New York Knicks executive Steve Mills said the organization will not trade any first round picks, in regard to players they can sign in free agency.
The New York Knicks have used their first round picks in each of the past two drafts, with Frank Ntilikina in 2017 and Kevin Knox in 2018. Both players, and 2015 first round pick Kristaps Porzingis, will all play parts in the organization’s future.
It’s part of president of basketball operations Steve Mills’ plan, to stay patient with the talent in place and work the young pieces of the present and whoever joins in the future.
Mills spoke more on New York’s future at Monday’s Town Hall event. According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, the team executive said they will not trade any first round draft picks, and assets will not be sent for players that can sign in free agency. This comment was based on “past mistakes.”
Asked by about past Knicks mistakes that the organization will avoid in the future, president Steve Mills says, “We’re not going to trade any of our (1st round) draft picks.” Mills adds that they aren’t going to trade assets for a player that they can sign in free agency.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 18, 2018
It’s amidst Jimmy Butler’s questionable status with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he has become a popular speculation point for the Knicks in 2019.
Of course if Butler and Minnesota choose to part ways and work towards an in-season trade, any potential suitor must pay compensation. Depending what head coach and executive Tom Thibodeau wants, it may take young players, draft picks or both.
Given Mills’ comments, that places New York out of the Butler mix, if a market develops, post-meeting with Timberwolves brass. The multi-time All-Star can hit free agency in July 2019, so that will become the timeframe for the team to make their move on him or any other big names with expiring contracts.
With the Knicks as a candidate to miss the postseason, this means the retaining of a potential lottery pick—one with the chance to rise into the top 10.
In the past, as Mills alluded to, the Knicks traded first round picks for veteran players. Their 2016 selection went to the Toronto Raptors in the Andrea Bargnani trade, 2014 went to the Denver Nuggets in the Carmelo Anthony trade and 2012 went to the Houston Rockets. The history of dealt first-rounders go beyond that, so there’s a stigma for the current front office to move past; this continues into the 2018-19 campaign.