'No 1st Rounder?': Knicks' Josh Hart Comments on Bradley Beal Trade

Josh Hart of the New York Knicks put his analyst cap on after the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards swapped accomplished veteran point guards on Sunday.

Sunday marked Josh Hart's first Father's Day living up to the holiday's eponymous role. But the New York Knicks' depth star also appeared willing to play the role of talking head, offering quick, if not immediate and fair, analysis on the NBA's big weekend-wrapping news.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards are set to agree on a trade that will send the nation's capital star Bradley Beal to the desert after 11 seasons in red, white, and blue. Washington is expected to get back Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, and multiple second-round picks in addition to draft swaps. 

While the latter-most addition could involve switches in the opening round, Hart seemed perplexed that the Wizards were unable to gain any premier choices, tweeting "They didn’t get a single 1st rd pick??" shortly after Wojnarowski's report emerged.

They didn’t get a single 1st rd pick??

— Josh Hart (@joshhart) June 18, 2023

If anyone in New York would know about trades that involve first-round picks, it'd be Hart: the bench threat came to Manhattan in a deadline deal with the Portland Trail Blazers that cost the Knicks the eventual 23rd overall choice in this week's NBA Draft.

Many in New York believe that the sacrifice was well worth it: the Knicks capped off the regular season with a 17-8 record upon Hart's insertion into the rotation, which helped them secure not only the fifth seed on the Eastern Conference playoff bracket but their first playoff series victory in a decade. Hart is set to hit free agency after confirming his plans to decline a $12.9 million player option on the contract that came over from the Pacific Northwest but has also made no secret about his desire to stay in New York. 

It's hard to argue with Hart's instant analysis: while the Wizards were able to unload the oft-injured Beal's pricey contract (with over $200 million guaranteed due over the next four seasons), a dark rebuild likely looms. Washington earned only three playoff series victories despite Beal's high-scoring services and any true value from finally cutting ties will likely stem from dealing Paul to a third team. 

The Knicks reportedly lingered in the discussion for Beal's services and have an outside chance at benefitting from the trials ahead in D.C.: they currently own Washington's first-round pick 2024, though it's burdened with top 12 protection. 

That choice would've turned over to them this year, but it was protected within the top 14 (Washington will pick eighth on Thursday night). New York obtained the pick (which originally went through Houston) from Oklahoma City last draft night, opting to forego the salary due to the No. 12 pick (Ousmane Dieng) to build a budget for Jalen Brunson. If the pick doesn't transfer to the Knicks next year, it has top 10 protection in 2025, then top eight insurance in 2026. If the pick doesn't transfer by then, Washington will send over second-round picks in 2026 and 2027. 

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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