Why the Knicks' 2025 First-Round Picks Could Be 'Worthless'

The New York Knicks hold two first-round picks for the 2025 NBA Draft, but the excitement around these assets may be misplaced. Although this draft class is expected to be deep, both picks — from the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons — come with heavy protections. These protections make it highly unlikely that the Knicks will land impactful players in the first round. A closer look at the specifics reveals why these picks might hold little value, and why New York could end up with nothing more than second-round selections, both in 2025 and beyond.

Washington Wizards Pick: Overly Protected and Unlikely to Convey

The Knicks are owed a first-round pick from the Washington Wizards in 2025, but it is heavily protected. The pick is top-10 protected in 2025, top-8 in 2026, and if it doesn’t convey by then, it turns into second-round picks in 2027 and 2028. With the Wizards in a deep rebuild, it’s unlikely they’ll finish outside the top 10, meaning the Knicks will likely end up with second-rounders.

The Wizards have one of the weakest rosters in the NBA, winning only 15 games last season, and their recent moves suggest no immediate intention to improve. This makes it very likely that Washington will retain their pick in 2025, continuing to rank among the league’s worst teams. In fact, a CBS Sports article by Sam Quinn ranked this pick 67th out of 68 in terms of value, emphasizing just how unlikely it is to yield anything of significance for New York.

Detroit Pistons Pick: Similar Story, Different Team

The Knicks also hold a 2025 first-round pick from the Detroit Pistons, but this one comes with protections as well. Detroit’s pick is protected 1-13 in 2025, 1-11 in 2026, and 1-9 in 2027, eventually becoming a second-rounder in 2027 if it hasn’t conveyed. While it ranks slightly higher in value (38th out of 68) according to CBS, it’s still a long shot to convey as a first-rounder.

Much like the Wizards, the Pistons have struggled, consistently finishing at the bottom of the standings in recent years. Despite their young talent, Detroit’s focus has been on long-term development rather than short-term success. This makes it unlikely that the pick will convey as anything more than a mid-to-late first-rounder, if it conveys at all.

The Reality of Protected Draft Picks

The Knicks’ situation with these 2025 draft picks highlights a broader trend in the NBA: not all draft picks are created equal. Teams like the Wizards and Pistons have little incentive to give up their picks while still rebuilding, leaving the Knicks with assets that are far less valuable than they appear on paper.

In today’s NBA, teams often accumulate protected picks as trade capital, but the reality is that many of these picks come with conditions that greatly diminish their value. The Knicks find themselves in this exact situation, waiting on picks that might never convey or, if they do, may only deliver second-round talent.

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The Illusion of Value: A Draft Class They Might Miss Out On

While the Knicks technically hold two first-round picks in 2025, the reality is much less optimistic. Given the heavy protections on both the Wizards and Pistons picks, it’s highly likely that neither will convey as first-round selections. Instead, the Knicks could find themselves with a couple of second-round picks in the future, where it’s far harder to find game-changing talent.

This scenario illustrates a larger issue in the modern NBA: teams often stockpile picks that seem valuable but are unlikely to deliver significant results. For the Knicks, their 2025 draft picks are more of an illusion of value than a real opportunity to bolster their roster. Without significant changes from the Wizards and Pistons, New York may end up sitting out one of the most highly anticipated draft classes in recent memory.

Source: https://lastwordonsports.com/basketball/2024/09/12/the-knicks-2025-owed-first-round-picks-will-be-worthless/