Miami Heat: Best trade ever done with the New York Knicks
By Jack Simone
Miami Heat trade history with the New York Knicks
While there has only been one trade with the New York Knicks throughout the years, it sure was a big one. Instead of choosing the best trade out of a bunch, instead, let’s look at who won the single trade the two teams have ever made.
Before that can be done, however, it’s important to take a look at what each team received in the trade. What did the Miami Heat send to the Knicks and vice versa?
Miami Heat traded a 1998 first-round pick to the New York Knicks
The Miami Heat traded the Knicks a first-round pick in this deal. Anytime a first is traded, the deal is often very valuable, as picks are some of the best assets in basketball.
The pick they sent ended up being 19th overall in the 1998 NBA Draft. The Knicks went on to select Walter McCarty with that pick.
Despite being a top-20 pick, McCarty wouldn’t amount to much in the NBA. He was out of New York just one season after he got there, as he was involved in a different trade.
New York Knicks traded coach Pat Riley to the Miami Heat
In exchange for that first-round pick, the New York Knicks sent coach Pat Riley to Miami. He was the coach of the Knicks for four seasons prior to them trading him away.
It’s always an interesting situation to see a coach get traded. The most recent example that comes to mind is when the Boston Celtics traded coach Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Riley would, obviously, go on to have a long, successful career in South Beach. Based on that, which team won this trade?