NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 02: Josh Hart #3 and RJ Barrett #9 of the New York Knicks celebrate after Hart drew the foul in the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat during game two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Madison Square Garden on May 02, 2023 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the Miami Heat 111-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
ESPN writer reminds Knicks fans why 2023 draft was actually a success
The New York Knicks didn’t have a pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, but fans still gathered in front of their televisions waiting to see if the front office was going to make a bold move by trading into the draft. A series of trades were made, but none were orchestrated by Leon Rose.
It isn’t unusual for the Knicks to stay quiet while many expect them to make a move. Look back at how last summer turned out in the Donovan Mitchell trade talks. Rose and New York are playing the long game, but some fans have grown impatient. No matter the outcome, there is always going to be disgruntled fans.
That was the case on draft night. Sure, it would’ve made Thursday a lot more interesting if New York would’ve traded into the draft, but then again, that isn’t something that the Knicks needed to do. The team didn’t get worse by not having a late first-round pick or second-round pick. If the deal that New York wanted wasn’t there, why force it?
New York Knicks staying quiet on 2023 NBA Draft night wasn’t a bad thing
On an episode of ‘The Putback with Ian Begley,’ ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Knicks Film School’s Jonathan Macri joined Begley to talk about the draft.
Begley, who’s a voice of reason, started out by saying that he wasn’t surprised that New York didn’t do anything because there isn’t room for a first-round pick in Tom Thibodeau’s tight rotation.
Bontemps dove right in by saying that the reason that the Knicks didn’t have a pick (besides the Mavericks tanking) was because they traded their pick to the Trail Blazers as part of the Josh Hart trade. Hart made an immediate impact upon arriving in New York and finished the regular season averaging 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He has a $12.96 million player option for next season that he said he’s going to decline to become a free agent, but he wants to sign a new deal with the Knicks.
Imagine if New York never would’ve traded for Hart and instead would’ve had a pick in the 20s on draft night. As Begley noted, chances are that the Knicks would’ve drafted a player that wouldn’t be able to step right in and crack Thibodeau’s rotation. Instead, New York used that pick to get Hart, a six-year veteran that didn’t take long to solidify himself as a player that needs to be in the organization’s future plans.
For the Knicks fans that are frustrated that Leon Rose didn’t find a way to trade into the draft, sending that pick away for Josh Hart was a far better outcome for New York.
