Despite rumors and speculation flying around in the hours leading up to the 2022 NBA Draft, the teams that held the top 10 picks on the draft board decided not to trade their selections.
And then... chaos. The Hornets, Knicks and Pistons reportedly agreed to terms on a three-team trade, though the exact terms of that deal are still unclear. We know that four-time All-Star Kemba Walker and first-round pick Jalen Duren are on the move, but where are they going?
Let's break down what we know so far.
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Hornets-Knicks-Pistons trade details
What do the Hornets get?
Charlotte is supposed receive a 2025 first-round pick from Detroit (via Milwaukee), according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. However, The Charlotte Observer's Rod Boone reported that the Hornets will acquire five total picks, none of which are the 2025 pick that Wojnarowski mentioned.
- 2023 first-round pick
- 2023 second-round pick
- 2023 second-round pick
- 2023 second-round pick
- 2024 second-round pick
What do the Knicks get?
As of 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, there was still a lot of confusion as to what assets New York had landed in the trade. The Athletic's Fred Katz summed up the situation with this tweet:
A tremendous example of how confused the world is with the Knicks dealings right now.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) June 24, 2022
Texted a source to ask if he knew which picks were going where and he just mentioned Mark Williams going 15 to Charlotte and then said “somehow idk tho lol”
It’s a crazy night for everyone.
It appears that the Knicks are attempting to clear cap space in order to pursue Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson in free agency. Perhaps this will ultimately be a salary dump.
What do the Pistons get?
Detroit will acquire Duren, who was originally selected with the No. 13 overall pick, and Walker from Charlotte. Duren will join the Pistons' young core, but Walker likely won't be staying in Detroit.
Wojnarowski reported that Walker and the Pistons are "expected to discuss a contract buyout," paving the way for him to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Walker averaged 11.6 points in 37 games last season, both career-lows.
