The New York Knicks are poised to become one of the NBA’s best teams, but their defense has taken a hit in recent seasons under coach Tom Thibodeau. They only have a 116.4 defensive rating, which ranks 20th.
The absences of Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa have significantly hampered their depth, and their interior defensive presence has been lackluster with Karl-Anthony Towns and Jericho Sims manning the middle of the floor. That said, New York will certainly be in the market for defenders this season.
Fansided’s Nicholas Chiarito suggested Detroit Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart as a potential target. The Knicks and Pistons have been trade partners numerous times in recent seasons.
“Isaiah Stewart, despite being an undersized big, would solve many of the Knicks’ size issues coming off the bench. He’s currently averaging 1.3 blocks per game and 6.9 rebounds while playing 22.1 minutes per game. Those numbers would lead the Knicks bench and lead the league in blocks,” Chiarito wrote.
Chiarito added that trading for Stewart would require sending Robinson the other way due to their salaries. The Knicks have received offers on Robinson’s availability on the open market as he continues to struggle to stay healthy. He played in just 31 games last season and has yet to play this season as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery.