The New York Knicks have made no secret about their desire to upgrade at the point guard position before Thursday's NBA trade deadline approaches, and reports indicate that the team is still hopeful to land Rajon Rondo via a trade before the deadline.
According to ESPN, the Knicks are aware that they lack the assets to land Rondo from the Celtics, but the team has reportedly not given up hope on landing the point guard anyway.
According to the report, the Celtics will likely be looking for unprotected first round draft picks or a star on the rise in exchange for Rondo while they will also probably be looking to dump one of their long-term contracts in the deal.
The Knicks don't have first-round picks until the 2018 draft which could hinder their plans on landing Rondo. The Knicks can reportedly offer Iman Shumpert or rookie sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. in the deal, but it may not be enough to pry Rondo from Boston.
It appears as the only option for the Knicks to land Rondo would be to engage another team in a three-way trade that would involve the Celtics point guard coming to New York.
Landing Rondo would likely entice Carmelo Anthony--who will test free agency this summer--to stay with the Knicks, but it remains to be seen if that would happen. The Knicks have been involved in talks to land many different point guards.
Two of the point guards including Kyle Lowry from the Toronto Raptors, who want Hardaway Jr. or a first-round pick in exchange for Lowry and Jeff Teague from the Atlanta Hawks. There has also been a discussion of a three-way trade involving the Raptors, Knicks and Celtics.
The Knicks have been mediocre this season after owner James Dolan proclaimed them as being a championship caliber team coming into the season. The team is 20-33 thus far and is third in the Atlantic Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference. The struggles of the team led to rumors that the Knicks will be active at the trade deadline, and have also put head coach Mike Woodson on the hot seat.
Woodson has insisted that he hasn't worried about his job status.
"Again guys this is not about me," Woodson told ESPN prior to the All-Star break. "Unless you guys know something I don't know, then the only thing I can say is I'm going to be back. Unless you guys know something, I'm the coach of the Knicks and that's all I know at this point."
The Knicks are looking to upgrade at point guard, but with time running out it remains to be seen if they'll land a new one before the NBA trade deadline.
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