New York Knicks: Were New York’s draft moves all about Kyrie Irving?

Were the New York Knicks’ head-scratching NBA Draft moves all about Kyrie Irving?

The New York Knicks entered the 2022 NBA Draft with the No. 11 overall pick and a huge need at the point guard position. However, by the end of the night, the Knicks had traded twice out of the lottery (including the chance to take Jalen Duren) and exited with Trevor Keels, who was taken with their second-round draft pick.

It was an extremely head-scratching night for the Knicks and left many asking what exactly the plan was for New York. In fact, the big move that New York made on draft night involved the team clearing $10 million (Kemba Walker) off their cap sheet. They also added future first-round picks.

You’d have to wonder if New York’s real goal of the draft was to open up cap space and acquire future assets to prepare for a chase during free agency, perhaps for a player that will have to be absorbed through a sign-and-trade.

Maybe someone like Kyrie Irving.

The Knicks are expected to have some level of interest in Kyrie should he truly test the market and they’ll probably need an additional asset or two to get the Brooklyn Nets to play ball on a potential sign-and-trade.

I know the recent reporting has been that New York wants Jalen Brunson, but the expectation is that Dallas is not going to let him go – meaning, they’re probably going to have to overpay.

Perhaps the Knicks know that Brunson is not going to leave the Mavs and they are trying to create additional cap space to be able to absorb Kyrie’s contract if he were to opt into the final year of his contract (and then request a trade). Kyrie would be due to make almost $37 million this season.

I’m not sure if New York has gotten up to that number, but trading Kemba was almost a necessity. And the Knicks accomplished that on draft night.

Maybe the Knicks were just incompetent on draft night, but I believe there’s more to it and there’s a master plan behind their questionable moves on draft night. Knowing their history, there’s at least a chance it all had to do with a potential pursuit of Kyrie Irving.

I guess we’ll all find out together. NBA Free Agency is set to begin in less than a week.