Report: Knicks open to trading French forward who dunked on LeBron James originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NBA’s trade season is approaching, and the New York Knicks are one of the teams that could be active.
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According to The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III, a player to keep tabs on is power forward Guerschon Yabusele.
“The loudest league chatter about the Knicks is that they are open to trading Guerschon Yabusele, the team’s biggest free-agency signing last offseason,” Edwards III wrote. “He signed a two-year contract that will pay him $5.5 million this season and has a $5.7 million player option for next season.”
Yabusele looks like an unsuitable fit with New York, and head coach Mike Brown has given him just 9.6 minutes per game compared to the 27.1 minutes he played per contest during the 2024-25 season with the Philadelphia 76ers.
His breakout performance with France in the 2024 Olympics, which included a poster dunk against LeBron James, helped him return to the NBA.
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The Knicks could trade Yabusele for a point guard
Tyler Kolek has had some breakout games of late, including a 14-point, five-assist performance in the NBA Cup championship game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Still, the Knicks could use another ball handler to pair with Jalen Brunson. An opposing team in need of size down low might take a chance on Yabusele despite his slow start this season.
“Multiple league executives believe the Knicks would have to attach something to Yabusele in order to have a chance to move him before the deadline,” Edwards III added. “Other than what New York does or doesn’t do with Yabusele, the franchise has long put out feelers about adding another ballhandler and/or frontcourt player, per league sources.”
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