NBA Trade Sends Knicks a Warriors Duo for Key $60 Million Player.
In order to go farther in the NBA playoffs in 2025, the New York Knicks hope to build on a strong season. The Knicks could have to look into possible moves this offseason in order to accomplish this.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report assembled a list of prospective trade partners for each team, and he lists the Knicks and Golden State Warriors as one of them. Moses Moody of the Warriors, Gary Payton II, and a 2026 first round pick (top-five protected) are acquired by New York in the proposed trade. In return for the deal, Golden State receives big man Mitchell Robinson from New York.
In an article titled “1 New Trade Idea for Every NBA Team,” published on May 29, 2024, Buckley stated, “… New York was getting consistently strong minutes out of his replacement, Isaiah Hartenstein, who is set to become a free agent this offseason.”
“See where this is going, now? Robinson’s $14.3 million contract may not be something the Knicks are willing to have on their books, as they have concrete evidence that they can succeed without him. While returning a bulldog defender in Payton, a young three-and-D wing in Moody, and a lightly protected future first-round selection to help reel in a bigger fish later on, the Warriors, who may be fishing for additional size, could give New York an out with Robinson.
On a fair four-year, $60 million contract, Robinson still has two seasons left. The 2024–25 cap hit for the Knicks center is $14.3 million.
The problem is that Isaiah Hartenstein can become a free agency this summer; if the big man doesn’t sign a contract that pays him more than his previous $16 million, two-year deal, it will be shocking. Hartenstein’s cap hit for the previous season was a reasonable $9.2 million. New York may prefer to re-sign Hartenstein and see what they can acquire in exchange for Robinson, so this trade makes some sense.
Without Robinson, the roster in New York is somewhat known. In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers, the center missed all but one of the games. The big man battled ailments during the regular season, appearing in just 31 games.
Although Moody and Payton’s numbers won’t blow fans away, the two players might make a good rotation alongside the Villanova Knicks core. At just twenty-one years old, Moody would be somewhat of an upside play.
Due to the depth of the Warriors, neither player saw a lot of action in the previous campaign. In 17.5 minutes per game across 66 appearances this season, Moody did make progress, recording career-high averages with 8.1 points and 3 rebounds while shooting 36% from beyond the arc.
On a four-year, $17 million rookie contract, the forward has one season left. The following season, he will have a $5.8 million cap charge. 2025 will see Moody become a restricted free agent.
Robinson and Julius Randle continue to be the Knicks’ most valuable trade assets without severing the core group that performed well in the postseason. If New York moves one of these big men, only time will tell.
