Following their first conference finals appearance in 25 years, the New York Knicks prioritized fortifying their bench rotation this offseason. However, Sports Illustrated’s Ryan Shea believes the Eastern Conference powerhouse could further benefit from shaking up its starting lineup.
With the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers enduring critical injury setbacks, New York and the Cleveland Cavaliers are widely considered the favorites to win the East next year. The Knicks have a top-tier core, spearheaded by offensive cornerstones Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, with strong two-way wing support from OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart. Meanwhile, the franchise added seasoned score-first guard Jordan Clarkson and versatile forward Guerschon Yabusele in free agency, giving its bench a much-needed jolt. Even so, Shea foresees New York needing to break up the “Nova Knicks” (Brunson, Bridges, and Hart)Â to get over the hump.
NBA Analyst Proposes Bold Knicks Trade Centered Around Josh Hart
On Thursday, Shea outlined a potential one-for-one swap between New York and the San Antonio Spurs that would relocate Hart. The fan favorite wing is entering the second season of his four-year, $80,915,280Â contract extension that he signed in August 2023.
Proposed Deal
Knicks Receive: Keldon Johnson
Spurs Receive: Josh Hart
According to the analyst, Hart’s veteran experience, leadership, hustle, and team-first play style could help the upstart Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs take another leap next season. Despite rising expectations, the team is coming off a 34-win finish and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2019.
On the flip side, Shea tabbed San Antonio forward Keldon Johnson as an under-utilized asset that could shine alongside New York’s starters as another reliable scoring option.
“To truly contend, the Knicks may need to part with one of the fan base’s beloved players, Josh Hart. In this deal, they get a true 3-and-D player in Keldon Johnson, who gives the Knicks a clear boost on the offensive end,” Shea wrote.
“He slots right into the Knicks’ starting lineup alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges, and joins the chase for the Knicks’ third NBA championship.”
The writer noted that Johnson could thrive by returning to playing 30-plus minutes per game for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign. That season, the 2019 No. 29 pick averaged a career-high 22.0 points per game.
“The biggest beneficiary of this swap is Keldon Johnson,” Shea wrote. “Over the last several seasons, he has seen a dip in minutes from his high of 32.7 mpg in [2022-23]. He had 29.5 in [2023-24] and 23.9 in [2024-25]. With the Knicks, expect these numbers to go up and his stats to benefit because of it.”
Examining Keldon Johnson’s Fit With Knicks
Johnson may have a higher offensive ceiling than Hart, particularly as an athletic downhill scorer and transition finisher. However, like Hart, the 25-year-old has struggled with his outside shooting consistency, shooting below 35% from 3 in each of the past three seasons.
In the 2024-25 campaign, Hart shot 33.3% from deep, while Johnson posted a meager 31.8% mark, both below league average. Moreover, Johnson, who has yet to make his postseason debut, doesn’t offer the same level of defensive intensity or know-how as Hart.
With that in mind, dealing away a proven winner for a player like Johnson may be a tough sell for Knicks fans. The die-hard fan base is eager to finally witness its team’s first NBA Finals berth since 1999.
