On Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks engaged in a trade typical of draft day maneuvers. The Mavericks sent the draft rights to center Ariel Hukporti, along with the draft rights to guard Petteri Koponen and cash considerations, to the Knicks in exchange for the draft rights to forward Melvin Ajinça.
However, what makes this trade unusual is the inclusion of Petteri Koponen, who was originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 30th overall pick in 2007.
Despite being drafted years ago, Koponen’s professional basketball career in Europe has since concluded, spanning stints in Finland, Italy, Russia, Spain, and Germany. Currently transitioning to coaching, Koponen is set to serve as an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs in the upcoming Summer League.
Despite his career shift, Koponen couldn’t help but find humor in the situation, expressing his amusement on social media. “I’m honored, New York, but I’m still committed to my role with the Spurs,” he remarked, adding a playful note about potentially reconsidering for a “financially ridiculous offer” and humorously mentioning his readiness with a new hip.
Had Koponen pursued an NBA career, he would have been just the second Finnish-born player in league history after Hanno Möttölä of the Atlanta Hawks. However, with this trade, it seems there may still be a chance for Koponen to potentially enter the NBA ranks as the third Finnish player, a possibility that remains open.
Published 3 Hours Ago
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