re going to see some names in here that might scare you. So I’m asking you to at the very least skim the reasoning portions and to be open. Understand the rationale before flying off the handle, s’il vous plaît. The New York Knicks aren’t flush with win-now assets that will move the needle for contending teams, so the returns won’t be that great.

These scenarios are merely hypotheticals for the Knicks. Each trade works financially (shout out to NBA Trade Machine) and I am by no means making predictions about what will happen. These are trades involving the Knicks buying, (mostly) selling and trying to maximize their spending power in summers 2018 or 2019.

Trade #1

Grab a coat, Courtney

Knicks receive: Cole Aldrich + rights to 2018 Oklahoma City Thunder first round pick

Minnesota Timberwolves receive: Courtney Lee + rights to 2018 Chicago Bulls second round pick

Why the Knicks say yes

New York gets two things out of this deal: a first round pick and salary cap relief. The pick is a great way to add to an already young core. The Knicks trade Lee for Aldrich, who only has $2,056,021 of his $6,956,021 salary guaranteed next season. Waiving Aldrich on or before June 20th would open up additional cap space for New York this summer.

Why include the Bulls pick? Lee’s play is worth a first on its own!

The problem is that Lee will be 33 and 34 through the final two years of his contract. Teams need to consider the future as well as the present. DeMarre Carroll has one fewer season on his contract than Lee and is a year younger. Evan Fournier hasn’t reached his prime, is under contract long term and is only earning about $5 million per season more than Lee is the next two years. Minnesota wouldn’t be acquiring Lee for just this season but for the remainder of his deal. He offense should age fine but it’s his defense that will likely get worse as he ages.

Why the Timberwolves say yes

The Wolves haven’t made the playoffs since the 2003–04 season. Five Wolves rank in the top 40 in minutes per game: Jimmy Butler (fifth), Andrew Wiggins (10th), Karl-Anthony Towns (16th), Jeff Teague (35th) and Taj Gibson (39th). If that level of minutes continues, Minnesota will be gassed come playoff time. Minnesota has one of the worst benches in the league and is a team that is in desperate need of spacing.

Enter Lee, a man who is shooting 45/42/96 this season.

It should be of note, however, that Lee is 42nd in the league in minutes per game. Yet if Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau can add a two-way wing to give Butler more rest down the stretch without sacrificing games, he’d be wise to make such a move. Lee wouldn’t be able to replicate the MVP candidate’s numbers but he would help hold down the fort.

With Aldrich stuck behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng, there’s really no reason for him to be on the team when someone else like Lee can play meaningful minutes. And considering how well the Thunder have been playing, the pick won’t fall anywhere near the lottery. A win-now player is more important for a team that wants to win, well, now.

Timberwolves fans may object to the idea of giving up a first round pick but the Bulls pick should still have value. Picks in the 31–40 range are often more advantageous than first round picks because there is no guaranteed salary. Whereas, if Minnesota drafted a player in the first round, that guaranteed salary could either affect the team’s spending power in free agency or lead to paying luxury taxes (or paying more in taxes).

Trade #2

Trade #1… but with a twist

Knicks receive: Julius Randle

Timberwolves receive: Lee + rights to 2018 Bulls second round pick (via New York)

Los Angeles Lakers receive: Aldrich + rights to 2018 Thunder first round pick (via Timberwolves)

Why the Knicks say yes

This trade basically means that the return for Randle is equivalent to trading Lee and a second round pick.

Randle is a perfect fit for the Knicks. He fits Kristaps Porzingis’ timeline (Randle turns 24 in November) and complements him well thanks to his rebounding and versatility. He’s been a talented defender this year and is one of the best roll men in the league. With Frank Ntilikina showing promise off screens, Randle would be a phenomenal player for the 19-year old point guard. He does have trouble spacing the floor but is quite efficient underneath the basket.

The advantage of trading for Randle is that the Knicks wouldn’t have to overpay for him in free agency like they did with Tim Hardaway Jr. The team wouldn’t need to pay more for the risk of another team matching and would have matching rights should another team sign Randle to an offer sheet.

There’s also the Enes Kanter factor. Let’s just assume that the Knicks prioritize Randle’s defense over Kanter’s offense. If Kanter opts in and Randle is a free agent with the Lakers, the Knicks likely don’t have enough money to offer Randle a contract. If Kanter opts out, they have enough. But if the Knicks trade for Randle and Kanter opts in, they can still use Randle’s bird rights to go over the cap to sign him. New York could then look to deal Kanter or play with another logjam and instead trade Willy Hernangomez.

Why the Timberwolves say yes

Similar to the previous trade scenario, the Wolves add spacing, depth and win-now talent by adding Lee. The veteran can especially strive as a catch-and-shoot player; he’s 60th in the league in that category.

The Wolves have to give up something of future value here yet still receive a draft pick of their own.

Why the Lakers say yes

For Los Angeles, it’s all about preserving cap space and getting something in return for Randle before he potentially leaves for nothing.

The Lakers could either non-guarantee Aldrich’s contract in the off-season and gain cap space, or they could trade him to another team for a draft pick. Other teams would love to increase their cap space for the cost of a pick. In other words, the Lakers either get more money to spend or they get another asset and more money to spend.

Trade #3

Still gonna want to grab those coats, Courtney

Knicks receive: Stanley Johnson + Boban Marjanovic + 2019 first round pick swapping rights

Detroit Pistons receive: Lee + Hernangomez

Why the Knicks say yes

In this deal, New York buys low on a 21-year old wing player, takes on a center’s deal for salaries to match and gets the chance to swap first round picks as a result of the “salary dump.” The reason salary dump is in quotations is because while the salaries would match, the Knicks are giving up an asset and a player with upside for another player with upside and one with little to no impact on his respective team. I included Marjanovic over Jon Leuer because Leuer is under contract through the 2019–20 season. New York might as well keep Lee than trade for a big man who won’t give them spending power for the same amount of time. The pick swapping rights are in exchange for New York taking on Marjanovic. If the Pistons finish with a better record than the Knicks in 2019, the rights would carry over to 2020 and so on.

If the Knicks can help Johnson with his shooting, he could be a dynamic wing in this league. If not, he’s still earning little money on his rookie deal, which expires summer 2019. Marjanovic’s contract also expires summer 2019 as well. The Knicks then gain cap relief in 2019 to spend, something they would not get as easily if Lee were to remain on the team.

Why the Pistons say yes

By acquiring Lee, Detroit converts two underperforming role players into a serviceable sixth man who could start if need be. Lee could also provide insurance at the shooting guard position, should Avery Bradley get injured or leave in free agency. Detroit also adds a gifted offensive center to the bench. Hernangomez needs to work on his defense but perhaps Detroit has the magic touch: Andre Drummond was 68th in the NBA in defensive real plus-minus last season and is 21st this year.

The Pistons are third in three point percentage and have the ninth-best defensive ranking. With Lee, the Pistons could certainly improve in those categories. Lee was also a member of the 2008–09 Orlando Magic team that made it to the NBA Finals and was coached by current Pistons head coach, Stan Van Gundy. The Motown coach should know how to maximize Lee’s strengths.

Trade #4

Courtney, I swear, it’s not you, it’s me

Knicks receive: Alex Abrines + Kyle Singler + 2018 second round pick

Thunder receive: Lee

Why the Knicks say yes

Young wing under 25 who is a deep threat from beyond the arc? Check.

Two contracts that can expire in 2019? Check.

A draft pick? Check.

Yes, the sticking points here are that Abrines’ defensive stats are craptastic and Singler is pretty much unplayable. The good news is that Abrines is in his second season in the NBA, has time to learn and provides some three-point shooting/potential small forward insurance should McDermott not re-sign this summer. And if the Knicks would prefer to flip Abrines for a pick and develop Damyean Dotson instead, they could do that too. Singler, meanwhile, is only guaranteed under contract thru next season, meaning the Knicks could get an additional $5,333,500 to spend come summer 2019.

One extremely minor issue is New York has 15 players on the roster and this trade would mean there would be 16. The Knicks would either need to add another player to the deal, waive a player or have a roster spot open up from a previous trade for this to work. Assume the teams can work this issue out in the following scenarios as well.

Why the Thunder say yes

Lee fits the mold perfectly for a Thunder team in desperate need of a two-way, 3-&-D shooting guard. He can start, he can come off the bench, he can do almost anything. Trading a waste of space on the roster in Singler, swapping one three-point specialist with another (not to mention one who can defend) and adding in a second round pick would be a dream for Oklahoma City.

Trade #5

O’Quinn and B-Easy go to the Big Easy

Knicks recieve: Alexis Ajinca + 2019 first round pick (top-10 protected)

New Orleans Pelicans receive: O’Quinn + Michael Beasley

Why the Knicks say yes

In this deal, the Knicks trade two role players for basically one season of an underperforming, injury-plagued center and a first round pick next year. It’s similar to trade #1, only the Knicks a) don’t lose the Bulls pick, b) don’t get more cap space this summer and c) can still try to trade Lee.

Now to address the concerns.

Why are the Knicks acquiring another center?

Ajinca underwent season-ending on his right patellar tendon this past December. Because of this, any concerns about Ajinca taking away Willy Hernangomez’ playing time this year should be checked at the door.

What about next year though?

Ajinca is signed thru the 2018–19 season and will be making $5,285,394 next year. There’s no reason to think the Knicks can’t simply cut Ajinca and take on the dead salary. After all, the team cut Mindaugas Kuzminskas’ guaranteed contract of $3,025,035 when Joakim Noah returned. Might as well sign an undrafted free agent instead of keeping Ajinca, if that’s what New York feels is best.

Did I mention that the Knicks are getting a first round pick in this deal and eventually additional cap space in what would be the beginning of the final year of a three-year rebuild?

Why the Pelicans say yes

New Orleans is in desperate need of depth. The team’s bench ranks dead last in the NBA in both points per game and rebounds per game (30th in offensive rebounds and 29th in defensive rebounds) and next to last in blocks per game. With DeMarcus Cousins entering his walk year, the Pelicans will want to show that they’re committed to winning with him, Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday. Adding a quality backup big man and a walking bucket would help this team quite a bit. O’Quinn averages a block per game and is a monster on the defensive glass, averaging rebounds at a rate of 28.8%. And if the Pelicans add Beasley, they would have three of the top 20 players in points per 48 minutes: Davis (fifth), Cousins (13th) and Beasley (19th).

Meanwhile, if O’Quinn does opt out (which he is expected to do), the Pelicans clear one of their bad contracts and what likely turns out to be more than $5 million in additional cap space this summer for the price of a (likely) non-lottery first round pick next season.

Trade #6

Big E goes to Big D

Knicks receive: Nerlens Noel + Josh McRoberts

Mavericks receive: Enes Kanter

Why the Knicks say yes

The Knicks should only do this deal if they don’t want Kanter to opt in and are desperate for expiring contracts and more cap space. After all, Kanter holds an expensive player option next season. Though I don’t see the logic in the Knicks shelling out big money long term to an offensive-minded center who sparsely plays clutch minutes due to mismatches, trading Kanter this season would be a mistake from a culture and moral standpoint.

Let’s say the Knicks want to make sure they can maximize their cap space. In this scenario, the Knicks get to see how Noel plays next to Porzingis. The team would hold his bird rights if they wanted to re-sign him. New York could also choose to not re-sign the big man, who turns 24 in April. The Knicks clear Kanter’s $18,622,513 option off the books and can waive their cap holds on Noel and McRoberts if need be. Couple that with, say, Trade #1, and that’s around $28 million in salary that magically opens up.

Why the Mavericks say yes

On the surface, this is a win-win trade for Dallas. If the Mavericks trade Noel for a better player who opts in, they add more talent for next year with plenty of money to spend in the off-season. If the Mavericks trade Noel for a better player who opts out, they gain cap space.

The looming question for Dallas is what happens with Dirk Nowitzki. Will he return for another season or is he ready to retire? The Mavericks have mostly started Harrison Barnes at the 4 alongside Nowitzki at the 5. If Nowitzki retires, Dallas needs a replacement starting center. And if Kanter opts in or re-signs with the Mavericks long-term, he can be of service in a couple ways. Kanter could:

Start alongside Barnes

Come off the bench if the Mavericks draft a big man

Dallas is in desperate need of rim protection, so drafting and starting a player like DeAndre Ayton or Mo Bamba would just mean the Mavericks have strengthened a bench that already ranks as second-best in the NBA.

Why Noel says yes

That’s right, Noel has a say here.

After accepting his qualifying offer before the season, Noel has a full no-trade clause. Noel hasn’t had the opportunity to increase his value on the free agent market while in Dallas. If the Knicks can also let go of another big like O’Quinn, Noel would not only have a chance for more playing time than in Dallas, but he might actually start. Starting anywhere in a contract year would be better for Noel than coming off the bench in Dallas.

Trade #7

Cactus Kanter

Knicks receive: Greg Monroe

Phoenix Suns receive: Enes Kanter + rights to 2018 Chicago Bulls second round pick

Why the Knicks say yes

Like the prior scenario, this trade is all about gauging how desperate the Knicks might be to get more cap space this off-season. Once again, the Knicks probably shouldn’t do this type of deal, but it’s understandable if the goal is to acquire max cap space next year. Why they would when this team is destined for another lottery pick is beyond me, but just roll with it.

Remarkably enough, Kanter and Monroe are both earning the same exact amount this season. The difference is Monroe has an expiring contract whereas Kanter could opt-in to his next year.

Do the Knicks risk having Kanter opt in and potentially ruin their free agency plans? And who would the Knicks be able to lure with that cap space considering they’d be a lottery team again? Remember: The Knicks didn’t trade for Kanter specifically for Kanter; the team acquired him to trade Carmelo Anthony. The two big questions are if Kanter will opt in and if the Knicks want to keep Kanter long term. Both will play big parts in what the Knicks (and Kanter) decide to do this summer.

Why the Suns say yes

By dealing Monroe, Phoenix gets another draft pick out of the Eric Bledsoe trade and either has a center entering the prime of his career or more cap space. If Kanter opts in, the Suns could either start the 25-year old or bring him off the bench. If Kanter opts out, the Suns basically get a free pick for the possibility of assuming risk.

Trade #8

Mr. Beasley Goes to Washington (and Mr. Thomas, too)

Knicks receive: Markieff Morris + 2019 first round pick

Washington Wizards receive: Beasley + Lance Thomas

Why the Knicks say yes

The Knicks convert two bench players into a salary dump and a future first round pick. New York then capitalizes on the deal in summer 2019, when Morris’ contract expires and the Knicks get an additional pick.

Why the Wizards say yes

Washington gets the chance to acquire much-needed depth and rid itself of Morris. Here’s how nine Wizards players perform with Morris on and off the bench:

Stats courtesy of NBA.com/Stats. Design courtesy of Andy Bailey

Morris will make $8,600,000 next season, while Thomas will make $7,119,650, giving Washington a savings of $1,480,350. Thomas’ contract ends after the 2019-2020 season but the final year is non-guaranteed.

Like in the New Orleans scenario, Beasley would help with bench scoring. Washington is 19th in bench points per game.