Manhattan’s second unit salvation may, ironically enough, reside in Brooklyn.
Speaking on his “Putback” program, SNY insider Ian Begley placed the Knicks “among many teams” that will potentially be interested in the services of New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, a Brooklyn native noted for his shooting.
“If they make him available, the Knicks, I’m sure, will be one of those teams that are interested,” Begley said on his program alongside guest and Knicks content creator CP “The Franchise.” “The Knicks will be one of many teams interested in Jose Alvarado if he is made available.”
Off to an egregiously brutal start, the Pelicans (3-22) are widely expected to be sellers at this winter’s trade deadline. Alvarado has been a rare silver lining as a consistent depth star, averaging 8.3 points (including a career-best 10.3 last year) since arriving as an undrafted rookie in 2021.
The rare tenured talented in the Big Easy has hardly hesitated to shoot, putting up over seven tries a game in his career. He’s shooting a career-best 44.7% this time around and is just over 38% with an extra-point on the line. Equally renowned for his defense, the Georgia Tech alum has also gained the nickname “Grand Theft Alvarado.”
While some believe that the Knicks’ deadline activities might target more marquee names (i.e. Giannis Antetokounmpo), Alvarado could be a two-way threat off the bench. Such talents could be especially handy if Miles “Deuce” McBride continues to miss time, as the regular New York sixth man is set to miss at least another week with an ankle ailment.
“Jose’s salary, I believe he is at $4.5 [million], so salary matching is less difficult at that number,” Begley said. “You talk about backup point guard for the Knicks, you talk about a player in Alvarado who defends and brings a passion on that end of the floor. I’m sure a lot of teams will be calling, if New Orleans made him available. I’m also sure the Knicks will be one of them if New Orleans gets to that point, which I think they will.”
A trade with the Knicks would bring Alvarado back to the big city, as he previously starred at Christ the King Regional High School (the alma mater of basketball stars like Sue Bird, Tina Charles, Lamar Odom, and more) before his time as a Yellow Jacket.
He previously embarked on a Knicks backcourt history less in an interview with longtime NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. His Georgia Tech tenure, for example, followed that of former Knick Stephon Marbury, whom Alvarado labeled “one of the best to come out of New York.”
“I watched [Carmelo Anthony] a lot,” Alvarado told Robinson. “‘Melo was probably one of my favorites. I remember when he scored 61 points. I was watching that game with my family, and it was insane … Jeremy Lin was around my generation, and his story was crazy … Iman Shumpert dunking, Nate Robinson doing his thing. It’s crazy that when I get to see those guys now, and they know my name a little bit, it feels surreal.”
Alvarado will take the floor with the Knicks later this month, as New York is due to visit Crescent City on Dec. 29.
