In their latest podcast episode, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and Ryen Russillo discussed the Donovan Mitchell trade and how the New York Knicks came up short once again in big game hunting.
Simmons and Russillo also speculated on the idea that perhaps the Knicks could go after Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now that the Mitchell trade is off the table.
“Last thing on the Knicks and then we can wrap. I just feel like there’s more dudes out there. For instance you just mentioned OKC; are we sure you can’t get SGA from OKC?… Are we sure like the 80% of the haul for Mitchell — SGA would cost somewhere probably a little more than Dejounte Murray and less than Mitchell, somewhere in there. If I’m the Knicks, is that a better outcome if I can keep RJ Barrett and add SGA and I can throw some unprotected picks in there and (Quentin) Grimes and whoever and if I’m OKC, how many years in row can you tell SGA like, ‘Hey man, it’s not gonna be this year’… It’s like at some point, you lose your mind if you’re just on these (bad) teams that are never heading anywhere and the Chet thing makes me wonder if SGA is going to be available. I had heard he was available before.”
Both also mentioned that they’ve previously heard Gilgeous-Alexander was available for trade, which is something that’s been out there for a while now but it’s still interesting to hear nonetheless.
Gilgeous-Alexander is set to begin the first year of a five-year deal, but a contract’s length has certainly never stopped other players from around the league to get traded or demand a trade.
I wouldn’t take anything said in this soundbite to heart though. It sounds like it’s just Simmons and Russillo spitballing on players who could end up on the Knicks. Gilgeous-Alexander fits that mold as a young player on a losing team is an easy category to use to find potential trade bait.
Bill Simmons & Ryen Russillo said they’ve heard that SGA is available for trade pic.twitter.com/pZeE8ppL97
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 2, 2022
