The New York Knicks were still penny-pinching at the 2026 NBA draft, but at least they could afford a Nickel.
Amidst further wheeling and dealing at the 2026 draft, the Knicks leave with two new talents on their ledgers after the second round was staged on Wednesday night in Brooklyn: New York obtained German prospect Jack Kayil with the 39th pick, and later landed Vanderbilt sharpshooter Tyler Nickel at No. 47.
The Knicks began the night as owners of the 31st, 47th, and 55th selections. Per Shams Charania of ESPN, they traded the bookending picks to the Houston Rockets in exchange for the 39th and 53rd selections, as well as a 2029 second-rounder that originally belonged to Sacramento.
Bruce Thornton (Ohio State) and Nick Martinelli (Northwestern) were respectively chosen in the 31st and 55th slots, officially listed as Knicks draftees.
New York later used the 53rd selection on Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso, but later traded him to Detroit for continued cash considerations, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The Knicks thus continued to shave salaries off their 2026-27 ledgers as they attempt to keep their championship-winning roster intact.
No. 39: Jack Kayil, Germany
Two summers after bidding Isaiah Hartenstein farewell, the Knicks bring in the Berlin-born Kayil at 39th overall. Previous finds at No. 39 include Rafer Alston (1998), Khris Middleton (2012), Jerami Grant (2014), and Knicks rookie sensation Landry Fields (2010).
Kayil recently spent time with Alba Berlin, capturing a Basketball Bundesliga championship alongside the Knicks earlier this month. The 20-year-old left his mark by winning the Best German Young Player Award, a title previously earned by Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner.
Kayil won a similarly themed award in the Basketball Champions League, following in the footsteps of Brooklyn Nets first-rounder Nolan Traore. He averaged 12.2 points and 3.6 assists in 65 appearances this time around.
Kayil also has extensive experience with the junior levels of the German national team, notably winning a silver medal at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup last summer. He and teammate Christian Anderson, a first-round pick of Charlotte’s, tied for second in assists per game at 6.6 in the tournament.
Kayil was committed to Gonzaga for the 2026-27 season but opted to leap into the draft this time around. Listed at 6-foot-3, Kayil is capable of playing either the one or two and could be strong in the pick-and-roll. Kayil announced his intentions to play stateside next season shortly after his selection.
“My plan is to stay here and get into the doorway of this organization and keep growing with them,” Kayil said, expressing excitement to work with fellow second-round point guard Jalen Brunson (h/t New York Basketball on X). “I think one of my strengths is that I love winning, and I’d give anything for that. To come into this organization shows that they also want winners. So I think it’s a good fit.”
No. 47: Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt
With the 47th pick, the Knicks selected Nashville shooting specialist Nickel, who helped the Commodores achieve their first back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths since 2016-17.
Joining the Commodores after two seasons between North Carolina and Virginia Tech, Nickel averaged double-figures and hit over 40 percent of his tries from three in two further tours of Nashville.
In Commodore lore, Nickel is perhaps best known for tying the school’s single-game record for three-pointers, along with Shan Foster. Nickel set that mark in a December win over Central Arkansas before repeating the feat eight days later in a conference triumph at Wake Forest.
ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas compared Nickel’s game to that of current Cleveland Cavalier Sam Merrill, a previous second-round pick who has established Association longevity with an outside prowess of his own.
“He can shoot it,” Bilas said during ESPN’s draft coverage. “He can move without the ball, he’s a good cutter, has got a quick release … He’s a solid defender. He works his tail off defensively in addition to being an excellent shooter.”
The Knicks previously selected Gerald Wilkins at the 47th spot in 1985, while other selections at the spot include Vernon Maxwell (1988), Mo Williams (2003), and Paul Millsap (2006).
