Ranking the New York Knicks’ top 11 trade assets
By Tyler Watts
7. Knicks’ 2026 first-round pick
The New York Knicks’ first-round pick in 2026 will have more value because it can be dealt without a protection and teams will always bet against the futures of other squads. It is difficult to project what a franchise will look like in one year, much less multiple.
If Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle accept their player options, they will be free agents in 2026. RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson are the only other players on their roster that run through the 2025-2026 season. That is a strong core four, but what will the roster look like around them?
The Knicks could easily trade Barrett or Mitch Rob if a star becomes available, and that does not always work out as planned. Look across town to Brooklyn to see the only example fans need. The Nets had Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden and only won one playoff series.
6. Knicks’ 2027 first-round pick
The Stepien Rule prevents franchises from trading their first-round pick in back-to-back years, so New York could trade 2024, 2026, and 2028 together or 2025, 2027, and 2029 with swaps in the other three years. That is a massive haul, but a risky one as the Nets are now witnesses. Trading away every draft pick means things have to go right or they will go extremely wrong.
2027 is their first-round pick with the most value, and the New York Knicks are unlikely to part with it unless they are getting a star in return.