New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson has revealed that he will consider the possibility of trading the team’s first-round Draft pick this summer.
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After finishing with a franchise-worst record this regular season, the Knicks are guaranteed a top-five selection in this summer’s NBA Draft and intend on using free agency to strengthen their roster too.
While New York have a 55.8 percent chance of landing a top three pick and a 38.7 percent chance of picking in the top two, it appears as though they may not entirely be set to use their pick when it comes to Draft time.
Recent speculation suggested that they would be prepared to deal it depending on where they land, and Jackson confirmed that the possibility was still on the table.
“Phil Jackson says he’d consider trading the Knicks lottery pick. GM’s everywhere now lining up to dump their bad contracts,” the New York Daily News reported.
However, it was added that Jackson would prefer to use the pick and develop a young talent into a franchise piece for years to come, although that is easier said than done and the Knicks will be under pressure to immediately get back into the playoff picture after their dismal season.
The likes of Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor are expected to be early picks and are on the Knicks’ radar, however, if a team is able to offer them multiple first-round picks or a talented star in return, then Jackson will likely consider their options and would be willing to deal the pick.
With Carmelo Anthony expecting to compete for a championship in the short-term future after signing a new contract last summer, Jackson has plenty of work to do this summer to transform this roster into one that can at least return to the playoff race next season.
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