The Knicks have points spanning effectively past their head coach search. Their roster isn’t deep sufficient. They might use extra dimension. And if the best participant is obtainable, the Knicks may use a 3rd professional star to gas a run on the backs of a Large 3 at Madison Sq. Backyard.
However how? How can a Knicks workforce simply $8 million beneath the second apron with none tradable unprotected first-round picks enhance the roster in a significant approach?
The Leon Rose-led entrance workplace has its work reduce out of it, however make no mistake: The Knicks have belongings. The query is how they’ll use them.
22: BOS 2028 Prime-45 protected second-round decide
The Knicks acquired this decide on Draft Night time 2025 after they traded Oso Ighodaro to the Phoenix Suns in trade for Kevin McCullar Jr. plus a second-round decide. This decide won’t convey if the Celtics end outdoors of the top-15 within the draft order in 2028.
20 + 21: Much less favorable of 2028 IND/PHX 2RPs | Much less favorable of 2030 IND/WSH 2RPs
These are the pair of second-round picks the Knicks acquired within the deal that despatched Obi Toppin to the Indiana Pacers on July 7, 2023. Because the deal, Toppin has change into a daily member of the Pacers’ rotation, scoring 18 factors in Indiana’s Sport 6 closeout victory over New York within the Japanese Convention Finals, plus one other 17 factors within the Pacers’ gorgeous Sport 1 NBA Finals victory over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
18 + 19: 2nd and third most favorable 2027 2RP between MIA, IND, HOU, OKC
These are two of the second-round picks the Knicks acquired within the Dillon Jones commerce with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. If the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Miami Warmth end with the perfect and worst data, respectively, of those 4 groups, the Knicks will personal the Pacers’ and Warmth second-round picks in 2027.
17: 2025 Choose 50 (through MEM)
The Knicks acquired decide No. 50 (through the Memphis Grizzlies) within the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft additionally as a part of the Dillon Jones commerce to the OKC Thunder. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have the Knicks deciding on Villanova ahead Eric Dixon at No. 50 in June.
16: 2026 first-round decide (FRP) swap rights
The Ted Stepien rule — which mandates groups personal at the least one first-round decide each different season — prevents the Knicks from buying and selling this decide. However they’ll provide swap rights to a workforce betting towards their short-term future. The difficulty? If the Knicks are going all-in on a championship now, their window can be open at the least by way of subsequent yr’s draft, which suggests this decide may find yourself being late within the first spherical and never value one other workforce swapping.
14 + 15: Prime-8 protected 2026 Wizards FRP
This conditional first-round decide was initially top-14 protected in 2023, top-12 protected in 2024, and top-10 protected in 2025 earlier than its protections loosen to top-8 in 2026. If the Wizards end within the top-eight of the 2026 NBA Draft order, a pair of second-round picks — Washington’s in 2026 and 2027 — will convey as a substitute of a first-round decide. The Knicks acquired this decide as a part of the Ousmane Dieng commerce with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. The Wizards are coming off of 15- and 18-win seasons, and are anticipated to proceed a protracted rebuild over a playoff push subsequent season, so the Knicks may market these as worthwhile second-round picks relying on Washington’s short-term outlook.
13: 2027 personal 2RP
That is one of some of the Knicks’ personal draft belongings nonetheless of their possession, a second-rounder in 2027. A workforce betting towards New York’s short-term future may worth this decide greater among the many crop of belongings, however the Knicks are coming off their first convention finals look in 25 years. Even when they don’t win a championship, they’ll try to contend, which suggests this decide possible falls among the many last 7-to-10 within the draft order.
12: Tyler Kolek
Age: 24
Place: PG
Peak: 6’3″
Remaining contract: 2 years, $4.5M
2027-28 Group Possibility: $2.5M
2024-25 stats: 41 GP, 7.2 MIN, 2.0 PTS, 1.7 AST, 32.9% FG, 29.8% 3PT
Notes: Chosen thirty fourth total in 2024 NBA Draft
Kolek was thought of an outright theft when he fell to the Knicks 4 picks into the second spherical, however buried behind Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Cameron Payne, the Marquette product barely noticed the courtroom. Do the Knicks view their second-year level guard as a part of the plan transferring ahead, or a commerce chip they’ll use as a part of an even bigger deal? In restricted minutes in his rookie season, Kolek confirmed poise briefly stints working an offense, but in addition struggled to search out his footing on the defensive finish.
11: Pacome Dadiet
Age: 20 on July 27
Place: F
Peak: 6’7″
Remaining contract: One-year, $2.8M | 2026-27 Group Possibility: $3M | 2027-28 Group Possibility: $5.4M
2024-25 stats: 18 GP, 6.2 MIN, 1.7 PTS, 1.0 REB, 32.3% FG, 31.6 3PT%
Notes: Chosen twenty fifth total in 2024 NBA Draft
Dadiet was all the time seen as a longer-term undertaking, however the rookie from France by no means obtained an prolonged alternative to point out his sport on the professional stage. As an alternative, he toiled away within the G-League whereas Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart raked within the minutes. Maybe the Knicks’ subsequent coach must develop a gem hiding in plain sight? Or perhaps that’s the potential New York can use to sway a suitor in a commerce.
10: 2032 personal 2RP
If a workforce is betting towards the Knicks long-term, the 2032 second-round decide is a worthwhile asset. Brunson, in any case, went thirty third within the 2018 NBA Draft, and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic went forty first in 2014. The Knicks used the Detroit Pistons’ 2024 second-round decide as a substitute of a first-round decide to sweeten the provide of R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley for Anunoby. This future second-round decide can be utilized in a similar way.
9: Josh Hart
Age: 30
Place: G-F
Peak: 6’4″
Remaining contract: 2 years, $40.4 million | Yr 3 Group Possibility: $22.4M
2024-25 stats: 77 GP, 37.6 MIN*, 13.6 PTS, 9.6 REB*, 5.9 AST*, 1.5 STL*, 52.5% FG, 33.3% 3PT
2024-25 postseason stats: 11.6 PTS, 8.8 REB, 4.4 AST, 1.1 STL, 47.2% FG, 37% 3PT
Notes: NBA Ironman Award Recipient, Second-Group NBA All-Interview, moved to bench in convention finals
Hart is the center and soul of this Knicks workforce, however after a disappointing Japanese Convention Finals run — a sequence Hart himself stated he “failed” his workforce — robust choices could possibly be on the horizon. Hart led the NBA in rebounds amongst gamers shorter than 6-10 and used his presents to create second-chance alternatives and push the tempo for the Knicks final season. The Knicks, nevertheless, may look to maneuver him for 3 causes: a substandard 33.3% three-point clip, a necessity to extend in dimension on the wings, and — if for no different cause — wage cap aid, probably to separate his $20 million common annual wage between two gamers as a route so as to add extra depth.
8: Miles McBride
Age: 25 on Sep. 8
Place: G
Peak: 6’2″
Remaining contract: 2 years, $8.3 million
2024-25 stats: 64 GP, 24.9 MPG*, 9.5 PTS*, 2.9 AST*, 2.5 REB*, 1.0 STL*, 40.6% FG, 36.9% 3PT
2024-25 postseason stats: 18.9 MIN, 5.8 PTS, 37.8% FG, 37.3% 3PT, 0.4 STL
After buying and selling Quickley to the Raptors within the Anunoby deal, the hope was McBride may slot proper in as a scoring guard off the bench who doubled as a relentless level of assault defender. They had been huge footwear to fill for a Sixth Man of the Yr runner-up. McBride didn’t obtain any Sixth Man votes this season as Boston’s Payton Pritchard ran away with the award. The Knicks want their backup guard to shut the hole and supply regular offense off the bench — or they may use him as a worthwhile asset. On a team-friendly take care of potential not proven behind Brunson within the beginning lineup, one other workforce may take a flyer on the two-way guard in an even bigger function elsewhere.
7: 2030 personal FRP decide swap (or outright)
The Stepien Rule prevents the Knicks from buying and selling this decide, however a decide swap on this draft could possibly be seen as a worthwhile asset for a corporation betting on an early implosion at Madison Sq. Backyard. The Knicks may make this decide accessible for commerce outright in the event that they purchase an unprotected first-round decide in 2029.
6: Mitchell Robinson
Age: 27
Place: C
Peak: 7’0″
Remaining contract: One-year, $12.9 million
2024-25 stats: 17 GP**, 17.1. MIN **, 5.1 PTS**, 5.7 REB**, 1.1 BLK**. 66% FG, 68% FT*
2024-25 postseason stats: 20.6 MIN, 4.7 PTS, 7.1 REB, 0.9 STL, 0.8 BLK, 39.3% FT,
Notes: Ran into beginning lineup with season on the road; extension-eligible
If solely the Knicks had a wholesome Robinson from coaching camp, and never from late February. Robinson’s second stress fracture in his left ankle price him 10 months of motion, and by the point he returned — and returned for good — he turned a bottom-10 Knicks protection into one of many ten-best in basketball to shut the yr. If the Knicks are constructing round Karl-Anthony Cities, extending Robinson as a defensive anchor a la Rudy Gobert could possibly be their finest shot at maintaining the inside intact. However by no means say by no means: Robinson is the longest-tenured Knick, and if the best deal is on the desk, count on the Knicks to do no matter it takes to match the salaries wanted to deliver a championship-caliber roster to The Backyard.
5: OG Anunoby
Age: 28 on July 17Position: F
Peak: 6’7″
Alternative price: R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, 2024 Detroit second-round decide
Remaining contract: 3 years, $127.5M | 2027-28 Participant Possibility: $48.4M | Commerce Kicker: 15 %
2024-25 stats: 74 GP*, 36.6 MIN*, 18 PTS*, 4.8 REB, 2.2 AST, 1.5 STL, 0.9 BLK, 47.6% FG, 37.2% 3PT
2024-25 postseason stats: 39.2 MIN, 16.3 PTS, 4.6 REB, 1.3 AST, 2.0 STL, 1.2 BLK, 41.7% FG**, 33.9% 3PT**
Notes: Signed to franchise-record $212.5M contract; coming off healthiest season in profession, 65-32 report with Anunoby in lineup since Raptors commerce
Anunoby continues to be a shut-down defender. He’s coming off the perfect offensive season of his profession. And his 2024-25 season is the primary time he’s performed 74 video games since his rookie yr. The contract is of notice, as a result of if the Knicks are going to accumulate a marquee expertise like Giannis Antetokounmpo with out parting methods with Brunson or Cities, Anunoby’s wage is the next-biggest on the payroll to assist facilitate such a deal. Do the Knicks go swinging for the fences? Or do they enhance across the margins and hope one other coach can get this group over the hump? And are there any takers for Anunoby’s mammoth contract for a non-cornerstone participant? The ex-Raptor has confirmed he’s nonetheless a high-impact participant. Whether or not or not his influence is in orange-and-blue stays to be seen.
4: 2032 personal FRP swap (or outright)
That is the Knicks’ most beneficial draft asset: their furthest-out first-round decide in 2032. The Stepien Rule prohibits the Knicks from buying and selling this decide — but when they’re able to purchase an unprotected 2031 first-round decide in a commerce, the 2032 decide turns into eligible for commerce. A workforce betting the Knicks will contend within the years to return and rebuild within the seasons to comply with will extremely covet this decide, and swap rights are extra worthwhile right here than the any first-rounder the Knicks have on their books.
3: Mikal Bridges
Age: 29 on Aug. 30
Place: G-F
Peak: 6’6″
Alternative price: 2025, 2027, 2029, 2031 personal first-round picks, 2025 Milwaukee first-round decide, 2028 personal first-round decide swap, 2026 personal second-round decide
Remaining contract: One yr, $24.9 million | Extension eligible: 4 years, $156.1 million
2024-25 stats: 82 GP, 37 MIN*, 17.6 PTS, 3.7 AST, 3.2 REB**, 0.9 STL**, 50% FG, 35.4% 3PT
2024-25 postseason stats: 15.6 PTS, 4.5 REB, 2.9 AST, 1.7 STL*, 0.9 BLK, 2.1 TOV*, 45.6% FG, 33.3% 3PT**
Notes: Has by no means missed a sport
Bridges had a roller-coaster journey season, however the info are damning:
The Knicks traded 5 picks to the Nets to accumulate him
Bridges didn’t stay as much as expectations on both finish of the courtroom
And he has one yr left on his contract earlier than he can stroll away in unrestricted free company in the summertime of 2026
So the Knicks have to re-sign Bridges — even when he had a down season — or commerce him in an effort to rebuild the roster in methods they may have with the picks surrendered tot he Nets. Maybe one other coach can maximize Bridges abilities on each ends of the ground, although it’s clear his ball-stopping talents could also be higher served in areas apart from level of assault protection.
2: Karl-Anthony Cities
Age: 29 on Nov. 15
Place: C
Peak: 7’0″
Alternative price: Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, 2025 Pistons first-round decide
Remaining contract: 3 years, $171.2 million ($57M AAV) | Extension eligible: 3 years, $212M
2024-25 stats: 72 GP, 24.4 PTS, 12.8 REB*, 3.1 AST, 52.6% FG, 42% 3PT
2024-25 postseason stats: 21.4 PTS, 11.6 REB, 1.3 AST, 2.2 TOV, 4.3 PF, 48.8% FG, 35.1% 3PT
Notes: 2025 NBA All-Star starter, 2025 Third Group All-NBA, 5-time All-Star, 3-Time Third Group All-NBA, 2022 3-Level Champion
It’s onerous to pin a season’s value of defensive shortcomings on Cities. The Knicks knew what they had been getting after they dealt Randle and DiVincenzo to the Wolves final summer time to land one of many league’s most gifted offensive facilities. But it’s much more tough to win high-leverage basketball video games with two stress factors on the defensive finish. Cities and Brunson had been practically unplayable collectively within the convention finals towards a Pacers workforce that focused one in all New York’s two stars with regularity. Do the Knicks take a look at Cities for all he’s executed, or look to commerce him for the areas he’s come up brief?
1: Jalen Brunson
Age: 29 on Aug. 31Position: PG
Peak: 6’2″
Remaining contract: 4 years, $156.5 million ($39.1M AAV)
2024-25 stats: 65 GP, 26 PTS, 7.3 AST, 48.8% FG, 38.3% 3PT
2024-25 postseason stats: 29.4 PTS, 7.0 AST, 3.1 TOV*, 46.1% FG, 35.8% 3PT
Notes: 2025 NBA All-Star starter, 2025 Second Group All-NBA, 2025 NBA Clutch Participant of the Yr, 2-Time All-Star (2024-25), 2-Time Second Group All-NBA (2024-25)
The captain. Captain Clutch. The King of New York.
This ship goes as Jalen Brunson goes. However it capsized within the playoffs partly as a result of his shortcomings. Brunson is setting playoff scoring data on hearth. However he is usually a ball magnet. He’s a beneath common defender. And he grew to become surprisingly turnover-prone within the convention finals, below the stress of the intense lights and Indiana’s smothering protection. Can the Knicks prioritize ball motion with the league’s main dribbler? Can they discover methods to plug the defensive holes so evident round their two stars? This entrance workplace has already confirmed it’s keen to make the robust choices and moved on from the pinnacle coach who introduced essentially the most profitable basketball season to MSG within the final quarter-century.
Would the entrance workplace deal the face of its franchise? The group says it’s singularly targeted on successful a championship. Solely time will inform what the Knicks do in an try to get there.