The champions avoided the first round but had to work to do so.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was expected that Knicks president Leon Rose would trade the No. 24 pick in Tuesday\u2019s first round of the NBA draft to avoid taking on first-round salary. <\/p>\n
And that\u2019s what happened, though it required a few moves to get it done.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Knicks initially traded the No. 24 pick to the Lakers and moved one slot later, to No. 25, in exchange for cash considerations. The Knicks picked Spanish youngster Sergio De Larrea at that pick, and it seemed like a potential stash option that would allow them to come out of the night with talent for the future but avoid adding salary for next season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sergio de Larrea of Valencia Basket and Yannis Morin of Asisa Joventut in action during the Spanish League, Liga ACB Endesa, basketball Semi Final Game 3 match played between Asisa Joventut and Valencia Basket on June 14, 2026. Europa Press via Getty Images<\/p>\n
But after the first round was completed, the Knicks sent De Larrea to the Mavericks in exchange for No. 30 pick Koa Peat and two second-round picks. Then they made one more move, sending Peat to the Suns for three second-rounders and cash.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So after a series of three trades, Rose moved the Knicks out of the first round and left with five additional second-rounders and cash. And they accomplished their goal of avoiding any first-round salary without having to attach any capital to get rid of that No. 24 pick, which some thought they might have to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The No. 47 pick is one of the second-rounders the Knicks got from the Suns. So now the Knicks have Nos. 31, 47 and 55 on Wednesday to either add cheaper talent or continue dealing for future picks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Second-round picks usually sign for much less than first-rounders and, unlike first-round picks, don\u2019t automatically sign guaranteed contracts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Knicks president Leon Rose talks on the phone during the Knicks-Hawks Game 3. Charles Wenzelberg \/ New York Post<\/p>\n
The No. 24 pick \u2014 who ended up being Cameron Carr \u2014 is slotted to make roughly $3.5 million for his rookie season. If the Knicks envisioned that pick as someone who would be a reserve \u2014 like their ninth, 10th or 11th man \u2014 it didn\u2019t make sense to have to pay that much. They can find players on veteran minimum deals to fill those roles.\u00a0<\/p>\n