The Knicks have opened the season looking like the contenders they were expected to be.
They’ve jumped to 12-6, settled in near the top of the East, and have dominated at home with an 8-1 mark. Their offense moves with purpose, and a +6.7 net rating backs up the idea that this team has the tools to make a run.
The trouble starts once they leave the Garden. They’ve begun the year with a 1-5 road record, and games like the 133-121 slip in Orlando exposed the defensive cracks that keep popping up.
Injuries haven’t helped. OG Anunoby’s hamstring and Landry Shamet’s shoulder issue have squeezed the rotation.
If the Knicks want to clean up their availability problems and pull in a steady difference-maker who nudges them closer to the Finals, one bold swing sits right in front of them.
THIS IS A PREDICTION, NOT A REPORT.
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OG Anunoby to the Heat: Potential Trade Idea
New York Knicks Receive: Bam Adebayo
Miami Heat Receive: OG Anunoby, 2026 first-round pick (via Washington, 1-8 protected)
Why Bam Adebayo Fits the Knicks
Bam Adebayo keeps showing why teams trust him as a true two-way anchor. He consistently puts up near double-double averages year after year. He’s nearly doing the same once again, giving Miami 19.2 points, 8.4 boards, and 2.7 assists on 45 percent shooting.
The box score doesn’t capture the full picture. He drives elite defense, landing in the 94th percentile in crafted DPM. He controls the glass, protects the rim, blows up passing lanes, and slides with guards like it’s nothing.
On offense, he works as a high-post creator, reads the floor well, and handles a heavy workload without letting his energy slip.
Add all that up, and you see why he’d raise the Knicks’ ceiling the moment he walks in. Pairing Bam with Karl-Anthony Towns gives New York a frontcourt with size, mobility, and real defensive bite.
Put him alongside Jalen Brunson’s shot-making, and the Knicks suddenly have one of the strongest cores in the East.
Why OG Anunoby Works for the Heat
Miami has pushed its way to 13-6 by playing sharp, confident basketball. If they go after OG Anunoby, it won’t be a panic move. They’d be fine-tuning a roster that already looks built for a long postseason run.
Anunoby has carried himself like one of the league’s toughest defensive wings for years. He’s putting up 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, close to two steals, and hitting shots at 47.6 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from deep.
He turned it up in November, nearly hitting 20 a night while clearing the 50 percent mark, which only boosts his appeal.
He weaponizes that 7’2.5″ wingspan. He blows up ball-handlers, jumps passing lanes, and turns defense into easy transition buckets. The moment he checks in, the defense tightens.
Miami could pair OG with Tyler Herro and Norman Powell to finally solve the wing depth problems that have dragged them in past postseason runs.
The price is the tough part. Moving Bam would leave a massive hole in the middle, and the Heat would need to land a new center quickly or bank on Kel’el Ware to stay in the hunt.
What This Trade Would Mean
New York would finally get an answer to a problem it hasn’t fixed in years if it brings in Bam Adebayo. He lifts their rebounding, passing, rim protection, and overall stability.
Losing Anunoby stings, but Adebayo brings the kind of presence that can push a franchise into a real title hunt.
Miami would build a sharper perimeter defense and a system-ready wing scorer by adding Anunoby. The issue is on the other side of the floor. Moving on from Bam leaves a big void in the paint and in their playmaking, so the deal only makes sense if they already know their next step.