The New York Knicks make one selection in the second round.
The New York Knicks entered round two of the 2026 NBA Draft with picks number 31 and number 55.
Before the second round got started, they made a trade with the Houston Rockets, dealing both picks for picks 39 and 53, and a 2029 second-rounder.
With the 39th overall pick, the Knicks selected Jack Kayil, a guard out of Germany.
Kayil is 6'3'' and 172 pounds. He averaged 7.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in Germany.
Instead of making a selection at 53, the Knicks traded the pick to the Detroit Pistons for cash.
Strengths
Kayil is a two-way guard who has shown the ability to run an offense. He's a strong playmaker with a good feel for the game as a pick-and-roll ballhandler. He can hit the roller off the screen or find the open man in the corner. He also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and create for himself as a shooter or as a catch-and-shoot threat.
He has a soft touch and can absorb contact at the rim. He's also shown to be a physical player against smaller guards.
He's a solid defender with good instincts and anticipation.
He's also played against older professionals in Europe, which gives him a better feel for the game.
Weaknesses
He's not a great athlete, and while he can finish through contact, he also struggles against strong shot blockers. He'll need to prove that he can create true separation at the next level, as he doesn't have an elite first step.
While he is a good playmaker, NBA defenses are going to speed him up and force him into quicker decisions.
He's a good team defender, but will have to work on navigating screens at the next level.
How He Fits With The Knicks
He could be a nice addition to the Knicks bench next season as he projects to be a solid role player who can do a bit of everything, even if he doesn't do anything at an elite level.
Mike Brown showed a willingness to go deep into his rotation through the season, giving minutes to guys who didn't see time in the playoffs but were able to improve and log meaningful NBA reps.
With the Knicks coming off a long playoff run and a championship, Kayil could get minutes off the bench to help preserve Jalen Brunson throughout the regular season in hopes of repeating as champions.
