Picks! We Made Picks!
The Knicks made some more trades, but added two players in the process.
Good morning! The draft may be over, but the fun is just beginning…
Knicks ‘26 Draft: Round One Review
Let’s get the trades out of the way first before we talk about the newest Knicks:
Just before the draft started, the Knicks traded the 31st and 55th picks to the Houston Rockets for the 39th and 53rd picks, as well as a juicy 2029 Kings second-rounder.
After selecting Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso with the 53rd pick, they dealt him to Detroit (who earlier in the night traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis) for cash considerations.
And just to close the loop on the trades from night one of the draft, New York picked up 2029 and 2033 seconds from the Phoenix Suns and 2030 and 2032 seconds from the Dallas Mavericks, as well as the draft rights to three players who will play in the NBA around the same time that I do.
As for who the Knicks wound up with on night two, say hello to…
Jack Kayil, 20 y/o 6'3" combo guard from Germany
Per Sam Vecenie’s draft guide, Kayil is a “jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none” who he ranked as his No. 41 overall prospect coming into the draft. That description seems to be apt, as Kayil does a lot of things well despite a lack of explosiveness.
If you want to be tantalized, have a gander at this tape:
The most notable thing about Kayil at this point is that he said last night he planned on coming over to the states next season. That’s notable on a few fronts that are in conflict with one another at first glance.
On one front, the Knicks are loaded at the point/combo guard position, with Jose seemingly set to return and Kolek on a contract that will pay him less than the minimum for a 2+ year vet. On another front, one would assume that if the Knicks made this pick and plan to roster Kayil, they’re confident he’ll sign for the league minimum for players with no NBA experience, buying them valuable breathing under the second apron in the process. We’ll see if it shakes out that way.
As for the other pick…
Tyler Nickel, 22 y/o 6’6” wing from Vanderbilt
Dubbed the best shooter in the draft by some, the book on Nickel seems simple enough: if he can learn to defend at an NBA level, he might be a steal.
Nickel is a shooting threat in just about every way someone can be a shooting threat, and he has nice size. As Vecenie writes, Nickel “seems to care on defense and take pride in his effort. Makes the right rotations and knows where he’s supposed to go.” That seems like a good sign, as do the (reasonable) ceiling comps to the likes of Sam Merril and Sam Hauser.
Like Kayil, I’d assume that if Nickel signs an NBA deal, it’ll be for the lowest possible amount for a second round rookie.
Cap Considerations / Mitch / Second Apron
I find it fascinating that at 53, they drafted a guy who profiles as an ideal Knick center given what New York has traditionally prioritized at that position during the Leon Rose era…and then traded him to Detroit for cash.
Does that sound like the move of a team that is prepared to lose their backup center, or at the very least, is nervous about how they’ll replace Mitchell Robinson should he leave? Not so much.
Regardless, the Knicks did not come out of this draft with a big man despite having multiple opportunities to draft one (UNC center Henri Veesar also lasted until pick 52).
While we’re on the topic of money, some quick accounting. If you add up the salaries of the five starters (about $192 million), Deuce and Alvarado (about $8 million), Kayil and Nickel, assuming they take the absolute least amount possible ($2.7 million), Kolek ($2.2 million), Mohamed Diawara, assuming he didn’t sign for the taxpayer midlevel ($2.2 million), and then one 2+ year vet minimum ($2.45 million), that gets them to $209.7 million for 12 roster spots, which is $12.3 million below the $222 million second apron. You need to fill 14 spots, although there are ways to duck that number intermittently throughout the season.
Putting that aside, $12.3 million is a decent amount of wiggle room. I haven’t mentioned the name Pacome Dadiet, who is set to make $2.9 million next season. If they move him and sign another 2+ year vet minimum in his place, that gets them to nearly $10 million in space for the 14th guy. That should be more than enough to sign Landry Shamet, and maybe even enough to make Mitchell Robinson a competitive offer. I still don’t see any world where they can make a run at both.
I cannot emphasize enough: there is still a lot up in the air, including whether their two rookies sign NBA deals and what those deals look like, what happens with Dadiet (or for that matter Deuce McBride, who some have speculated as a trade candidate), what are the final details on Mo’s new deal, and of course, what sort of offers come through the door for Shamet and Mitch.
As of right now though, I’d bet on one of Shamet or Robinson coming back, which would be a significant silver lining for anyone frustrated that New York didn’t come out of this draft with at least one top(ish) line prospect.
Stay tuned. The offseason is just warming up.
🏀
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Wow, you made the most head spinning 2 days of drafting seem understandable. You are the Champion and MVP, of the English Language.
Restocked the stock of second round picks. Everyone is disappointed they didn't get Reed, Evans or Thomas and I get it.
But they're going to stay under the apron for at least one more year and I think that is the correct move. We may have to wait awhile now as Robinson will take his time searching for the best deal knowing what the Knicks can offer.