New York Knicks: Five reasons to not trade 2019 draft pick

2. Trading the pick means moving other assets with it

While a top-five draft pick holds immense value for the New York Knicks, it probably won’t leave in a straight-up deal for a player. If anything, if moved, it would probably have other assets attached for a superstar.

The Knicks have interesting young players. Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr. all offer intrigue, and it’s possible most of that group leaves with the first round pick for whatever the return is.

This pick, if first or second overall, can lead a deal, but not without other pieces to put a deal over the top. Whether for Anthony Davis or another big name that becomes available via trade, it will take a haul — young, controllable players that don’t consume the salary cap.

Are the Knicks willing to do this again? While different circumstances, a chunk of the roster was wiped out in the 2011 Carmelo Anthony trade, along with multiple future first-round picks. It limited the team’s depth throughout Anthony’s run and resulted in just three playoff appearances, none of which went past the second round.

Fair comparison or not, trading this pick likely means the Knicks are prepared to move their youth out and venture into the free agent market to pluck veterans. It’s a risk to do it that soon, unlike what the Philadelphia 76ers did by waiting for their assets to mature and move them for top players when ready.