Fresh off ending a 53-year championship drought, the New York Knicks are already exploring ways to strengthen their roster ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, league sources expect the Knicks to move one of their two draft picks as president Leon Rose and the front office look to build on the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973.
“As for the NBA’s new champions, sources say Leon Rose’s front office is planning to move one of the Knicks’ two selections,” Fischer reported.
New York currently owns the No. 24 overall pick in the first round and the No. 31 overall pick, which opens the second round. Fischer noted that the first pick of the second round has recently become a valuable trade asset around the league and could again generate significant interest from rival teams.
Fischer also reported that the Knicks have interest in Spanish prospect Izan Almansa Larrea, commonly known as Larrea, as they evaluate potential draft-day options.
While a trade remains a possibility, New York has also been connected to several prospects in recent weeks. In his latest mock draft for ClutchPoints, NBA insider Brett Siegel projected the Knicks to select Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas with the No. 24 pick.
“While many have pinpointed this spot in the draft for the New York Knicks to possibly find a replacement for Mitchell Robinson, adding another versatile guard for extra backcourt depth to protect Jalen Brunson may make more sense,” Siegel wrote.
Knicks linked to Meleek Thomas amid potential draft-day trade
Thomas emerged as one of the top guards in college basketball thanks to his scoring ability, secondary playmaking and defensive versatility. Siegel noted that Thomas could help address some of the bench production New York lost when it traded Donte DiVincenzo as part of the deal that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to the franchise.
The connection between Thomas and New York has only grown stronger in recent weeks. In addition to ties between Arkansas coach John Calipari and the Knicks organization, Thomas is represented by CAA, the agency that has longstanding relationships throughout the franchise.
After defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win the 2026 NBA Finals, the Knicks appear focused on maintaining their championship window. Whether that means selecting a young contributor or using one of their picks in a trade, New York is expected to remain active throughout draft week.
The post Knicks rumors: New York poised for NBA Draft trade after winning title appeared first on ClutchPoints.
