New Orleans Turned Its Only Draft Pick Into Cash
New Orleans used the No. 45 pick in the 2011 draft on Josh Harrellson and then sent his rights to New York for cash. Contemporary reporting framed the move as a deliberate decision by the Hornets after the players they preferred were no longer available. General manager Dell Demps said the club chose the cash and intended to pursue other ways to improve the roster. That makes the trade easier to understand on draft night even though the basketball return was intentionally limited.
The Knicks Got a Real Rookie Rotation Player
Harrellson gave New York useful value almost immediately. Basketball-Reference credits him with 37 games, four starts and 540 minutes during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season. He averaged 4.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game, then appeared in four playoff games. Those numbers are modest, but they are meaningful for a second-round rights purchase made entirely with cash rather than another player or future draft asset.
His Knicks Tenure Lasted One Season, but the Rights Still Produced Value
Harrellson did not become a long-term Knicks piece. New York included him with Toney Douglas, Jerome Jordan and future second-round picks in the July 2012 sign-and-trade that brought Marcus Camby from Houston. Harrellson was therefore part of the Knicks for only one season, and his individual value inside the later package cannot be isolated from the other assets. The direct 2011-12 rotation minutes remain the safest evidence for grading this transaction.
The Grade Gap Should Stay Modest
New Orleans received cash and avoided attaching any additional basketball asset, so a C+ is more appropriate than treating the sale as a major loss. The exact cash amount is not needed to judge the basic outcome because the Hornets knowingly exchanged a mid-second-round opportunity for financial flexibility. New York’s B reflects the fact that Harrellson became a useful rookie reserve without turning into a lasting starter or major trade chip. The Knicks still earned the better return because they converted cash into actual NBA minutes and playoff availability.
Final Verdict
Knicks Win — New Orleans C+, New York B. The Hornets sold the No. 45 pick after deciding the remaining draft board did not justify keeping the selection, so their side was a conscious cash-for-rights decision rather than an accidental loss of an asset. New York turned that purchase into 37 regular-season games, four starts and a small playoff role from Josh Harrellson before moving him in the Marcus Camby package the following summer. The payoff was modest, but it was tangible enough to give the Knicks the better result.