The New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies aren’t just making picks in this draft. They’re running an auction.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that both teams are actively fielding offers for their early second-round selections. The Knicks hold pick No. 31 and the Grizzlies have No. 32, and according to Charania, those spots are basically up for sale to the highest bidder. Future assets are being dangled as currency, which makes sense when you consider how both front offices have operated in recent years.
New York already made a series of moves to get here. They traded the No. 25 pick — which became Sergio De Larrea, who went to Dallas — for No. 30 (Koa Peat) and two second-rounders. Then they flipped Peat to Phoenix for three more second-round picks and cash. So now they’re sitting on pick No. 31 with what feels like a stack of chips and no clear plan to use them on a player. They could trade back again, or they could just deal the pick outright for future draft capital. The Knicks love collecting assets, and this is another chance to add to the pile.
Memphis Is Doing the Same Thing
The Grizzlies aren’t just sitting there. They’re listening too. Memphis has pick No. 32 and is taking calls, per the same report. The Grizzlies have a young core already in place — Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane — so they don’t need to add another rookie just for the sake of it. They’d rather move the pick for something that helps now, or stockpile future seconds. It’s the same logic New York is using.
What’s interesting is that this isn’t just about these two teams. The fact that picks 31 and 32 are being openly shopped tells you something about how teams value second-rounders in this draft class. It’s not that these are bad players. It’s more that front offices are looking at the board and deciding the trade value of the pick is higher than whoever they’d take at that spot.
We’ll see what happens when Night 2 kicks off. The Knicks and Grizzlies could both make deals before the first pick of the second round is even announced. Or they could hold and take a flyer on someone who slipped out of the first. Either way, they’ve made it clear they’re open for business.
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