The New York Knicks are mere days away from an NBA trade deadline that will test their commitment to the long-term vision. Teams will come calling for assets that New York would prefer to keep, and will likely make attention-grabbing proposals that could prove too good to be true.
Unless the Knicks are offered a superstar who will immediately elevate the franchise to contending status, however, the 2018 first-round draft pick should be untouchable.
New York is in an unfamiliar position in that it owns the rights to its first-round draft pick on an even year. That will appeal to rival executives who attempt to test if the new front office is as susceptible to rash decisions as those of past eras.