Watch: Spike Lee consoles Stephen A. Smith as he cuts a distraught figure after New York Knicks botch another draft
The NBA draft took place yesterday in Brooklyn, New York. Hot prospects from high school and college were eager to see if they would be drafted into the big leagues.
For fans of the New York Knicks, however, it was a day filled with dismay and heartbreak after the franchise made a number of head-scratching decisions.
Stephen A. Smith, a long-time New York Knicks fan, could not contain his despair after watching the events unfold on draft night. He was left almost in tears, prompting fellow New York fan Spike Lee to walk over and console him.
Pain. https://t.co/6YsLaipCQR
The New York Knicks were awarded the 11th pick (Ousmane Dieng) in the 2022 draft. They traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2023 protected first-round pick via Denver, Detroit and Washington.
The franchise then acquired Jalen Duren from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for a 2023 first-round pick (via the Nuggets) and 2023 second-round picks (via Knicks, Jazz, Mavericks or Heat), and a 2024 second-round pick (via Knicks).
To cap off the rollercoaster night, the Knicks went on to offload Kemba Walker and Duren to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for a 2025 first-round pick (via Bucks).
Kemba and Detroit are expected to discuss a contract buyout for him to be a free agent, per @wojespn twitter.com/BleacherReport…
The New York Knicks haven't won an NBA title since 1973
The truth of the matter is that the Knicks haven't had the best of luck when it comes to NBA drafts. The incompetency displayed by the management has resulted in them bungling draft after draft for the last few years.
The New York Knicks have just two championships to their name. Their most recent triumph was in 1973, almost five decades ago.
Since then, the Knicks have struggled to compete with the top teams in the league, primarily due to the management's inability to compile a strong roster filled with youth and experience.
Given how the draft played out this year, the Knicks' wait for a third NBA title is set to continue.