The New York Knicks are likely higher on than any other franchise on LaMelo Ball heading into the 2020 NBA Draft. However, as is often the case with New York, the Knicks were not afforded any lottery luck and dropped down to the No. 8 pick.
That leaves the team in a spot where they must make a trade in order to put themselves in a position to land Ball. Fortunately, the trades of Kristaps Porzingis and Marcus Morris has given the Knicks a plethora draft picks to trade.
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton took a stab at a couple of trades that would land the Knicks the No. 1 pick and the chance to pick Ball.
First, a three-team deal comprised entirely of draft picks:
New York Knicks get: No. 1 pick (from Minnesota)
Minnesota Timberwolves get: No. 6 pick (from Atlanta), 2021 top-three protected first-round pick (from New York)
Atlanta Hawks get: No. 8 pick, No. 27 pick (from New York via LA Clippers)
The first move would cost the Knicks their own first round pick next season as well as the Clippers pick to move up to the top spot. While their own pick could be quite valuable as a lottery pick in 2020-21, the Clippers pick this season is not nearly as valuable as it is at the end of the first.
The Timberwolves would be able to remain near the top of the draft and acquire a valuable asset for the future. The Hawks, meanwhile, move down just two picks from and gain a late first for their troubles.
All in all, it’s appears to be a win-win for every party involved, but three-team deals are always complicated. So, Bobby Marks also proposed a simpler two-team trade.
New York Knicks get: No. 1 pick, No. 33 pick, Jacob Evans, Omari Spellman
Minnesota Timberwolves get: No. 8 pick, 2021 first-round pick (via Dallas), 2023 first-round pick (via Dallas), Kevin Knox II
In this trade, the Timberwolves get a large number of assets but maybe not as much in terms of quality. Instead of just a future first-round pick from the Knicks, Minnesota gets two future firsts from Dallas that figure to be much later draft picks and as well as Kevin Knox II, a once-promising prospect, as well as the No. 8 pick.
It would come at the cost of Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman, but neither would be much of a loss for Minnesota. It would provide the Timberwolves a nice young core while also giving the Knicks Ball, RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson to move forward with without giving up its own future first.
It’s very likely the Knicks do all they can to move up in the draft considering they began having preliminary trade talks before the lottery was even held. What they’re willing to part with will determine how likely it is they move up and how high.
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