The New York Knicks just won a championship, but their front office isn’t done working yet. With the NBA Draft coming up fast, they’ve got two picks to think about — No. 24 and No. 31 — and they’re reportedly weighing trade possibilities for both. A new development involving one of their own players might make that easier.
Reserve guard Jose Alvarado, who the Knicks picked up from the Pelicans at the trade deadline, has a $4.5 million player option for next season that was originally set to expire on June 22. But according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Alvarado agreed to push that deadline back to June 26. That gives the Knicks breathing room to figure out their draft strategy without the pressure of Alvarado’s free agency decision looming at the same time.
Alvarado was quietly important for New York during their playoff run. He hit a few crucial shots in Game 4 of the NBA Finals — that fourth quarter comeback against the Spurs doesn’t happen without his energy off the bench. His defense, his three-point shooting, and the way he gets under opponents’ skin all fit perfectly with what the Knicks want from their second unit.
If Alvarado declines his option, he hits the open market as a free agent. It’s unclear what kind of money he’d draw — backup point guards who play that kind of scrappy defense usually have a market, but $4.5 million is already a decent number for a guy who’s not a starter. The Knicks have cap flexibility and they’ve shown they’re willing to spend to keep the core together. But they also have to decide if they want to use draft picks on young players or package them for veteran help.
What This Means for Draft Night
The Knicks holding two picks in the 20s and 30s puts them in a nice spot. Teams that want to move up need assets, and New York has them. But taking on salary in a trade gets tricky when you don’t know if a key rotation player is coming back or not. Alvarado’s delayed decision takes that uncertainty off the table for a few extra days, at least.
Free agency officially opens June 30. Alvarado will have to decide by the 26th, which gives the Knicks roughly four days to figure out what they want to do with those draft picks before the market opens. It’s not a ton of time, but in the NBA calendar, four days is practically a lifetime.
The Knicks haven’t commented on any trade talks, and Alvarado’s camp hasn’t said whether he’s leaning toward opting in or testing free agency. For now, both sides just bought themselves a little more time.
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