IN A NEW YORK MINUTE
New York Knicks make play for Adonis Carter, swing for 1st Overall Pick
Young, upstart big-man Mitchell Robinson is going to be the biggest piece going back to the Charlotte Hornets for the first overall pick
The New York Knicks, after weeks of speculation, have officially acquired the first overall pick from the Charlotte Hornets, dealing center Mitchell Robinson, forward Kevin Knox II, and the fifth overall pick.
The Hornets, after winning the draft lottery, were rumored to be interested in trading the pick for parts and trading down in the top ten despite having the opportunity to select Duke University forward Adonis Carter with the top pick. Carter is widely considered the best player in the draft and has drawn comparisons to current Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.
Hornets owner Michael Jordan had reportedly grown sour at the prospect of drafting Carter after a Player’s Tribune article about the 19-year Los Angeles phenom was released. Carter lamented about not having to prove he’s the best, and not being braggadocious by nature.
Jordan was rumored to want “an alpha male” to lead his franchise and had warmed up to the idea of selecting University of North Carolina guard Cole Anthony instead. Jordan opted not to comment upon the matter while General Manager Mitch Kupchak denied and deflected away from the rumors.
When Carter heard about the rumors, he shrugged it off, but his competitive nature slipped out. “[Charlotte] is going to do whatever is best for their franchise, but if that isn’t me, they’re going to feel it every time I play against them, simple as that.”
Mitch Kupchak was quick to dismiss the notion.
“We’re going to go the route that’s best for our franchise in the long run and we’re still very much in the deciding process in regards to the draft” Kupchak commented in a statement released to the public.
The Knicks, after falling into the cellar of the league, have been free-falling for years. The team recently lost out on top tier free agents like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, both of whom decided to go to the Brooklyn Nets.
In desperate need to land a top player, the team dealt Robinson and Knox, two young players who have admittedly grown sour of playing in New York.
Both Robinson, 22, and Knox, 20, are entering the final season of their rookie deals and were heavily expected to enter free agency for a fresh start after starting their careers with the floundering franchise.
The Knicks, now holding the first overall pick, are widely expected to draft Adonis Carter and build their franchise around him and last year’s third overall pick, guard R.J. Barrett, notably a Duke product like Carter.