Leon Rose has been no stranger to trading draft picks since his arrival to the New York Knicks’ front office in 2020.
Rose’s first draft saw New York trading two picks to move up in the first round to select Immanuel Quickley at No. 25.
Last year, the Knicks were right back at it with the trades. Going into draft night New York held picks 19, 21, 32, and 58. Reports came out saying the Knicks were trying to actually move up in the draft, but they ended up backing out because of asking prices.
By the end of the night, New York moved its first three picks in a variety of trades in return for picks 25, 34, 36, 58, and some future assets.
The Knicks ended up taking Quentin Grimes at No. 25, who had a promising rookie year.
So, as we can see from Rose’s small sample size, New York won’t stay put with its selections without at least kicking the tires on possible trades. I expect the same to happen this year.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Knicks either move up or move down from their current selection at No. 11. We know how much they love Jaden Ivey, but again, if the price is too high and they don’t love anyone at 11, watch for them to move back in the first round.
In this article, I’ll be revealing three possible draft targets that could be available in the back half of this year’s first round.
3 players that the Knicks could trade back for in the 2022 NBA Draft
3. Christian Koloko – University of Arizona
Christain Koloko would merely only be an option if Mitchell Robinson leaves and the Knicks miss out on Mark Williams and/or Jalen Duren. But boy, am I high on Koloko still.
He had a breakout junior season for the Arizona Wildcats, averaging 12.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game and he shot 63.5% from the field. Due to his stats he won’t necessarily turn heads, but his defense will. Even if he isn’t blocking shots, he affects them and makes players think twice before coming into the lane.
Like I said, his defense is already awesome with his long arms and wingspan which is crucial for the center position. He also has a very impressive knack to cut to the basket and catch lobs, making him a cheaper version of Robinson.
Koloko even has shown the ability to stay with smaller faster guards, which is huge in the NBA.
His 7-foot-5.25-inch wingspan and 9-foot-5 standing reach (yes, you read that correctly) will help him to be a potential franchise rim protector.
to trading draft picks</a> since his arrival to the <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"https://dailyknicks.com/">New York Knicks’</a> front office in 2020.</p>
<p>Rose’s first draft saw New York trading two picks to move up in the first round to select Immanuel Quickley at No. 25.</p>
<p>Last year, the Knicks were right back at it with the trades. Going into draft night New York held picks 19, 21, 32, and 58. Reports came out saying the Knicks were trying to actually move up in the draft, but they ended up backing out because of asking prices.</p>
<p>By the end of the night, New York moved its first three picks in a variety of trades in return for picks 25, 34, 36, 58, and some future assets.</p>
<p>The Knicks ended up taking Quentin Grimes at No. 25, who had a promising rookie year.</p>
<p>So, as we can see from Rose’s small sample size, New York won’t stay put with its selections without at least kicking the tires on possible trades. I expect the same to happen this year.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be surprised if the Knicks either move up or move down from their current selection at No. 11. We know how much they love Jaden Ivey, but again, if the price is too high and they don’t love anyone at 11, watch for them to move back in the first round.</p>
<p>In this article, I’ll be revealing three possible draft targets that could be available in the back half of this year’s first round.</p>
<h2>3 players that the Knicks could trade back for in the 2022 NBA Draft</h2>
<h3>3. Christian Koloko – University of Arizona</h3>
<p>Christain Koloko would merely only be an option if Mitchell Robinson leaves and the Knicks miss out on Mark Williams and/or Jalen Duren. But boy, am I high on Koloko still.</p>
<p>He had <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4431778/christian-koloko" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a breakout junior season</a> for the Arizona Wildcats, averaging 12.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game and he shot 63.5% from the field. Due to his stats he won’t necessarily turn heads, but his defense will. Even if he isn’t blocking shots, he affects them and makes players think twice before coming into the lane.</p>
<p>Like I said, his defense is already awesome with his long arms and wingspan which is crucial for the center position. He also has a very impressive knack to cut to the basket and catch lobs, making him a cheaper version of Robinson.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">PAC-12 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – CHRISTIAN KOLOKO<a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"https://twitter.com/kolokojunior1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@kolokojunior1 <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"https://t.co/Oppt4x0yJo">pic.twitter.com/Oppt4x0yJo
<p>— Intuition Hoops (@IntuitionHoops) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"https://twitter.com/IntuitionHoops/status/1501262541120421893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>March 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Koloko even has shown the ability to stay with smaller faster guards, which is huge in the NBA.</p>
<p>His 7-foot-5.25-inch wingspan and 9-foot-5 standing reach (yes, you read that correctly) will help him to be a potential franchise rim protector.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A guard out of Ohio State </a>
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<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-129245" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F06%2F1386755910.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Ohio State Buckeyes, Malaki Branham" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/06/1386755910.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/06/1386755910-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Malaki Branham, Ohio State Buckeyes. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
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<h3>2. Malaki Branham – Ohio State University</h3>
<p>Malaki Branham is a score-first talented wing who is absolutely lethal from mid-range. My favorite part of his game is his ability to pull up off the dribble. It may sound crazy but it reminds me a lot of Carmelo Anthony.</p>
<p>They both aren’t super athletic and won’t blow by you with speed, but it won’t stop them from getting buckets.</p>
<p>The lack of separation he gets doesn’t fret him, a couple dribbles past his defender puts him on his hip and then he pulls up, it’s automatic. He also has great body control which allows him to be creative in getting around the rim.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looking at Malaki Branham's shot chart, he's become another very efficent player.<br>However if you compare his November with his February chart, you can see that:</p>
<p>1. He had a slow start</p>
<p>2. Since then he's become WAY more efficent from every distance</p>
<p>3. His volume's DOUBLED <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"https://t.co/LQAfuHu0Ay">pic.twitter.com/LQAfuHu0Ay
<p>— Alex (@AlexDrProf) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"https://twitter.com/AlexDrProf/status/1534114443109421056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>June 7, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>You can see from these graphics how Branham loves to score the bulk of his points. But more importantly, as the tweet says, he improved essentially everywhere on the court as the season progressed, which is huge.</p>
<p>Branham isn’t great defensively, but that should be coachable, and if he continues to improve on that side of the ball he could fit in great with the Knicks.</p>
<p>Now, I may be foolish putting Branham in this article because if I was in charge of an NBA team he wouldn’t be making it out of the lottery. His frame is already NBA-ready and I have very little doubt that he won’t be able to become a day one contributor.</p>
<p>We all know that New York has a logjam at the wing position, but if the Knicks end up dealing some of the “veterans” off (like Alec Burks and Evan Fournier), I would love to see Branham in New York’s system.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A G League prospect </a>
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<a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2022/06/17184297.jpeg">
a very good chance he gets picked up in the late lottery</a>, but if he finds himself falling deeper into the first round he will be a steal. I’m certain of it.</p>
<p>Hardy had a bit of a rude awakening throughout his first few games in the G League, which resulted in him shooting just 26.9% from three and 35.1% from the field. He found his feet later on in the season and the former Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year averaged 17.7 points.</p>
<p>In my opinion, Hardy is much better than what his shooting percentages show, especially based on the eye test. His movements are extremely fluid and he is truly a walking highlight reel.</p>
<p>I can see Hardy fitting in wherever he is drafted, but I get especially excited about a potential fit next to Immanuel Quickley where Hardy would be coming off the bench. The possible scoring abilities from just the two of them alone present a dangerous matchup. Mix in the athleticism of Obi Toppin and boy, these kids will be on SportsCenter Top 10 on a nightly basis.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Video of G League Ignite guard Jaden Hardy during the end of a group draft workout this morning with the Washington Wizards: <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"https://t.co/T3biDXdjKR">pic.twitter.com/T3biDXdjKR
<p>— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"https://twitter.com/JoshuaBRobbins/status/1534188265821159424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>June 7, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>If he can improve on some of his shot selections and decision-making, I expect him to be a high-volume scorer who can help any second unit coming off the bench.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="2XtNafNYJj"><p><a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/16/3-targets-knicks-trade-back-2022-nba-draft/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/15/3-offensive-minded-players-knicks-pick-no-11-2022-nba-draft/">3 offensive-minded players Knicks could pick at No. 11 in 2022 NBA Draft</a></p></blockquote>
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