"I'm not moved" - Unimpressed with OG Anunoby trade Stephen A. Smith is still eyeing Donovan Mitchell deal for Knicks
Despite their recent trade, Stephen A. Smith is still not completely sold on the New York Knicks. He recently opened up on another blockbuster move he'd like from them before the NBA trade deadline.
On Sunday, Anunobdy made his debut for the Knicks, logging 35 minutes and finishing with a stat line of 17 points, six rebounds and two steals in a win.
Following that performance, Stephen A. Smith shared his thoughts on the new-look Knicks. Even with the addition of Anunoby, he'd like to see them acquire Donovan Mitchell from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"I'm not moved," Smith said. "I don't want to hear about Dejounte Murray. Go out and get Donovan Mitchell. You got eight first-round picks available to you, use a couple dammit. Get him."
The Knicks were very in on Mitchell when he was being traded from the Utah Jazz but lost out to the Cavaliers in the sweepstakes. This season, the four-time All-Star is averaging 27.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
Is Stephen A. Smith right about his stance on the New York Knicks?
Overall, it's tough to disagree with what Stephen A. Smith said about the New York Knicks. Bringing in a guy like OG Anunoby certainly makes them better but not by much. If they want to compete with some of the other top teams in the Eastern Conference, they will have to acquire another high-level player.
Anunoby gives the Knicks an elite perimeter defender, but he isn't known for being much of a scoring threat. As Smith mentioned, losing a player like Immanuel Quickley in the trade only puts more responsibility on Jalen Brunson in the backcourt.
Even after the trade with the Toronto Raptors, New York has the assets to pull off another big move. If they want to move up into the top tier of Eastern Conference teams, they will need a big splash. Looking at their roster, they still don't have the firepower to match up with a team like the Boston Celtics or the Milwaukee Bucks.
If the Knicks brought in Mitchell, they'd instantly have one of the top guard duos in the league. Both he and Brunson are star-level players who could easily co-exist alongside the other. Some might argue that size would be an issue, but Mitchell's long wingspan could help cover that up.
The Knicks moved the needle with the Anunoby trade but not enough to be considered a legit contender in the East.