Knicks end up with three selections in second round of 2024 NBA Draft

The New York Knicks started Day 2 of the NBA Draft with two picks and finished with three, making a series of trades that the team summed up as follows:

-Acquired the draft rights to No. 34 pick Tyler Kolek from Portland in exchange for three future second-round picks and the draft rights to Daniel Diez

-Acquired the No. 40 overall pick and cash considerations from Oklahoma City in exchange for the draft rights to No. 38 pick Ajay Mitchell, then dealt that No. 40 pick, Oso Ighodaro, to Phoenix for No. 45 overall pick Kevin McCullar Jr. and a future second-round pick

-Acquired the draft rights to No. 58 pick Ariel Hukporti, the previous draft rights to Petteri Koponen and cash considerations from Dallas in exchange for the draft rights to No. 51 pick Melvin Ajinca

So, here’s what the Knicks end up with:

Kolek, 23, who was A-10 Rookie of the Year at George Mason in 2020-21 before transferring to Marquette, where he started all 99 games he played in. He played 33 minutes per game last season for the Golden Eagles, earning First Team All-Big East honors after averaging 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.7 assists, all career high averages and the assist total leading the NCAA.

McCullar Jr., 23, who started 59 of 60 games in two years at Kansas after three years at Texas Tech. He was a First Team All-Big 12 selection this year after averaging 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals over 34.2 minutes in 26 games (all starts), and he was a Third Team All-Big 12 pick.

Hukporti, 22, who most recently played with MHP Riesen in Germany, where he averaged 5.0 points and 6.3 rebounds over 14.3 minutes in three games. He also spent part of 2023-24 with Melbourne United of the Australian NBL, where he averaged 8.4 points and 7.0 rebounds over 18.4 minutes in 28 games. In his two seasons with Melbourne he posted 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds over 16.8 minutes in 55 games.

Kopponen is literally a throw-in, as he was the No. 30 overall pick in 2007 and has not played since 2022 in Finland - in fact, he is actually on the Spurs' coaching staff for their 2024 Summer League Team! He had an 18-year playing career in Finland, Russia, Italy, Germany, and Spain, was part of the Finnish National Team, and, in NBA lore, has been traded now six times - three pre-2007 as a draft pick, and one of the three post-2007 trades the notable deal that sent Allen Iverson from Philly to Denver.