'Never Boring' Knicks Visit Magic: 5 Questions Ahead of Matchup

The New York Knicks travel to central Florida Tuesday to visit the Orlando Magic, who has won three of the last four games.

The Orlando Magic (22-32) faces off against the New York Knicks (29-26) in their second meeting this season.

To learn more about the current state of affairs with the Knicks, we spoke with All Knicks contributor Geoff Magliocchetti.

1. The Knicks could make a big swing at the trade deadline this week. What are the current trade rumors swirling around the Big Apple?

With the exception of Jalen Brunson, no Knick's inclusion on the upcoming trade deadline ledger would perhaps be shocking. The Knicks are sitting relatively pretty as is (current holders of the top seed of the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament) but have made no secret about their belief that they're destined for bigger things.

To that end, some of the potential departures on the Knicks are easy to spot: Cam Reddish hasn't played since Dec. 3, Derrick Rose hasn't seen the floor in the new calendar year, 2020 first-round choice Obi Toppin is still struggling to find minutes, and former Floridian Evan Fournier only sees the floor in medically-induced emergencies (i.e. illnesses to Brunson and RJ Barrett). But the Knicks could make a truly sizable splash if they trade one of their supposed franchise cornerstones like Barrett or All-Star Julius Randle. 

To that end, some of the more popular hypothetical deals center around Toronto's O.G Anunoby, whom the Knicks have reportedly expressed first-round compensation interest. Anunoby's two-way talents could bolster an already strong defense and provide some much-needed depth scoring beyond Immanuel Quickley (who might've played his out of a trade with a scorching hot winter, but never say never). The Knicks would also like to boost their inconsistent three-point shooting, which could point them in the way of Milwaukee's Grayson Allen or Cleveland's Cedi Osman. Don't be surprised if the Knicks also try to find further interior help while Mitchell Robinson (thumb) continues to heal.

2. The Knicks pulled out a big win against the 76ers on Sunday. How has the team looked as of late?

The one thing the basketball world can unanimously agree upon when it comes to the Knicks is the fact that they're never boring. Three of their past six games have gone to overtime and they've earned some impressive victories to tip off the calendar year: the past three weeks alone, for example, have seen them beat Cleveland, Boston, Miami, and Philadelphia.

There could have, frankly, been more impressive victories to speak of, as they fell to the Los Angeles Clippers in an extra session on Saturday, one week after they dropped one of Kyrie Irving's final Brooklyn Nets showings.

The play of Brunson and Randle has granted the Knicks a general sense of consistency after last year's disappointing playoff season follow-up. While some players (i.e. Barrett) have struggled to take the next step in their expected development, Randle has been a walking double-double and Brunson has responded to nearly every challenge thrown at him in his first year as a premier option after four years in Dallas' supporting cast. 

3. What's one thing people should know about the Knicks without finding in a box score?

The way the team conducts itself when the going gets rough has given Knicks fans the assurance that no game is truly over. That sense of perseverance was well on display in their most recent victory on Sunday, when they turned an early 21-point deficit against the mighty 76ers into a one-possession game by the early stages of the second period.

That never-say-die attitude has been fostered by the new efforts of Brunson and Randle.

"The way he practices, the way he is in meetings, who he is as a person, I think that stuff’s invaluable to a team," head coach Tom Thibodeau said of Brunson, per NBA.com. "He’s not one of those rah-rah beat-my-chest type of guys. He’s all about the team, he’s all about winning, he’s all about work, he’s all about unselfishness."

4. If the Knicks win tonight, what would be the reason?

They're focused on the task at hand, rather than the dire gauntlet ahead. 

The Knicks' remaining schedule before the All-Star break is anything but a breeze: following their visit to Central Florida, they close things out with four consecutive games against competition that's currently qualifying for some form of the postseason. New York can tie Miami for the sixth and final automatic Eastern postseason spot with a win tonight, but it won't come easy against a Magic group that's slowly inching its way into the Play-in conversation. 

With Robinson out, it'll be up to Jericho Sims and Isaiah Hartenstein to pull in rebounds against a stingy Orlando interior group that ranks seventh in opposing boards. Hartenstein has regained a bit of his swagger off the bench over the past few games, hauling in at least 10 in each of his last four. 

5. What's your prediction for tonight's game?

As we discussed in the prior get-together between New York and Orlando, the Knicks won't make it easy on themselves. But armed with the momentum of several elite takedowns and the knowledge of what lies ahead, it's hard to see them failing to take advantage of an elite opportunity for a win in front of them. Orlando lingers, but expect New York to conjure up a victory. Knicks 114, Magic 107

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