3 early predictions for the Knicks at the NBA Trade Deadline

2. Nothing happens

Something that is not uncommon for a team to do, that's in a similar position as the Knicks, is to not make a single trade at all. The common factor for that is chemistry. The Knicks have a team where three players, who are key rotation players, were on the same college team and eight of their nine rotation players returning from last season.

Since they have a lot of chemistry and have good players, they're going to win a lot of games. There are two issues with that. The first is it's a lot easier to game plan when you face the same team and know what they're going to bring. The second and main problem is that the Knicks were a second-round exit last year. Since the team is a little bit too old to improve with just internal development, the ceiling the Knicks have this year is probably a second-round exit. 

It's not like the Knicks didn't try to improve their roster in the offseason as they got Donte DiVincenzo to improve their 3-point shooting. It's just that the only great player available was Damian Lillard. It wouldn't make a lot of sense for the Knicks to have two small guards in their starting lineup.

The Knicks played the waiting game in the offseason and there is a good chance they're going to do it at the trade deadline. The Knicks are very adamant about becoming contenders, but they don't see the player that can put them in that conversation. Zach LaVine is a nice player, but he wouldn't change life for the Knicks.

It seems that the Knicks are playing the waiting the game in acquiring a star player. To do that, some of their tradeable pieces must stay with the team until they can get that bona fide star they're looking for.