It was supposed to be one more victory lap for the Knicks. They’re still the NBA champions, fresh off a Finals win that had New York buzzing for days. So when their turn came at the 24th pick in the NBA Draft, the Brooklyn crowd erupted. Fans broke into a loud rendition of “Go New York, Go.” Players and staff smiled. It felt like a coronation.
And then the Knicks traded the pick to the Lakers.
The moment landed somewhere between awkward and hilarious. One second the arena was drowning in cheers for the reigning champs. The next, New York sent the pick — and the player they selected with it — packing to Los Angeles for cash. Cash considerations, to be exact, per league reporter Brett Siegel.
The pick swap nobody saw in the moment
Here’s how it actually went down. The Knicks were on the clock at 24. They selected Cam Carr, a guard from Baylor. The crowd cheered again, because why not? But Carr was already headed to the Lakers in a prearranged swap. New York dropped one spot to 25 and picked Spanish guard Sergio De Larrea instead.
So the loudest ovation of the night went to a pick that wasn’t staying in New York for more than about 90 seconds. That’s a pretty funny footnote for a franchise that just won its first title in over 50 years.
It’s also just good business. The Knicks are working with a tight cap situation and have some roster decisions to make. Moving back one spot for cash isn’t exactly a blockbuster. But it did create a genuinely strange moment at Barclays Center, where the energy shifted from pure celebration to a sort of confused applause.
What the Knicks actually need right now
New York isn’t hurting for young talent. They’ve got Jalen Brunson running the show and a deep rotation that just proved it could win at the highest level. Picking at 25 gave them a chance to stash an international prospect in De Larrea, who’s 19 and likely to develop overseas for a bit. Carr, the Baylor guard, could end up being a solid rotation piece for the Lakers. Sometimes you just take the cash and keep your books clean.
Fans online noticed the weirdness immediately. Clips of the ovation followed by the trade announcement started making the rounds. One post on X showed the crowd roaring, then quickly cut to the news that the pick was gone. The comments ranged from amused to frustrated, but most Knicks fans were too busy enjoying the championship hangover to care much.
The Lakers, meanwhile, picked up a 6-foot-6 wing who can shoot and defend. For a team trying to build around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, that’s a low-risk move. And they didn’t have to give up anything but cash they weren’t using anyway.
So the Knicks got their applause. The Lakers got their player. And everyone in Brooklyn got a reminder that NBA Draft night is always a little chaotic, even for a champion.
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