Whether it be leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft or during the draft itself, the New York Knicks have the chance to shake up Thursday night’s events. New York not only doesn’t have a first-round pick but doesn’t have a second-round pick, either.
The Knicks sent a first-round pick to the Trail Blazers as part of the Josh Hart trade and missed out on the first-round pick via the Kristaps Porzingis trade thanks to the Mavericks’ tanking efforts, leaving New York empty-handed for the 2023 draft.
Although New York is without a pick, that could change. Or maybe the Knicks could go without a selection in the draft but make a trade for a star player, which would still affect how draft night would play out.
3 Ways the New York Knicks could shakeup the 2023 NBA Draft
3: Trade for a second-round pick
Out of the three moves listed, this one is more of a minor splash that the Knicks could make to affect the outcome of draft night. New York entered the 2022 NBA Draft with two picks at No. 11 and No. 42 but only walked away with second-round pick Trevor Keels. The same could happen again this year.
The Knicks have done their due diligence even without having a draft pick. Tom Thibodeau was spotted at the draft combine in Chicago and New York still held private workouts for prospects, including Fordham’s Khalid Moore and UConn’s Adama Sanogo. None of the players that the Knicks worked out are expected to go in the first round, meaning that New York could snag one of them in the second round or wait to sign them once the draft concludes.
The Hornets, Pacers, Spurs, Wizards, Thunder, Kings, and Grizzlies all have more than one second-round pick, meaning one of those teams is likelier to part ways with one of their picks if the Knicks come calling.
2: Send Obi Toppin to Pacers for late first-round pick
Newsday’s Steve Popper reported (subscription required) on Tuesday that Obi Toppin was hoping to be traded ahead of the deadline and that he and the Knicks have agreed on finding him a “change of scenery.” Toppin was drafted No. 8 overall in 2020 but has spent the last three seasons playing behind Julius Randle.
The Pacers are a team that have popped up as a possible landing spot for Toppin, especially because Indiana has three first-round picks (No. 7, No. 26, No. 29). One proposed trade would involve the Knicks sending Toppin to the Pacers in exchange for Chris Duarte and one of Indiana’s late first-round picks. Popper also reported that teams around the league believe that New York will trade into the draft, even if it’s a last-minute deal. It wouldn’t be shocking at all to see Toppin traded on draft night.
Time is ticking for the 25-year-old forward and the last thing that he and Knicks fans should want is to see him have another limited role for New York in 2023-24. He’s set to be a restricted free agent next summer and rather than lose him then, the Knicks could get something of value in return for him this summer.
1: Trade for Zion Williamson
It’s been over four years since the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery revealed that the Knicks would have the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft and therefore miss out on selecting Zion Williamson. Between the drama that’s been surrounding Zion and Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension for 2023-24, selecting RJ Barrett was a blessing in disguise for New York.
There hasn’t been any chatter about the Grizzlies shopping Ja, but the same can’t be said for the Pelicans and Zion. Bill Simmons said on his podcast that a reliable source he spoke to believes that Zion won’t be on New Orleans’ roster come Thursday, the day of the draft. If that’s true, New York could be weighing the pros and cons of taking on him and the supermax contract that he signed last year.
If the Knicks do trade for Zion, they wouldn’t be doing so to receive a 2023 pick in return. Instead, New York would be sending first-round picks to New Orleans. Regardless, Zion being traded to the Knicks would be more than enough to overshadow the draft’s festivities, especially if it happens between now and Thursday night.
None of this is to say that New York should consider adding Zion, but maybe the Knicks believe that they could help set the 22-year-old on the right path. It wouldn’t come without taking a huge risk, though.
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