Despite a weaker-than-usual draft class and lingering questions about many of the top prospects, there’s plenty of interest in the fifth spot. Sources tell cleveland.com the Cavs have had trade talks with the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.
The Knicks are in the eighth slot. They’ve reportedly made a move with the Utah Jazz already. In that deal, first reported by ESPN, the Knicks dealt No. 27 and No. 38 to move up four spots into Utah’s old position at 23rd overall. It’s small move, but one that strengthens their chances of moving up from No. 8.
New York, with a revamped front office that includes former Cavaliers salary cap guru Brock Aller, has a few pieces that could be enticing. Would the Knicks offer some combination of 8, 23 and a young player (Kevin Knox? Mitchell Robinson?) for Cleveland’s fifth pick -- and a chance to draft Brooklyn native Obi Toppin? Sources pointed to Toppin as New York’s trade-up target. Others in the five range -- Tyrese Haliburton or Isaac Okoro -- make sense as well.
Aller is the Knicks Vice President of Basketball and Strategic Planning. He is the top assistant to Knicks President Leon Rose, who had previously been an high-powered agent at CAA -- the same agency that currently represents Toppin
Edit: I’m dumbfounded. If the Knicks wanted Toppin and the Cavs wanted Okoro, the Cavs could have gotten an asset out of us. Knicks new regime holding strong ?
Anyone else surprised ? Okoro 5 Toppin 8 yet no trade ... KNICKS ARE BACK BABY
