What moves are realistic for Knicks as NBA trade deadline draws near?

The NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline is a little over three weeks away, and the Knicks are an interesting team to monitor.

New York, second in the East, is in the midst of a funk, which it might finally be exiting after Sunday’s win in Portland. It has clear-cut expectations to make the NBA Finals, as laid out by owner James Dolan. The Knicks, though, are up against the second apron and have few avenues to improve the team, assuming Dolan’s recent statement that the Knicks aren’t expected to make any big moves remains true over the next 20 or so days.

To prepare you for what to expect, The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III put out a call for New York-centric trade deadline questions. A follow-up featuring your fake-trade proposals will run next week.

Let’s get into it.

Questions have been edited for clarity and length.

Since they are so close to the second apron, what conditions need to be met to even make a trade? — Nick D.

The most obvious condition is that New York isn’t able to take in more money than it sends out. The Knicks are, roughly, $150,000 from the second apron. Furthermore, if New York was looking to add to its roster via the buyout market following the trade deadline, it can’t sign a player who was making above the $12 million mid-level exception before they were bought out.

As it pertains to the trade deadline, those are really the only two conditions.

As of right now, is there a realistic chance of trading anyone on this team with how close they are to the apron? And if they can trade someone, would it be a quality trade and not just to move pieces around? — TJ D.

Yes, there is a realistic chance that New York will make a trade. As I’ve previously reported, per league sources, the Knicks are open to moving both Guerschon Yabusele and Pacôme Dadiet. Together, those two players will make $8.3 million this season. So, for example, New York could trade them for a player or players who make that exact amount.

Now, do I think those two players, based on their current play (or lack thereof), would get the Knicks anything good in a deal? I don’t. However, maybe New York sweetens the deal by attaching draft picks to try to get someone who can play rotational minutes. The Knicks still have that protected first-round pick via the Wizards, which most certainly will turn into multiple second-round picks. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities for the salaries of Yabusele and Dadiet, along with that pick and/or other second-round picks, being enough to land New York a player of some quality.

For example, and this is just to paint a picture, the Knicks could move Yabusele, Dadiet and a second-round pick or two to the Heat for Simone Fontecchio. The sharpshooting Miami swingman, who has been in and out of the Heat rotation as of late after a solid start to the season, is owed $8.3 million this season.

In this scenario, New York would only have 13 main-roster players, so then they’d need to address that, too.

The Knicks need a second rim protector beyond limited-minutes Mitchell Robinson. Who can they get and who would they likely have to give up? — Adam S.

If New York were to go after another big man, which I’ve heard for months is something that they have been considering, the pickings might be slim this deadline.

Portland’s Robert Williams III could be on the trade market, but he, like Robinson, has a long injury history. Also, he’s making $13.3 million this season. That’s a hard number for the Knicks to get to. Washington’s Marvin Bagley III isn’t a “rim protector” per se, but he could give good minutes in a pinch as a lob threat, post scorer and rebounder. Philadelphia’s Andre Drummond isn’t the athlete he used to be, but he’s only making $5 million and you could do much worse for your third center. Lastly, Phoenix’s Nick Richards could be a third-center option, but he’s having a terrible season.

So, yeah, the center market doesn’t appear to be great with three weeks left until the deadline. The only positive is that the majority of the players listed above could have been had for matching salaries (Yabusele or Dadiet) and/or a second-round pick. New York, if it’s so inclined to add a little depth in its front court, appears to have the resources to add a big man.

Between Ayo Dosunmu, Jose Alvarado and Keon Ellis, who do you believe fits the Knicks more while also considering their contract situation? — Ilabrew

Dosunmu is the best player of this trio. He’s averaging a career-best 14.5 points while shooting over 51 percent from the field and 45 percent from 3. He can handle the rock and be a bulldog defender on the other end. The 26-year-old, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, would check a lot of boxes for New York.

However, with Dosunmu’s play and his $7.5 million expiring salary, I feel like it would be tough for the Knicks to put together a competitive trade package. Any deal for Dosunmu would have to start with Miles McBride, who will make $4.3 million this season and $3.9 million next year. Personally, I’d value McBride’s shooting and team-friendly contract more than Dosunmu if I were running the Knicks. The way their payroll is currently set up, McBride’s money this year and next is critical. Dosunmu certainly will command a nice salary this summer based on his play this year.

Never say never, but Dosunmu to the Knicks by this trade deadline just feels unlikely.

After that, I’d probably lean Alvarado over Ellis. Why, you ask? Alvarado would give the Knicks a dogged point-of-attack defender, another traditional ballhandler and OK 3-point shooter. I’d be a bit concerned about having another small guard in the rotation, but with Alvardo only making $4.5 million this year and having a $4.5 million player option for next year, I’d survive. Also, Ellis’ lack of ballhandling and slender frame make me hesitate. Another thing: why can’t he crack the rotation for a bad Sacramento team? That’s concerning.

Yabusele and some second-round picks, on paper, could land the Knicks Alvarado, while shedding some money in the process. Now, that might not necessarily be enough for the Pelicans to move the point guard — and rival teams might have better offers — but it’s a starting point.

Do you think the Knicks prioritize a backup wing, center or point guard more? — Craig H.

From what I’ve been able to gather, the Knicks seem most interested in adding another ballhandler who can defend. That can be a point guard, but it can also be a wing.

Based on who is likely to be available by this deadline, New York’s best option to fill those needs probably comes in the form of a point guard. Alvarado makes the most sense given the Knicks’ financial situation, what they’ll realistically be able to trade and the goal of making it to the NBA finals.

I’m still not sure New York has enough to get Alvarado, because I do get the sense several teams are interested and I don’t know if Alvarado is worth the Wizards’ pick, even if/when it becomes two seconds. But he would be the most realistic and ideal target by this deadline.