The New York Knicks continue to stockpile assets
The New York Knicks are acquiring Ed Davis from the Utah Jazz, first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Hours after it was reported that the Knicks were waiving Taj Gibson, news broke that New York would be adding Davis and two 2023 second-round picks from Utah.
On the surface, the trade looks like a win-win for both sides as the move opens up roughly $5 million as they attempt to re-sign Jordan Clarkson, who could be viewed as the team’s top priority heading into the offseason.
At the same rate, the Knicks also get a backup center in Davis, who will likely take a role behind Mitchell Robinson who has emerged as a key building block for the team. Since the start of the NBA’s transaction window, New York has now added three 2023 second-round picks.
On draft night, the Knicks traded the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft to the LA Clippers for a 2023 second-round pick via the Detrot Pistons.
It’s still early in his tenure, but it appears that the Knicks have a plan under new president Leon Rose after watching him acquire all these picks. While second-round picks are often laughed off, it should be noted that the 2023 NBA Draft is going to be the first draft in which prospects are allowed to enter the draft straight out of high school again.
That fact alone should make the draft deeper and, thusly, second-round picks much more valuable than they are at the moment. With this being said the Knicks front office has some assets to either move around or keep.
Davis, who is 31 years old, was the 13th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. Considered by most as a great backup center and veteran player in the locker room, Davis should add some experience and some mentoring to the young Knicks roster, even after a rocky season with the Jazz last season in which he averaged just two points per game in 28 games played.