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Why the New York Knicks don’t own their 2019 second-round pick

By Rob Wolkenbrod

GREENSBURGH, NY - JULY 08: New York Knicks President Phil Jackson during a press conference introducing the Knicks new free agent signings at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility on July 8, 2016 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
GREENSBURGH, NY - JULY 08: New York Knicks President Phil Jackson during a press conference introducing the Knicks new free agent signings at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility on July 8, 2016 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks have a second-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, but not their own.

The New York Knicks found success in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft, picking Mitchell Robinson 36th overall. It was not their own pick, however, as it originated with the Chicago Bulls, went to the Oklahoma City Thunder and followed to the Knicks in the September, 2017 trade for Carmelo Anthony.

A similar situation exists in 2019. New York does not have its own second-round pick. Instead, they have Houston’s, which places No. 55 overall.

So what happened to the pick that is now No. 31?

In 2014, weeks into Phil Jackson‘s run as president of basketball operations, he traded Travis Outlaw and the 2019 second-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for Arnett Moultrie.

The Knicks waived Moultrie after the move was made.

In 2017, this pick left the Sixers in the same deal that sent Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas to the Brooklyn Nets.

Now, as of June 14, the Nets own the Knicks’ pick at 31st overall, the opening pick outside the first round, with the chance to select a player who may have surprisingly slid down draft boards.

A crosstown rival that could impact the Knicks’ free agency can do the same at the draft. While their picks are 28 apart, whoever goes at No. 31 will partake in a potentially improved Nets team with — possibly — Kyrie Irving and D’Angelo Russell patrolling the backcourt. Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen and Joe Harris also play key parts on this rising Eastern Conference team.

The Knicks can still acquire another pick in this range if they trade someone like Frank Ntilikina, but it depends on how much value he has after two disappointing seasons.

If Phil Jackson never liberally moved second-round picks, this would be a different story. It only lessened the luxury tax hit at the time, but now comes back to haunt the Knicks five years later.

Of course, whoever this pick becomes can flop as a pro prospect. It happens frequently in the second round. There is also the chance this player succeeds and participates on a playoff team.

In the meantime, the Knicks will pick third overall in the first round, with players like RJ Barrett and Ja Morant in their sights, so Thursday, June 20, will not be dampened too much, unless fans still wish the lottery ping-pong balls landed differently.

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There are two picks for the New York Knicks to make. One is likelier to make an impact than the other, but more unexpected circumstances have happened.

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