Trade Proposal Sends Former Jalen Brunson Teammate to New York Knicks

A trade proposal from Bleacher Report reunites Jalen Brunson with Dorian Finney-Smith on the New York Knicks.

The New York Knicks are coming into their own this season thanks in large part to their defense: the team currently sits fifth in the league in defensive rating at 109.1 and has allowed the fewest points at 105.8 a game.

However, there is still a need for a three-and-D wing in Manhattan and the Knicks may look over to their neighbors in the Brooklyn Nets for some reinforcements. To that end, Bleacher Report suggested Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith as a potential trade target.

"The 6'7" swingman has long ranked among the league's most versatile stoppers. He's strong enough to bang with bigs, quick enough to chase around guards and long enough to pester big-wing scorers," Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley writes. "This frontcourt could silence a lot of the NBA's top scoring threats if he joined All-Defensive-caliber center Mitchell Robinson on it."

Jalen Brunson (L) and Finney-Smith with the Mavericks in 2021 / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Finney-Smith, 30, was acquired by the Nets in the deal that sent Kyrie Irving to Dallas, where he spent seven seasons after joining as an undrafted free agent in 2016. That included four seasons alongside former Dallas point guard Jalen Brunson, who's now one of the faces of the Knicks franchise after signing a four-year, $104 million contract in 2022. 

At the rate he's going, Finney-Smith could once again become an attractive target for a deal once again at this year's deadline. He is averaging a career-high 11.2 points per game and grabbing 5.2 rebounds over his first 13 games (12 starts), which could prompt the Nets to trade him while his value is at its highest.

In another personal best, Finney-Smith has improved his three-point shot tremendously this season, currently at over 45.1 percent, nearly a dozen full points up from last year's rate. 

"If the Knicks needed more incentive to pursue Finney-Smith, his three-ball is officially back after a (likely fluky) one-year hiatus," Buckley writes. "After shooting just 33.7 percent from distance last season, he's suddenly splashing a personal-best 45.1 percent of his perimeter shots."

If the Knicks found a way to add Finney-Smith, they would have one of the most fearsome defenses in the league as well as a three-point threat that was sorely missing last postseason.

Knicks' Successful Road Trip Earns Jump in NBA Power Rankings

The Knicks (8-6) face the Nets for the first time on Dec. 20 in Brooklyn. In the meantime, they'll return to Madison Square Garden for a Black Friday showdown against the Miami Heat (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG/ESPN).