Knicks could reportedly trade for reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year

Nearly a decade after they had JR Smith on the roster, the New York Knicks could be trading for another Sixth Man of the Year.

Knicks beat writer Kris Pursiainen of WFUV Sports reported on Friday that the Knicks have explored the possibility of trading for Portland Trail Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon. The 31-year-old Brogdon is making $22.5 million this season and is owed another $22.5 million next season.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports also said in a column Friday that Brogdon is one of the trade options that the Knicks could explore.

For the Knicks, the link to Brogdon, the NBA’s reigning Sixth Man winner, makes sense. They just traded top bench guard Immanuel Quickley to the Toronto Raptors as part of the OG Anunoby blockbuster. 23-year-old Quentin Grimes is another source of offense off the bench, but he is unhappy with his role and could be a trade candidate himself.

Brogdon was dealt to the Blazers as part of the Jrue Holiday trade with the Boston Celtics, and he does not really make sense for their rebuild. The ex-NBA Rookie of the Year has also done well enough to build up some positive trade value, averaging 15.7 points and 5.6 assists in less than 28 minutes per game this season. 

But one complicating factor is that Brogdon is represented by Klutch Sports, an agency that does not exactly have the best relationship with the Knicks.