The Knicks made a number of moves during Thursday's 2022 NBA Draft to ultimately create more cap space and gain draft assets.
It may have been a bit confusing to follow all of the action, but here is a recap:
- The Knicks originally held the No. 11 pick, but traded it to the Oklahoma City Thunder for multiple conditional first-round picks. The Knicks acquired a 2023 protected first-rounder via Detroit, a 2023 protected first-rounder via Washington, and a 2023 protected first-rounder via Denver. The Thunder selected French forward Ousmane Dieng with that pick.
- Memphis C Jalen Duren was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets 13th overall, but was then acquired by the Knicks in a trade, with the Knicks trading a conditional first-round pick and four conditional second-round picks to the Hornets.
- The Knicks quickly traded Duren, along with Kemba Walker to the Pistons, clearing cap space by shedding Walker's salary.
- The Knicks are also acquiring the Bucks' 2025 first-round pick from the Detroit as part of the trade. The Pistons acquired that pick earlier this week in a deal that sent Jerami Grant to Portland.
- In summary, the Knicks netted out with three conditional conditional first-round picks (Two from Oklahoma City and one from Detroit), while trading away pick No. 11, four future second-round picks and shedding Walker's salary.
Walker signed a two-year, $18 million deal with the Knicks last offseason, seeming like a perfect fit as the team’s starting point guard.
But Walker struggled with his shot and on the defensive end, and the four-time All-Star eventually found himself completely out of Tom Thibodeau’s rotation.
The UConn product ended up playing 37 games in a Knicks uniform, averaging a career-low 11.6 points and 3.5 assists per game, shooting 36.7 percent from three-point range.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons and Walker are expected to discuss a contract buyout, which would make Walker a free agent.