You might or might not like what the New York Knicks did in the 2026 NBA Draft. Hell, you might or might not like the draft entirely, because there were 30 second-round picks and only one of them wasn’t traded among all the cap maneuvering and asset stockpiling across the Association.

I guess it elicits different types of emotions…

First and foremost, you should get familiar with the two dudes that are actually (we expect) part of the Knicks roster for the upcoming season, which are Vanderbilt forward Tyler Nickel and German international guard Jack Kayil. Young bloods!

With that out of the way, the funniest part of the draft and the Knicks’ trades on both Tuesday and Wednesday is that you never know what might come with those sorts of ancillary, seemingly meaningless, filled-with-random-stuff deals.

And if you don’t believe me, ask Keith Smith. Shortly after the Knicks traded out of the first round, Smith pointed out that by adding the draft rights to French prospect Melvin Ajinca, the Knicks now have the rights for 17 (!!!) players.

Of course, we (probably just me) here at P&T take all things Knicks very seriously and couldn’t let the opportunity pass without tackling every one of the dudes whose rights belong to NYK, so you know the professional team from Stashtown, the Stash Squad, from younger to older, so the disrespect gets increasingly higher.

Get some popcorn and sit tight, this is definitely going to be a hella long ride down memory lane.

F — Melvin Ajinca, 21 (2024 Draft) — ASVEL Basket

Ajinca is the new headliner of the Knicks’ collection because he is young enough (just damn 21 years old, three years younger than some prospects that just got drafted!) to make this whole exercise feel slightly more meaningful. The French wing was drafted 51st overall in 2024, originally by the Knicks, shipped to Dallas, then returned to New York through the 2026 draft-night trade chaos.

At 6-foot-8, Ajinca is the one name in the list you can talk yourself into with a straight face. He played this past season for ASVEL in France and the EuroLeague, getting real minutes against grown professionals. The shooting still needs work, but size, athleticism, age, and wing tools will always keep the door open for a potential NBA stint.

C — James Nnaji, 21 (2023 Draft) — Baylor Bears

Nnaji is probably the second-most interesting name on the list, and maybe the strangest in terms of development path. The 7-foot Nigerian center was selected 31st overall in 2023, never signed an NBA contract, bounced through Europe, had his rights land with the Knicks in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, and then somehow became a… NCAA Baylor Bear?

Anyway. Nnaji has NBA size, length, and defensive tools. The offense remains raw, but the Knicks do not need him to become Hakeem Olajuwon in case of absolute emergency. They would settle for a large human who can screen, rebound, block shots, and avoid turning every catch into a turnover.

G — Hugo Besson, 25 (2022 Draft) — Tofas

Besson was the 58th pick in the 2022 draft, and his rights came to the Knicks from Milwaukee in the Jericho Sims trade. He is now with Tofas in Turkey, which is not exactly the route you’d imagine someone would take to become Jalen Brunson’s backup.

The French guard has bounced around a bit, including stops in New Zealand, France, Serbia, Italy, and Turkey. That is concerning for the Americans reading, but we in Europe are simply accustomed to this type of living, believe me. He can handle, shoot, and score, but he would need a big jump to become more than an emergency stash name.

G — Rokas Jokubaitis, 25 (2021 Draft) — Bayern Munich

Ah, Rokas. The one-time golden child of Knicks Summer League and still, undoubtedly and undisputedly, the No. 1 stash in my heart. The lefty Lithuanian guard was picked 34th in 2021 and arrived in the same draft-night deal that brought Miles McBride to New York, which means the Knicks already won this transaction even if Rokas never crosses the Atlantic.

Jokubaitis signed with Bayern Munich through 2028 after a season with Maccabi Tel Aviv. He also suffered a significant knee injury during EuroBasket, which complicates his future. When healthy, he is a smart pick-and-roll guard with EuroLeague experience. The Knicks’ backcourt, sadly, has never really opened the door for Rokas.

G — Ognjen Jaramaz, 30 (2017 Draft) — Cedevita Olimpija

Jaramaz is one of the rare players on this list who was actually drafted by the Knicks. That alone gives him a special place in Stashtown. The Serbian guard was selected 58th overall in 2017 and has built a long European career with stops at Partizan, Bayern Munich, Baskonia, and Cedevita Olimpija. He has played EuroLeague basketball, national-team basketball, and enough high-level games to count as a legitimate pro. Too bad the NBA ship has sailed.

F — Juan Pablo Vaulet, 30 (2015 Draft) — Estudiantes

Vaulet is a 2015 stash classic. He was drafted 39th overall by Charlotte, had his rights traded around the league, and eventually landed with the Knicks in the Mikal Bridges trade.

The Argentine forward currently plays for Estudiantes in one of Spain’s lower-level divisions. He has good size, international experience, and a respectable career overseas. He also turns 31 next season, so this is less “future Knick” and more “old asset available for silly trade packages.”

G — Nikola Radicevic, 32 (2015 Draft) — Lietkabelis Panevezys

Radicevic was picked 57th overall by Denver in 2015 and eventually came to the Knicks in the Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel salary-dump deal with Detroit. The Serbian guard is back with Lietkabelis in Lithuania after a career that has taken him through Spain, Greece, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, and Lithuania.

He is a real professional guard. He is also 32, which makes an NBA arrival hard to imagine unless Brock Aller finds a new exploit in the CBA.

C — Wang Zhelin, 32 (2016 Draft) — Shanghai Sharks

Wang Zhelin is one of the more accomplished active players on the list. The 7-foot Chinese center was selected 57th overall by Memphis in 2016, had his rights routed through the Lakers, and landed with the Knicks in 2022.

He has spent his career in China and currently plays for the Shanghai Sharks. He has been a CBA star, a multiple-time All-Star, and a domestic MVP. That matters—only just in China.

F — Luka Mitrovic, 33 (2015 Draft) — CSKA Moscow

Mitrovic was Mr. Irrelevant of the 2015 NBA Draft, selected 60th overall by Philadelphia. A decade later, the Knicks acquired his rights in a 2025 draft-night pick swap, because of course they did.

The Serbian forward currently plays for CSKA Moscow after a long career with Crvena Zvezda and other European clubs. He is a smart, experienced frontcourt player with real credentials overseas.

F/C — Bojan Dubljevic, 34 (2013 Draft) — Retired

Dubljevic was picked 59th overall by Minnesota in 2013 and became a Valencia Basket legend rather than an NBA player.

The Montenegrin big man retired in June 2026 after a decorated European career, including a long run in Spain and later stops with Zenit and a return to Zaragoza. The Knicks still hold his NBA rights, for some reason.

F — Latavious Williams, 37 (2010 Draft) — Al-Ittihad Jeddah

Williams was the 48th pick in the 2010 draft, selected by Miami. The Knicks acquired his rights from New Orleans in the Jose Alvarado trade, which means he is part of the same family tree as GTA, which is nothing remotely close to bad.

Williams has never played in the NBA, but he has played basically everywhere else, including the G League, Spain, Israel, Korea, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

G — Sergio Llull, 38 (2009 Draft) — Real Madrid

Llull is the crown jewel of “great player, never coming over” draft-rights lore, and in Spain, we’re still debating from time to time whether or not he did right or wrong nearly 20 years later. Denver selected him 34th overall in 2009, Houston famously bought his rights but could never convince him to come to Texas, and the Knicks acquired them in the Austin Rivers sign-and-trade in 2020.

He has spent nearly two decades with Real Madrid, winning basically everything there is to win in Europe. EuroLeague MVP. EuroLeague champion. Spanish champion. Big-shot maker. Absolute legend.

F — Emir Preldzic, 38 (2009 Draft) — Orlovik Zepce

Preldzic was selected 57th overall by Phoenix in 2009, then went on a draft-rights tour through Cleveland, Washington, Dallas, Indiana, Toronto, Philadelphia, and finally New York. He has been in more NBA transactions than many actual NBA players.

The veteran forward currently plays for Orlovik Zepce in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At his peak, he was a skilled, versatile forward with ball-handling chops and a strong career in Turkey. At 38, the dream is not the NBA. The dream is being included in another trade and confusing another fan base.

G — Petteri Koponen, 38 (2007 Draft) — Retired/Coach

Koponen is special because he is the only first-round pick in the Knicks’ Stash Squad. Philadelphia selected him 30th overall in 2007, and he eventually came to New York from Dallas in the original Ajinca-Hukporti-Koponen weirdness of 2024.

He retired as a player in 2022 and later moved into coaching—because which squad doesn’t have a coach, right?—including a stint with the New Zealand Breakers. So yes, the Knicks hold the draft rights to a retired Finnish guard who is already a coach. You read that right. Mike Brown, watch out.

F — Tadija Dragicevic, 40 (2008 Draft) — Retired

Dragicevic was selected 53rd overall by Utah in 2008. His rights bounced from Utah to Dallas to Chicago to Houston to New York because second-round rights seemingly never expire.

The Serbian forward has retired after a long European career. He never played in the NBA. He will not play for the Knicks. But his rights remain in New York, which means he is technically part of the club’s vast international empire.

G/F — Brad Newley, 41 (2007 Draft) — Retired

Newley was selected 54th overall by Houston in 2007 and came to the Knicks in 2022. He built a long career in Australia and Europe, including NBL stops with the Sydney Kings and Melbourne United, then retired after the 2023-24 season.

This is another “not a prospect, still a (dumb) asset” situation. Newley is not walking through any door. He might be having trouble walking outright (I’m getting there).

F — Axel Hervelle, 43 (2005 Draft) — Retired

Hervelle is the oldest player on the list and the elder statesman of the stash. Denver selected him 52nd overall in 2005, back when Mike Sweetney was still a Knick, Jamal Crawford was still young, and Madison Square Garden had yet to go through the full Isiah Thomas experience.

The Belgian forward retired in 2020 after a strong European career with Real Madrid, Bilbao, and Spirou. The Knicks acquired his rights in 2020. Why? Because the transaction worked for them!

Brock Aller and forebearers, take a bow.