Knicks trade down, then select Sergio De Larrea with No. 25 pick in 2026 NBA Draft

The New York Knicks used the No. 25 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to select guard Sergio De Larrea after completing a trade that changed their first-round slot with the Los Angeles Lakers. According to Yahoo Sports, the Knicks originally held the No. 24 pick but traded down to No. 25 before making their selection.

The trade-and-select sequence was not the only deal New York made during the first round. Yahoo Sports reported that De Larrea was dealt as part of a set of trades that, taken together, enabled the Knicks to acquire multiple second-round picks and cash. The reporting indicated the framework unfolded before the night was completed, with the Knicks actively reshaping their draft capital as they moved through the first round.

For the Knicks, the central point of the transaction is roster-building through flexibility. Rather than keeping the first-round pick through the conclusion of the draft, New York used the value of its position in the draft order to adjust its asset mix, adding more second-round selections and financial resources while still landing a player they targeted at No. 25.

For De Larrea, being selected at No. 25 represents a specific entry point into the NBA ecosystem through New York’s front office evaluation. As drafted, he is coming in as a guard, and his path into the league will be shaped by how the Knicks plan to manage that acquired pick value and how the related trade details are ultimately organized under the NBA’s transaction rules.

The Lakers’ involvement underscores how first-round maneuvering can involve multiple teams even when the headline pick seems straightforward. With the Knicks and Lakers trading to adjust placement, the night reflected a common draft-day strategy: convert small changes in draft order into a more favorable set of future assets, then select players who fit each team’s immediate and longer-term needs.

What to watch next is how New York’s additional second-round picks and cash are used, including whether those assets translate into future roster additions or trade further for established players. For De Larrea, the key follow-up is his immediate development plan and whether New York’s acquisition of extra draft capital changes how quickly he is expected to contribute on the floor.

With the draft process concluding, the remaining uncertainty is the final accounting of the “two trades” described in the coverage and how they were structured from the moment De Larrea was selected. Until all transaction details are formally consolidated, fans should treat the player-selection moment and the broader asset outcome as linked, but not necessarily identical in timing or final destination.