Knicks save money by wheeling and dealing on NBA draft night

NEW YORK — What’s a draft pick to a championship contender?

Expendable.

An active start to the Knicks offseason featuring a blockbuster trade for Mikal Bridges and a $212.5 million contract extension for OG Anunoby continued on Day 1 of the NBA draft late Wednesday night.

The Knicks traded pick No. 24 of the 2024 draft class to the Washington Wizards in exchange for picks Nos. 26 and 51, according to multiple reports. They then traded pick No. 26 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for five second-round picks between 2025 and 2027.

The Knicks then selected French forward Pacome Dadiet with pick No. 25.

Dadiet is an 18-year-old forward standing 6-9 who averaged 6.6 points on 35.8% shooting from 3-point range for German club Ratiopharm Ulm last season.

He is known to be a decent catch-and-shoot wing who moves well without the ball, but it is unknown if he will make the trip to the NBA this season or if the Knicks will look at him as a draft and stash.

The Knicks are still armed with pick No. 38, which they can use in the second round of the NBA draft on Thursday.

If Dadiet does not come to the Knicks next season, New York will save his $2.3 million salary.

On a team with $170 million in guaranteed salaries entering next season, every dollar counts.