The New York Knicks made five trades across the two days of the 2026 NBA Draft, as Team President Leon Rose began assembling the roster for their 2026-27 title defense.
The Knicks are looking to be the first team since the 2018 Golden State Warriors to successfully defend their NBA Championship. That’s a tall task in the modern NBA, but the franchise is already hard at work weeks after reaching the pinnacle of the sport.
Leon Rose and his front office were hard at work over the 2026 NBA Draft days, as multiple trades led to an asset-rebalancing that saw the Knicks leave with two new players and a whole lot of future second-round picks.
Knicks’ triple-trade on NBA Draft Day 1 saw them exit the first round entirely
The Knicks held the 24th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft but would trade it to the No. 25 Los Angeles Lakers for cash considerations. Rose would then trade No. 25 (Sergio De Larrea) to the Dallas Mavericks for No. 30 (Koa Peat) and two future second-round picks.
The third and final trade on day one saw them trade No. 30 to the Phoenix Suns for the 47th pick, two future first-round picks, and the draft rights to Melvin Ajinca.
Exiting the first round without a selection confused some fans who wanted New York to use the class depth to pick up a contributor. However, the No. 24 pick also carried a guaranteed $3.35 million salary for next season, which would push them dangerously close to the second apron.
With the franchise actively looking to avoid the second apron while retaining free agents like Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet, a first-round selection wasn’t tenable for the Knicks in the Draft.
NBA Draft Day 2 saw the Knicks make two trades and two selections
The Knicks controlled the first pick of the second round (No. 31, Bruce Thornton) but would move that to the Houston Rockets in a multi-team deal, which saw them acquire the No. 39 pick, where they finally made a selection for themselves with Jack Kayil.
The previously acquired No. 47 pick was used on Vanderbilt forward Tyler Nickel to round out New York’s draft day. They also controlled the No. 53 pick (Ugonna Onyeso), but that was traded to the Detroit Pistons as part of a cash-saving move, which saw the Knicks acquire a 2029 second-round pick.
Kayil expects to make the jump to the NBA with the Knicks, but he could be stashed overseas for another season if the Knicks need the additional room. Nickel likely will be a rotational contributor at the end of the bench as an efficient 3-and-D option.
Nickel and Kayil can be signed to contracts lower than a veteran’s minimum, so they’ll help fill New York’s roster out if retained.
Rose made a lot of moves to keep the Knicks in the green at the Draft, with everyone now waiting to see what they do in free agency to finalize their roster for next season’s title defense.
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