NBA Rumors: Knicks confident they can trade for first round pick
By Josh Hill
The NBA Draft is just around the corner and it’s looking like the teams that don’t have first round draft picks are going to make a major push to acquire a pick they can use to get younger where they need to.
More from NBA Draft
- NBA rumors: Hawks trade candidate, Sixers miss out, Lakers almost lose Reaves
- NBA rumors: Mavs drop Kyrie clue, new Kuzma favorite, LeBron to the Hawks?
- Shams Charania fraud allegations, explained
- Hornets Draft Grades: Rating every pick in the 2023 NBA Draft
- Kentucky basketball: Undrafted Oscar Tshiebwe gets two-way contract in NBA
Of the teams that don’t have a first rounder, the New York Knicks seem to need it more than any other team, especially after losing Carmelo Anthony to free agency. They may end up getting Melo back, but with or without him it’s nice to have a first round pick and the Knicks are reportedly confident they will land one before Thursday’s draft.
The Knicks would more than likely be able to buy a first round pick from someone but it’s far from a certainty. New York needs to find someone willing to part ways with their pick and they need to get there before the Brooklyn Nets or New Orleans Pelicans do.
Right now they might be able to buy the No. 25 pick off the Houston Rockets or use Iman Shumpert to trade to the Miami Heat or Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire their pick. Either way, the Knicks want to trade into the first round and they need to start showing some action rather than simply talk about doing it.