Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: Realistic goals for the 2018 NBA trade deadline

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 10: Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks celebrates his three point shot in the first half against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on January 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 10: Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks celebrates his three point shot in the first half against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on January 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 8
Next
LUBBOCK, TX – JANUARY 31: Zhaire Smith #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball over Mohamed Bamba #4 of the Texas Longhorns during the game on January 31, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Texas 73-71 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – JANUARY 31: Zhaire Smith #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball over Mohamed Bamba #4 of the Texas Longhorns during the game on January 31, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Texas 73-71 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

3. Keep The 2018 First-Round Draft Pick

Unless the New York Knicks can acquire a landscape-altering player, there would be no excuse for trading the 2018 first-round draft pick. The only exception to that statement may be if the Knicks can turn that pick into a better draft situation.

The Knicks are in the midst of a rebuild, and retaining the 2018 first-round draft pick will help it on far too many levels to simply let it go.

The obvious appeal of the 2018 pick is that the Knicks potentially find another star to complement Kristaps Porzingis. The less discussed appeal of drafting a player, however, is that the franchise would fill a roster spot with a cost-controlled asset.

Not only would New York have a player to develop along the same timeline as Porzingis, but it would have a cost-efficient salary that would enable it to add free agents.

Furthermore, the Knicks haven’t retained their first-round draft pick on an even year since 2008—10 years ago. That’s 10 squandered opportunity to add a promising young talent with a cost-controlled contract, thus facilitating both the short-term and long-term building processes.

Unless the return is an All-NBA player who will change the culture, the Knicks simply cannot afford to trade another first-round draft pick.

Home/Knicks News