If there's any indication the New York Knicks need to strike a deal — either via trade or free-agent signing — it's their second unit's struggle to consistently generate offense in the wake of the OG Anunoby trade with Toronto.
Since that deal, which sent RJ Barrett and Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors for Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn, the Knicks rank third-last in bench scoring ahead of only Philadelphia and Charlotte.
The Knicks averaged just 25.5 bench points in the first six games after the deal. They ranked 14th in bench scoring prior to the trade, with an average of 34.
The Knicks are high on Miles McBride, who has logged two double-digit games and four games with five or fewer points. He is averaging seven points since the deal. There's also Quentin Grimes, who has enjoyed an expanded offensive role. Grimes is averaging 11.5 points since the trade.
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Then, of course, there's Achiuwa and Josh Hart.
Hart is averaging more rebounds (7.7) than points (6) since the deal, though his impact largely comes via hustle plays. Achiuwa is versatile defensively and has shown a willingness to take a three, but has connected on only one of his five attempts since arriving in New York.
Of the six post-trade games the Knicks have played entering Saturday's matchup in Memphis against the Grizzlies, the team's premier three bench players — Grimes, Hart and McBride — have scored in single figures in the same game three times.
— Tribune News Service
