NBA DRAFT
Why don’t the Knicks have a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA draft?
The Knicks decided to trade out of the first round in the previous year. According to sources, the option is not even on the table this year.
Once again, team president Leon Rose will be absent from the first-round pick, as the Mavericks retained their spot in the top 10 during this year’s NBA draft lottery.
As per the Kristaps Porzingis trade terms, the Knicks had possession of the Dallas pick. However, the pick was only protected for the top 10 spots and ultimately landed at the No. 10 position. The Knicks had a mere 20.2 percent probability of securing the pick. While the Mavericks had a 69.9 percent of retaining it.
How did the Knicks miss out on their first-round pick?
In a strategic move, the Mavericks opted to bench some of their key players in their last couple of games, effectively dodging the play-in tournament and increasing their chances of securing a top-10 pick. This calculated maneuver was aimed at maximizing their odds of retaining the selection.
A fine of $750,000 was imposed on them for their actions that were deemed “detrimental to the league”. The Knicks have retained their pick for either 2024 or 2025, subject to the same protections.
The New York Knicks possess their very own first-round picks and have acquired an additional four future first-round picks through trade:
- Dallas 2024 first-round pick.
- Wizards 2024 first-rounder
- Pistons 2024 first-rounder
- Milwaukee 2025 first-rounder