Knicks Draft, Trade Melvin Ajinca With 51st Overall Pick

The New York Knicks drafted another French prospect before shipping him to the Dallas Mavericks.

Jul 29, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Keon Johnson (Tennessee) walks off the stage after being selected as the number twenty-one overall pick by the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks are doing business once more.

New York once again turned to the French ranks, as it drafted Melvin Ajinca, formerly of Saint-
Quentin Basket-Ball However, the ESPN broadcast revealed that the Knicks are set to trade the pick
to the defending NBA finalist Mavericks, yet another deal in a shapeshifting day on the metropolitan
draft board.

"“He’s really young, and he has a huge upside,. We just like the way he plays. He has a chance to be really good," Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said, per Grant Afseth of Dallas Basketball. "I just told him we’re excited to bring him in and said we’re ready to go. He thanked us and he’s a great kid," Harrison said. "Speaks amazing English. He’s really excited, so we’re excited as well.”

The 51st selection was one of many that went on a wild ride on Thursday: it was previously involved in one of the headlining deals of last offseason, as it was set to belong to the Phoenix Suns. It was dealt to Washington in Bradley Beal-Chris Paul swap before the Wizards sent it to the Knicks on Wednesday night.

Nov 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the Dallas Mavericks logo during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Charlotte Hornets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

New York and Washington had swapped first-rounders (with the Wizards targeting Miami's Kyshawn George) before the Knicks dealt Ajinca to Dallas, getting back the 58th and final choice of the 2024 draft (eventually used on Ariel Hukporti) and the draft rights to Petteri Koponen, a 2007 first-round who is currently a San Antonio Spurs assistant coach.

Alinca, 20, was born in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges and made a noticeable impression at the 2023 FIBA
U19 World Cup in Hungary. En route to second-team All-Tournament honors, Ajinca averaged 19.3
points and 2.9 rebounds in a silver medal effort. Officially, he goes down as the fifth French-born pick in Knicks history, joining Frederic Weis (1999, 1st), Frank Ntilikina (2017, 1st), Ousmane Dieng (2022, 1st), and Pacome Dadiet (2024, 1st). To date, only Ntilikina has suited up for the Knicks in the regular season.

Alinca's family previously appeared in the NBA through his cousin Alexis, who played seven seasons
between Charlotte, Dallas, Toronto, and New Orleans. He is currently an assistant coach with
Washington's G League affiliate, Capital City Go-Go.

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