The Karl-Anthony Towns trade payed dividends for the New York Knicks (the Minnesota Timberwolves as well) in its first year. The 29-year-old center wasn’t perfect, particularly on defense. Towns’ work on the offensive end though helped him earn Third Team All-NBA honors, and the Knicks made their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000. Towns wasn’t the only player acquired in the deal. They also netted James Nnaji, a 2023 draft pick that will be looking to make his way onto the Knicks roster in 2025-26.
2023 NBA Draft Pick Looking To Make Knicks Roster Next Season
James Nnaji Will Join Knicks In The Summer League
The blockbuster trade by New York and Minnesota also included a third team: the Charlotte Hornets. Charlotte gave up the rights to Nnaji to the Knicks in the deal as well. The 7-foot center was selected with the first pick of the second round (31st overall) in the 2023 NBA Draft. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons but subsequently traded twice. First, he was dealt to the Boston Celtics, and was then traded again to the Hornets.
Still just 20 years old (turns 21 on August 14), Nnaji has yet to play in the NBA. That could change though come next season. Marc del Rio of Sport.es was the first to report that Nnaji has informed Barcelona that he is joining New York for their Summer League team, in hopes of making their regular season roster. Jared Schwartz of The New York Post later also reported on the news. The article featured a quote from Gerard Raventos, Nnaji’s agent. Raventos said,
“Hopefully after [the Summer League], we can reach an agreement. That’s the plan, from both sides. It’s 50-50, it depends how he does. He’s coming in great shape. … Everything will be based on his performances in the Summer League.”
While there are fans that don’t take much interest in the Summer League, perhaps seeing if Nnaji can perform well and put himself on the NBA radar will be a reason for more people to tune in.
Has Played Overseas Since Being Drafted
Born in Nigeria, Nnaji was selected in the 2023 NBA Draft after playing for FC Barcelona. Instead of heading to the NBA though, he remained overseas. Last season, the center was loaned to Girona in Spain, and after an agreement to leave, was then loaned to Merkezefendi in Turkey.
Nnaji played a combined 22 contests with the two teams in 2024-25. With them, he posted averages of 6.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 16.3 minutes. Nnaji shot 70.3% from the field and 51.7% from the free-throw line.
The Knicks currently roster Towns and Mitchell Robinson at center. They have a club option worth slightly less than $2 million on Ariel Hukporti, the 58th overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft. Precious Achiuwa is an unrestricted free agent, and after mostly being out of the postseason rotation, many believe he will move on.
With New York likely needing to fill the back of their roster with minimum-salary deals, James Nnaji may be an option for the Knicks.
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