The New York Knicks have acquired the rights to French forward Melvin Ajinca as part of a four-team trade involving the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Lakers. The deal, which saw the Knicks send their No. 24 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to the Lakers, brought Ajinca back into the Knicks' fold. The Knicks originally selected Ajinca at No. 51 overall in the 2024 draft before he was traded to the Mavericks on draft night in a separate transaction that brought Ariel Hukporti to New York.
Ajinca, who turns 22 on Friday, has spent the last two seasons playing overseas. During the 2023-24 EuroLeague season with LDLC Asvel, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 6.0 points in 17.6 minutes per game. He is noted for his shooting ability and "3-and-D" potential, having first gained NBA attention at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup where he averaged 19.3 points and helped lead France to the gold medal game.
In addition to Ajinca's rights, the Knicks also received the No. 47 pick in the current draft and four future second-round selections in the trade. The Lakers ultimately used the No. 24 pick to select Baylor guard Cameron Carr.
The acquisition of Ajinca aligns with the Knicks' recent strategy of acquiring young international talent, particularly from France. Last year, the Knicks drafted Pacôme Dadiet, another French wing, with the 25th overall pick. Dadiet has since played in 47 games over two seasons for the team. Additionally, the Knicks selected Mohamed Diawara, a Paris native, in the second round of the 2023 draft. Diawara has appeared in 69 games for the Knicks, averaging 3.6 points and shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc, and recently signed a multiyear contract extension.
The Knicks' primary objective during the draft period was reportedly to move draft picks to avoid exceeding the NBA's second salary apron with the addition of rookie salaries. While there is no guarantee that Ajinca will join the Knicks in the NBA, his inclusion in this trade marks the second time in three years that the franchise has shown interest in him through the draft process.