Knicks Dump Kemba Trade 11th Pick Draft Keels 

By Derrel Jazz Johnson

 

The New York Knicks had the opportunity to select Duke Blue Devils standout AJ Griffin, projected by some to be a top-10 pick, with the 11th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Instead, the franchise decided to trade out of the 11th pick, making several draft-day moves that will led to Kemba Walker being traded, and selected another Blue Devils star in the second round.

With the 42nd pick in the second round, the Knicks selected Trevor Keels, a 6’4″ guard out of Duke. Keels hopes to continue the team’s pattern of nabbing quality talent in the second round, which included center Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride. Keel is a muscular guard who Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau will love on defense. His inconsistency on offense may pose a problem, especially stretching the floor. Keels averaged 11.5 points and only shot 31.2% from three-point range.

The Knicks essentially will receive three future conditional first round picks that could be used as early as 2023 in all of yesterday’s confusing draft-day maneuvering.

 

 

 

 

But if AJ Griffin becomes an NBA star, Knicks fans will be distraught like they still are over the team passing on Donovan Mitchell to select Frank Ntilikina in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Knicks President Leon Rose released the following statement:

“Last night, we made three trades involving draft picks, which resulted in increased financial flexibility and additional draft capital moving forward. We now have a total of 22 picks, 11 in the
first round and 11 in the second round, over the next seven years.”

 

The free agent period begins July 1^st and the buzz is that the Knicks will throw bags of at guard Jalen Brunson. His dad Rick, who played for the Knicks, was recently hires as assistant coach under Thibodeau.

 

Sports Editor Andrew Rosario contributed to this article.