The champagne has barely dried in the locker room, but the New York Knicks are already back in the lab. Fresh off snapping a 53-year title drought with a five-game NBA Finals win over the San Antonio Spurs, the front office is pushing to keep the championship window wide open.
According to a report from Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, league sources indicate the Knicks are likely to trade one of their two picks in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft. President Leon Rose and his staff are scouring both the prospect pool and the trade market as they look to sustain the franchise’s peak after that long-awaited title run.
New York currently holds the No. 24 overall pick in the first round and the No. 31 overall selection — which opens the second round. Fischer notes that the first pick of the second round has quietly become a valuable trade asset across the league, with rival teams expected to show serious interest again this year.
That pick alone could help the Knicks land a veteran contributor or move up in the draft order. The team has not confirmed any specific plans, but the front office’s willingness to be active on draft night is an open secret around the league.
Scouting the Prospect: Izan Almansa Larrea
Fischer also reported that the Knicks have expressed interest in Spanish prospect Izan Almansa Larrea — commonly called Larrea — as they evaluate their options. The young big man is one of several international players being tracked by New York’s scouting staff.
In his latest mock draft for ClutchPoints, NBA insider Brett Siegel tied the Knicks to Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas with the No. 24 pick. Siegal framed the pick as a way to add perimeter depth rather than directly replacing Mitchell Robinson in the frontcourt.
“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.
Meleek Thomas and a Familiar Agency Connection
Thomas stood out in college as a reliable scorer, a capable secondary playmaker, and a defensively versatile guard. His game could help plug the hole left by Donte DiVincenzo, who was moved in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. The fit is made even more intriguing by the fact that Thomas is represented by CAA — the agency with deep, longstanding ties to Rose and the Knicks organization.
Arkansas coach John Calipari also has strong connections to New York’s front office, adding another layer to the buzz between Thomas and the Knicks. Still, nothing is set in stone. A draft-night deal remains very much on the table.
Win or lose on draft night, the message from New York is clear: This team is not resting on its first ring in over half a century.
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