The Knicks are considering trading back in June's NBA Draft by making a deal to send their third overall pick to the Hawks in exchange for Atlanta's two first-rounders at No. 8 and 10, according to ESPN, which cited unidentified sources.
New York is weighing the move in an effort to acquire pieces that would "better complement" star free agents like Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving. The report adds a trade of this nature likely wouldn't happen until the draft starts because both teams would want to know which players are available when the No. 8 pick is on the clock.
The Knicks finished this past season with the worst record in the league at 17-65 and many projected New York would earn the No. 1 overall pick and then go on to select Zion Williamson out of Duke.
But the Pelicans and Grizzlies ended up taking the first and second picks, respectively.
Many have predicted that Murray State's Ja Morant would go as the No. 2 pick, leaving RJ Barrett as the top overall prospect available with Virginia's De'Andre Hunter and Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver also in the mix.
When asked about the possibility of playing with New York, Barrett said earlier this month: "It would be a lot of fun, definitely, playing in the Garden, those bright lights and they have so much history. ... New York is my favorite. Every summer I visited. I have family there. That’s where my mom grew up, so I’ve definitely been there a lot."
The draft is scheduled to begin June 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.