The Knicks got a surprising addition in a pick swap with the Clippers during the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft — the rights to a 32-year-old from Serbia.
Luka Mitrovic, who was originally drafted by the 76ers with the No. 60 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, was included in the trade between the Knicks and Clippers that saw New York move down to No. 51 and take Mohamed Diawara on Thursday night.
Since being drafted by Philadelphia a decade ago, Mitrovic has bounced around numerous professional teams in Europe, and was most recently a member of KK Crvena zvezda’s ABA League and EuroLeague teams for the 2024-25 season, where he played in 47 games.
Despite remaining in Europe since his draft selection, the rights to Mitrovic have been involved in two NBA trades, first being dealt to the Kings just weeks after being selected in a deal that sent Carl Landry, Jason Thompson and Nik Stauskas to the Sixers.
Mitrovic was then sent to the Clippers midway through the 2023-24 season in exchange for Filip Petrusev, a former teammate of his on Crvena zvezda.
The Serbian started his professional basketball career when he was just 17, signing a deal with Hemofarm in Serbia for the 2010-11 season.
Mitrovic spent five seasons playing for Crvena zvezda from 2012-13 to 2016-17 before joining the team again for 2021-22.
It remains unclear if the Knicks will bring Mitrovic over to the United States, with the deal most likely being for salary cap purposes, as his contract does not go against the cap unless signed.
With the No. 51 pick of Thursday’s draft, the Knicks ultimately selected Diawara, a French forward.
Diawara, 20, last played for Cholet Basket in the LNB Pro A league in France, and averaged 5.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 27 games.
He also reportedly has a 7-foot-4 wingspan and a 9-foot-2 standing reach.
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