The Knicks traded their 24th pick in the NBA Draft to the Lakers to move back to No. 25, where they selected Sergio de Larrea in what appears to be another Leon Rose "draft and stash."
The 20-year-old has played four seasons for Spain's Valencia, and is currently playing for the ACB Championship. The 6-foot-6 guard is shooting 40.7 percent from downtown in Liga Endesa this season.
The Lakers took Cameron Carr with the 24th pick.
St. John's standout Zuby Ejiofor was taken one pick ahead of New York's initial slot, as the Hawks swooped in and spoiled what could have been a great draft night story of a New York college hoops hero staying at MSG with the reigning champion Knicks. Instead, Ejiofor fell off the board, and the Knicks pivoted by moving back a pick and acquiring cash considerations to help the team's salary structure, as the team is focused on staying below the second apron, as owner James Dolan told WFAN last week.
Assuming de Larrea is stashed overseas next season, the signs are becoming clearer that Dolan was for real with his comments regarding the second apron, and every dollar is going to count for the Knicks this offseason, with offseason questions remaining in regards to Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, and others.
The move seems to signal that the Knicks are for real in their quest to avoid the second apron.
The move seems to signal that the Knicks are for real in their quest to avoid the second apron.
