Ian Begley, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Something worth noting on the trade front for the Knicks: two people in touch with members of the organization in the last few days said that New York remains opposed to sending out any future first-round picks in any trades under consideration.

This could be posturing from New York during trade season.

But if the Knicks are indeed committed to keeping their future first-rounders off limits, that would align with the team's strategy for the past five seasons.

Early in Phil Jackson's tenure as team president, the Knicks made it clear that they were opposed to trading future first-rounders.

At the time, Jackson and then GM Steve Mills reversed course on a previous Knicks norm: sending out first-rounders in trades for veterans.

It happened in the Carmelo Anthony trade, the Andrea Bargnani trade and other transactions over the past 20 years.

New York now owns all of its future first-round picks and will receive two Dallas first-rounders via the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

Their stance on future first-rounders is relevant given the club's recent discussions with the Detroit Pistons about All-Star big man Andre Drummond. According to an ESPN report, the Pistons discussed a deal with the Atlanta Hawks that involved Atlanta sending over a first-round pick.

If New York keeps its first-rounders off the table, the club could offer Detroit expiring contracts or young players such as Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson or Frank Ntilikina.

Talks earlier this month between the Knicks and Detroit about Drummond were described as more serious than a simple check in between two teams, according to SNY sources familiar with the matter. It's unclear where the talks stand at the moment.

Also on the Knicks trade front, opposing teams have expressed interest in Bobby Portis and Dennis Smith Jr. Marcus Morris is expected to draw interest from contending teams, but some people in the Knicks organization see him as a key part of the club's rebuild.

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