With the New York Knicks sitting in prime playoff position and the buzz around a deep postseason run louder than it’s been in decades, the front office is understandably eyeing ways to bolster the roster before the February 5 trade deadline. While the rumor mill continues to churn out splashy names like Giannis Antetokounmpo or even a possible reunion with Donte DiVincenzo, there’s another name quietly surfacing in league circles - Dennis Schroder.
According to recent reporting, the veteran Kings guard is believed to be on the Knicks’ radar. And while it might not be the blockbuster move some fans are dreaming about, Schroder's potential fit in New York is more intriguing than it may seem at first glance.
Let’s take a step back to last postseason. Schroder, then with the Pistons, gave the Knicks some real problems in their opening-round series.
In Game 2, he dropped 20 points, helping Detroit steal homecourt advantage and knot the series at 1-1. Across those six games, Schroder averaged 12.5 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest, while shooting a blistering 49.1 percent from the field and an even more impressive 47.6 percent from deep.
That kind of production, especially in the pressure cooker of the playoffs, doesn’t go unnoticed.
The Knicks could use that kind of punch off the bench. Schroder has long been one of the league’s more reliable sixth men, finishing second in Sixth Man of the Year voting back in 2019-20.
Since then, he’s continued to deliver as a high-level reserve, averaging 14.5 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.1 boards per game, with a respectable 35.5 percent clip from three. He’s a proven scorer, a capable playmaker, and a pest on defense - exactly the kind of veteran presence that could steady the second unit behind Jalen Brunson.
But as with any midseason trade, there are a few hurdles to clear.
First, there’s the asset equation. The Knicks don’t have a deep well of draft capital after last year’s move for Karl-Anthony Towns.
So if Sacramento is looking for picks in return - and they likely are - New York would need to get creative. A package centered around Guerschon Yabusele isn’t likely to move the needle on its own.
To make a deal work, the Knicks may have to part with some of their remaining second-rounders or explore multi-team trade scenarios.
Second, there’s the emergence of Tyler Kolek. The sophomore guard has been turning heads lately, and if the front office believes his recent surge is sustainable, it might lessen the urgency to bring in another ball-handler. Kolek’s growth has been one of the more pleasant surprises for this Knicks team, and adding another guard could potentially clog the rotation rather than enhance it - especially when other areas, like center depth, could use reinforcement.
Still, if the Knicks determine they need more veteran stability behind Brunson and can swing a deal without mortgaging too much of their future, Schroder makes a lot of sense. He’s playoff-tested, he fits the system, and he brings a level of energy and experience that could prove invaluable down the stretch.
The Knicks are in a rare position - a legitimate contender with a chance to make noise in the East. Whether they make a big splash or a subtle tweak, every move between now and the deadline matters. Schroder might not be the headline-grabbing name fans are dreaming about, but he could be the kind of under-the-radar addition that helps push a good team into great territory.