Source: Knicks reject Hawks’ offer for No. 3 pick
Mike Schmitz reacts to the Knicks turning down the Hawks’ offer to swap the third overall pick for the eighth and 10th picks. (0:57)
The New York Knicks have declined a recent trade offer that would have sent the No. 3 overall draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the eighth and 10th picks, a source told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
The Hawks have been aggressively exploring trade scenarios in which they would package the Nos. 8 and 10 picks to move up in Thursday’s NBA draft, the source told Givony.
But the Knicks were not interested in moving down to acquire Atlanta’s picks, according to the source.
Although Duke’s RJ Barrett has been projected as the No. 3 pick, New York plans to hold a workout Wednesday for Vanderbilt guard Darius Garland, according to Givony.
Garland recently told ESPN that he is the “best” guard in the draft; he has been widely viewed as a top-five pick. He was projected to go No. 5 overall to Cleveland in ESPN’s latest mock draft, but Caesars Sportsbook currently lists Garland as a minus-170 favorite to be selected No. 4.
New Orleans is considering the possibility of trading the No. 4 pick to Atlanta for Nos. 8 and 10, the source told Givony.
ESPN reported Saturday that the Pelicans will acquire the fourth pick as part of the blockbuster trade that will send Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Minnesota, Boston and Chicago are three more teams that are looking at the possibility of trading up to the No. 4 pick, with Garland in mind, according to Givony.