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Knicks Trade Idea Swaps Centers With Blazers

The New York Knicks could make a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Jeremy Brener

Nov 12, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (35) goes up for a dunk against Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Nov 12, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (35) goes up for a dunk against Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images / Soobum Im-Imagn Images
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The New York Knicks have been one of the more active teams on the trade market over the past year, and there's reason to believe that the team won't be done during this upcoming trade season.

The Knicks still have a need for a backup center, and they could look to upgrade that role before the trade deadline.

Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale suggests a trade idea that sends point guard Cam Payne and center Mitchell Robinson, along with a protected 2025 first-round pick to the Portland Trail Blazers for second-year forward Toumani Camara and backup center Robert Williams III.

"Swapping out Robinson for Williams would be more debatable if the former were healthy. He's not. Williams has already returned to action, can be more of an offensive decision-maker off the catch and, at his peak, is the better dual-big fit alongside Karl-Anthony Towns at the other end," Favale writes. "Camara is not among the NBA's household names, but he does an excellent job defending them. At 6'7", he guards four of the five spots on the floor, including basically all of the top advantage creators. If the three-point stroke is real—40 percent shooting on 3.2 attempts per game)—he isn't just an upgrade in depth. He's a playoff difference-maker."

The trade cannot be completed until Dec. 15 if Payne was involved since he signed a new deal this offseason, but this deal is more likely to be completed without him and Camara.

Camara is a second-year player that the Blazers are really high on, especially due to his defense. However, Portland will likely shop Williams, and the Knicks are a prime candidate for his services.

The salaries match up, and if the Knicks included some additional draft capital, the team might be able to get an upgrade in the frontcourt.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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