7:55pm: The trade is official, according to the Mavericks (Twitter link). In exchange for Ajinca, the Knicks received Hukporti, cash, and the draft rights to 2007 first-rounder Petteri Koponen. Dallas sent $1MM in cash to New York, tweets Fred Katz of The Athletic.
5:43pm: The Knicks are trading the No. 51 pick in the 2024 draft to the Mavericks in exchange for the No. 58 pick and cash, sources tell ESPN’s Tim MacMahon (Twitter link).
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports hears New York will also acquire the rights to a player who was previously drafted, though that player has yet to be reported (Twitter link).
Dallas will acquire the rights to French wing Melvin Ajinca, who was selected 51st overall, while New York will control the rights to German big man Ariel Hukporti, the final pick of the draft.
A 20-year-old guard/forward, Ajinca averaged 9.3 PPG and 3.3 RPG on .373/.309/.797 shooting in 28 games (24.6 MPG) this past season for Saint-Quintin, which competes in France’s top basketball division (LNB Elite).
Hukporti, 22, spent the 2023/24 season in Australia with Melbourne United, averaging 8.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 1.5 BPG in 28 games (18.4 MPG).
The Knicks wait until end of draft to get a Center. I really hope this means IHART is coming back
Rights to the 2007 first round pick? Is that for real?
lol yup teams have to give up something in a deal so sometimes a player who will never ever come to the nba get used to be a throw away set for cash usually
The Knicks have more of those dudes than they know what to do with. I think Koponen is about near retired.
Hopefully the NYK are up to something regarding tweaks to the Bridges trade. In this century, the NYK have received cash in a deal twice. Both deals were agreed to yesterday.
Bruh, Koponen is coaching for San Antonio in summer league this year lmaooo