Stephon Marbury warns Knicks about 'stupid' trades

Stephon Marbury Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

Stephon Marbury warns Knicks about making 'stupid' trades

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 3/13/24

Stephon Marbury has warned the New York Knicks against trading for an offensive-minded player in the summer. He believes adding a pure scorer would rock the balance of the team's roster construction and would rather see the franchise add another two-way talent, as that would fit head coach Tom Thibodeau's system.

"He needs players that will buy into that type of system," Marbury said on the "No Nonsense" podcast. "You're gonna have two or three guys that are gonna take the majority of the shots...I think it would be disruptive...Adding another piece, a guy that has that same defensive mind frame, but that can score the basketball but not a prolific scorer. I think that can help...Normally this is when we make those types stupid a-- trades and then somebody comes and then everything messes up."

New York Knicks adding a scorer via trade this summer could disrupt the team says Stephon Marbury: "Adding another piece I think is something that can help on the scoring side but because Thibbs is a defensive minded coach -- I’ve played in his system and I know how he constructs… pic.twitter.com/dLXrkAEKpJ
— Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) March 13, 2024

The Knicks have already added another scorer to their roster. They acquired Bojan Bogdanovic at the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

Hopefully, the front office learned its lesson after bringing in Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier in the summer of 2021. Those two additions both failed and set the franchise back by a year.

Bogdanovic's addition made more sense, though. He can create off the dribble. He can score off the catch. And he is a veteran who understands how to play off the ball. Thibodeau has a clear offensive hierarchy in place. Jalen Brunson is at the top of that pyramid and Julius Randle and Bogandovic are the second and third options.

Short of trading for an All-Star like Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks would be better served filling in the margins. They're capable of being a contending team. They have the defensive grit and offensive skill to be a serious threat in the Eastern Conference.

Marbury is right. The Knicks need to be smart about their decision-making process in the summer. They're on the precipice of something great. Now, they need to continue showing patience and trusting the roster that's been constructed – because it's more than good enough.

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