Knicks swap first-round picks with Lakers, select potential stash at 25

NEW YORK — The pick is in — another team’s hands.

Less than two weeks after winning their first NBA title in 53 years, the Knicks entered the 2026 NBA draft with a mandate to stay below the second apron while building around an expensive core hoping to repeat as champions next season.

New York’s first order of business was trading back one spot, moving off their own pick No. 24 in a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for pick No. 25.

And at 25, the Knicks selected 20-year-old Spanish forward Sergio De Larrea. De Larrea has competed for Team Valencia in both EuroLeague and Liga ACB play. The 6-foot-5 wing averaged 9.7 points in 18.3 minutes a game and shot 37% from 3-point range in his most recent season.

While it is immediately unclear whether or not the Knicks plan to stash De Larrea overseas, the breadcrumbs suggest the prospect will not join the reigning champions for next season: The Knicks, owner James Dolan said, will not encroach the second apron this offseason. They are sitting just $16.5 million beneath it with $192 million in guaranteed salaries committed to the starting five. And they must find cost-effective solutions to replacing Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet should the two key free agents end up elsewhere this summer.

With the Knicks’ pick, the Lakers selected Baylor star Cameron Carr, who averaged 18.9 points, 1.3 blocks and 0.9 steals as a 6-foot-5 sophomore guard for the Bears last season. Carr earned Big-12 All-Newcomer and Third-Team All Big 12 in 2026.

The Knicks also saved roughly $150,000 in room underneath the second apron by moving from pick No. 24 — owed $3.56 million in Year 1 — to No. 25. They received cash considerations as part of the deal, but such cash cannot be used to sign free agents.

The Knicks enter the offseason with Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Miles McBride, Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek under contract. They also re-signed Mohamed Diawara to a multi-year deal worth $10 million, and Jose Alvarado has a $4.5 million player option to decide on by June 26.

The Knicks’ other key free agents include Jordan Clarkson, reserve center Ariel Hukporti and Jeremy Sochan.

The Knicks also own picks Nos. 31 and 55 in the second round, which takes place on Wednesday.