ESPN: Knicks land in a 36 year old prospect draws laugh from no-retired player.
The Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks engaged in one of those minor trades that usually occur on draft day on Thursday. The Mavericks sent the Knicks money in exchange for the draft rights to forward Melvin Ajinça, center Ariel Hukporti, and guard Petteri Koponen.
The hitch is that, in 2007, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Koponen with the 30th overall pick, while Hukporti and Ajinça were selected on Thursday.
Actually, Koponen’s illustrious playing career throughout Europe, which included stops in Finland, Italy, Russia, Spain, and Germany, is now completely over. Now a coach, the Finn will help the San Antonio Spurs in the Summer League the following month.
That didn’t stop him from making jokes about his situation on social media.
He wrote on Friday morning, “I’m honored to be in New York, but I’m going to stick to my commitment with the Spurs.” Naturally, a financially absurd offer has the power to alter the situation. + My hip was replaced! I’m prepared.”
If Koponen had participated in the NBA, he would have become the second player in league history to be born in Finland, following center and forward Hanno Möttölä of the Atlanta Hawks (the honor was later held by Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen).
It seems that Koponen could still turn into the third.
