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Knicks Trade Rumors: Rounding up the latest buzz as NBA trade deadline nears

By Maxwell Ogden

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 31: Willy Hernangomez #14 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Boston Celtics on January 31, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 31: Willy Hernangomez #14 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Boston Celtics on January 31, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 22: Frank Ntilikina walks to the stage after being drafted eighth overall by the New York Knicks during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 22: Frank Ntilikina walks to the stage after being drafted eighth overall by the New York Knicks during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Rumor: Knicks Don’t Want To Trade 2018 First-Round Draft Pick

For all that Phil Jackson did to alienate fans, he helped the New York Knicks by not trading any future first-round draft picks. New York hasn’t retained its first-round draft pick on an even year since 2008, but in 2018, it will have a chance to buck the trend.

As the 2018 NBA trade deadline approaches, however, fearful speculation has inevitably mounted that the organization will lose that progress.

New York has been linked to a number of players in the days leading up to the trade deadline, including Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets. It’s also attempted to trade Joakim Noah—a similar pursuit in the sense that the cost could be the Knicks giving up a first-round draft pick.

According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, the Knicks have no plans to trade a first-round draft pick or acquire significant salary at the trade deadline.

"New York has no plans to include any first-round picks in trades before the deadline and doesn’t want to acquire any significant salary — unless it’s tied to a player that the organization views as part of its future."

If the Knicks are going to build a sustainable future, then proper asset management will need to become the greatest focus of all.

Draft picks are clearly useful for acquiring developable talent, but they also help with the financial aspect of team-building. Rookies are signed to cost-controlled contracts that often count less against the cap than their talent and impact would normally entail.

For a Knicks team that’s both rebuilding and limited in cap space, it should come as no surprise that the 2018 first-round draft pick borders on being untouchable.

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