Knicks Feel the Cost of 2022 Tampering as Draft Pick Vanishes
The 2025 NBA Draft will feature just 59 picks instead of the usual 60, and the New York Knicks are among the reasons why. The franchise is without its second-round pick at number 56, a penalty that stems from the NBA’s tampering investigation tied to the 2022 signing of Jalen Brunson. While their pick at number 50 remains intact, the absence of an additional second-rounder limits New York’s ability to maneuver on draft night. Instead of adding depth or gambling on a developmental prospect late in the evening, the Knicks are left with only one selection on a night where every asset counts. For a team attempting to make the final leap into title contention, the missing pick directly impacts strategy.
The NBA’s tampering investigation, concluded in December 2022, found that New York made premature contact with Brunson and his representatives before free agency officially opened. League officials pointed to the hiring of Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, to the Knicks coaching staff, along with existing ties to team president Leon Rose, as violations of league rules. These connections, combined with confirmed communication ahead of the legal period, led to the ruling that New York had bypassed proper protocol. As a result, the league stripped the Knicks of their 2025 second-round selection, a punishment that has now come to life. The incident stands as one of the few cases where a team’s misstep directly removes them from the draft board on one of the league’s biggest nights.
The Knicks’ lost pick falls in the mid-50s; a zone that, while rarely glamorous, has produced real NBA talent in recent years. Players taken in that range often become critical bench pieces or valuable assets stashed overseas. Missing out on that slot limits New York’s ability to build sustainably or uncover hidden gems, especially when depth becomes crucial in deep playoff runs. For a front office that has been praised in recent years for its drafting and roster development, the absence stings. It’s not just a number; it’s a missed opportunity to grow while staying under the salary cap.
Instead of having two chances to shape the future, New York now enters draft night with only one shot. Pick number 50 remains, and the Knicks must make it count. Either by selecting a high-upside player or leveraging it in a trade. Front office executives will likely explore undrafted free agents and international standouts to fill the gap left by the forfeited selection. They may also use free agency to round out the rotation. The stakes are high, and without the safety net of a second pick, the Knicks must be both bold and precise in their execution.
This punishment also reignites the broader conversation about tampering in the NBA and how much teams are truly deterred by these penalties. While losing a second-round pick is not insignificant, it is also not severe enough to reverse the benefits the Knicks gained from landing Brunson. The all-star guard has elevated the team to contender status, guiding them to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years and giving New York its most stability at point guard in over a decade. For many fans and league observers, the outcome feels like a small price to pay for such a high-impact signing. Still, the optics of a team sitting out a portion of the draft are undeniable, and the league’s message about compliance remains clear.
On Thursday night, Knicks fans will hear 59 names announced, but only one of them will be heading to New York. The second-round silence will be noticeable, particularly for a franchise that has often found value in unlikely places. As the Eastern Conference continues to stack talent, the margin for error becomes razor thin. With only one draft selection and a long summer ahead, every roster decision will be magnified. The Knicks aren’t out of the fight, but they’ll have to do more with less to stay in it.
