Knicks Pick Up Nigerian Prospect in Karl-Anthony Towns Deal

As a bonus, the Knicks also acquired the draft rights to James Nnaji, the 31st overall pick in 2023, to complete the Towns deal.

The Knicks signed and traded DaQuan Jeffries, Duane Washington Jr. and Charlie Brown Jr. to the Charlotte Hornets as the third team in the trade to make the financial side of things work. They also sent two second-round picks and $7.2 million in cash to the Hornets as additional compensation for their role.

In Nnaji, the Knicks are getting an under-the-radar pick who is “a big guy with a long arm, built like a tank and the mentality to dominate on both ends of the floor,” Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor wrote in a 2023 profile.

The 20-year-old Nigerian center, who boasts a 7-foot-10 wingspan, could be a long-term project for the Knicks.