Report: Knicks debating ‘willingness’ to trade 1st-round picks needed to land Russell

The New York Knicks continue to negotiate with the Warriors over D’Angelo Russell, but they might not want to give up much draft capital.

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The day before the trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks have reportedly continued trade talks for Warriors point guard D’Angelo Russell.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania tweeted the Knicks’ pursuit continued Wednesday.

“So far, Knicks haven’t offered packages that would close gap on Golden State’s price point,” Charania tweeted.

The dissent seemingly comes from negotiations of draft picks. That’s where the Knicks’ real treasure trove lies: New York owns all their own first-round picks and the Dallas Mavericks’ first rounders in 2021 and 2023 from the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

Begley reported Tuesday talks had centered around power forward Bobby Portis and point guard Frank Ntilikina.

If those are the players offered, it seems likely the Warriors would ask for one or more picks in exchange for Russell, who is averaging almost 24 points and more than six assists while shooting 38% from beyond the arc as a 23-year-old.

However, Begley tweeted, the Knicks might not be willing to meet the demands for picks.

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Ntilikina is averaging six points, three assists and 2.3 rebounds in 21 minutes per game. He started 24 games for the Knicks, but point guard Elfrid Payton has started every one he’s played in since Dec. 21.

Portis averages 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 21 minutes per game.

As the Knicks mull the worth of Russell, they are also shopping power forward Marcus Morris, according to several reports.

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