Emmanuel Mudiay to Knicks: New York to pursue Nuggets guard before NBA Trade Deadline

The New York Knicks are likely to pursue Denver Nuggets point guard Emmanuel Mudiay ahead of the Feb. 23 trade deadline, per fresh reports. The Nuggets are "quietly exploring" the second-year guard's trade value and would reportedly be open to moving him closer to the NBA Trade Deadline.

Incidentally, the Knicks had passed up on Mudiay to draft Latvian sensation Kristaps Porzingis with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. At the time, Mudiay drew early comparisons with John Wall and was earmarked as the point guard with the most upside from the 2015 draft class. Nearly two seasons into his career, it's safe to say that Mudiay has underwhelmed even though several analysts reckon the Congolese has the needed tools to sustain a career as a starting-calibre point guard in the NBA.

The Knicks don't have a long-term solution at the 1 spot. During the offseason, they traded for Derrick Rose's expiring contract before signing Brandon Jennings to a one-year, US$5 million (AU$6.5 million) deal. At the end of the 2016-17 season, both Rose and Jennings are expected to pursue free agency. Could Mudiay potentially emerge as the Knicks' point guard of the future?

Emmanuel Mudiay to Knicks: What can New York offer Denver?

Last week, ESPN's Zach Lowe reported that the Nuggets are open to moving Mudiay ahead of the deadline. "The Nuggets are quietly exploring what they might get for Emmanuel Mudiay and multiple picks, sources say, but they’re in no rush to move Mudiay, and the Suns may not want him when they could simply draft a point guard."

Could the Knicks be willing to package Jennings, Courtney Lee and future second-round picks for Mudiay? The likes of Chris Paul, Jeff Teague and George Hill are also free agents this forthcoming offseason. Would the Knicks be better off pursuing those established point guards instead of investing in the 20-year-old Mudiay?

Daily Knicks is of the opinion that the Knicks could benefit from adding Mudiay to its young core of Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez. "Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings are intriguing options at point guard, but the Knicks could develop Mudiay at the same pace as Hernangomez and Porzingis. He’s a 20-year-old point guard who has the better part of his career ahead of him.

"If New York were to acquire Mudiay, it would have its interior and playmaker on the same timeline — a possibility that’s too intriguing to entirely ignore," added the opinion piece on why Mudiay could be an intriguing option for the Knicks as the long-term point guard. With the Knicks firmly looking to hit the reset button and build around future stars, Mudiay could prove to be the long-term solution at point guard. Will Denver Nuggets trade Emmanuel Mudiay ahead of the deadline?