The New York Knicks have agreed to trade Cam Reddish, Ryan Arcidiacono, Svi Mykhailiuk and a protected first-round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Josh Hart, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. The pick the Knicks are sending is their own 2023 first-round pick, which is lottery protected. If it does not convey this year, it will turn into four future second-round picks.
Hart, a versatile player on both sides of the ball, was also dealt at the deadline last season, when the New Orleans Pelicans sent him to the Blazers in the CJ McCollum trade. In 51 games as a starter for the Blazers this season, he averaged 9.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists, while providing stout perimeter defense. However, he struggled with his shot, making just 30.4 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Given his competitive mindset on the defensive side of the ball, Hart should fit right into the culture set by head coach Tom Thibodeau. He’ll also get to team up with former Villanova teammate Jalen Brunson, who was thrilled about the move. The duo won an NCAA championship together in 2016.
This is also the second deadline in a row that Reddish has been moved. The Knicks acquired him from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kevin Knox and a future first-round pick, which originally belonged to the Charlotte Hornets and has not yet conveyed. While the front office hoped that Reddish could be a reclamation project under Thibodeau, that did not happen. Reddish only ended up playing 35 total games for the Knicks, and quickly fell out of the rotation this season; he has not seen the court since Dec. 3. Perhaps his fortunes will be better in Portland, but the chances are running out for the former No. 10 overall pick.
Let’s grade the trade:
Knicks receive
Hart is perhaps the ideal player for a Tom Thibodeau team. He’s a hard-nosed defender who will always put in effort on that side of the ball and, guards multiple positions, works hard on the glass and is stays inside his role. Part of the downside of Thibodeau’s rigid style is that some players…
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