The New York Knicks were awarded the 11th overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, a position they anticipated being in after finishing in the middle of the pack last season. The franchise saw a year of setbacks after a confounding 2020-21 season and will be hunting for ways to retool the roster this summer.
Despite New York’s struggles, several budding young stars arose for the Knicks this past year. The franchise would love to add one more piece in the draft to join them, while potentially simultaneously offloading their highest salaried player in Julius Randle.
There are several avenues the team could explore to suffice all of their desires this offseason. One that could prove worthwhile for two rebuilding franchises would be a trade with the Washington Wizards.
The Knicks should make this trade with the Wizards during the 2022 NBA Draft
Finishing with only two fewer wins than New York in 2021-22, Washington fell victim to another underwhelming season in the Bradley Beal era. The franchise made their intentions to continue a win-now direction clear, though, when they went out and acquired former Knicks All-Star Kristaps Porzingis ahead of the trade deadline.
With Beal expected to rejoin the team next year, the Wizards will look to take advantage of their two cornerstone players so that they can make their way back to the playoffs.
Similarly in New York, the franchise
wants to make its way back to the playoffs. Their avenue, though, may come from a youth brigade of talent rather than existing All-Star veterans.
The Wizards and Knicks will pick back-to-back at No. 10 and No. 11 in the draft, respectively. With so much in common between the two franchise’s seasons, there may be an advantageous transaction between the teams to help them both achieve their desired goals.