New York Knicks: Designing an ideal Jabari Parker trade

The Draft Pick

This wouldn’t normally deserve a slide or extensive explanation, but the New York Knicks aren’t a normal organization. The Knicks have a long history of trading draft picks for players coming off of injuries, and this would be yet another example of the organization doing so.

The reality here, however, is that New York isn’t betting the mortgage like it has in the past—nor would it be trading a future pick without a Plan B.

Due to his injury history and pending free agency, Jabari Parker simply shouldn’t command a projected 2018 lottery pick. He would require one when healthy, but there’s enough of a mystery surrounding his future that New York can fairly negotiate including a 2019 pick instead.

New York would have a safety blanket in doing so in that it would have 25-and-under players to groom at all five positions if this trade were to go through—plus the 2018 pick for insurance.

Giving up the 2019 first-round draft pick would be tough to stomach, primarily due to the history New York has of trading its selections. This simply isn’t an Antonio McDyess situation, however, as a young core already exists.

With Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr., Parker, Kristaps Porzingis, and Willy Hernangomez, the Knicks would have a promising 25-and-under player at point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center.

When joined by a 2018 first-round selection and promising second-round selection Damyean Dotson, that group looks even more promising.

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Trading draft picks is like pulling teeth with New York Knicks fans, but this is a rare example of a safe gamble.

Even if Jabari Parker doesn’t pan out, the Knicks would have four building blocks and a 2018 first-round draft pick to fall back on.