There are some restricted FA's that the Knicks would be very interested in, whose clubs might not want to pay max dollars to, like Butler and Draymon Green despite what their clubs say about being willing to pay them max dollars. They might be interested in the number 1 pick rather than lose them for nothing.
It will be an interesting off-season, first the lotto in May, the draft and then spending that cap space.
You can't trade for impending FAs Tig. They have to have an existing contract on draft day without any Options binding on contracts.... including POs, TOs, and QOs.
Not in case you're talking of selecting player and then doing a S&T well after the draft is over(like a month after) and ask yourself when has this ever happened? Like never and if this were pulled off, you're borderline walking around in the territory of collusion.
Free Agency starts July 1st and the draft happens like a week prior to. Most decisions on impending Free Agents happen after the draft has transpired.