Knicks Draft Selection

I still like Okafor. I see he’s been moved to #3 on this site, but I’d take him #1

But I think Mario Hezonja has the most upside of anyone outside the top 4. I’ve been watching him play quite a bit on the eurosport channel and been impressed with his skill and competitiveness. 

I think the Knicks would trade the pick if they couldn’t get a stud at pick 5 or 6. Not sure how much Phil Jackson likes rookies. 

I still like Okafor. I see he’s been moved to #3 on this site, but I’d take him #1

But I think Mario Hezonja has the most upside of anyone outside the top 4. I’ve been watching him play quite a bit on the eurosport channel and been impressed with his skill and competitiveness. 

I think the Knicks would trade the pick if they couldn’t get a stud at pick 5 or 6. Not sure how much Phil Jackson likes rookies. 

 Mario Hezonja is the opposite of what a lottery team needs. He may show up well on the stat board but in reality he has been known to yell and criticise his teammates and be one of the worst teammate imaginable.

 Mario Hezonja is the opposite of what a lottery team needs. He may show up well on the stat board but in reality he has been known to yell and criticise his teammates and be one of the worst teammate imaginable.

If I’m the Knicks and I get the no.1 pick, I’m looking to trade down. Should the rankings and draft order hold, I’d move Towns and Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Wolves for their no.2 pick, D’Angelo Russell, and Gorgui Dieng. Towns is an upgrade over Dieng and is an ideal fit for the uptempo pace the Wolves are destined to play. The move also allows the Wolves to avoid having to take the best player available at no.2, Russell, who would be redundant with Rubio already in tow.

The Knicks, meanwhile, manage to address their two weakest positions (PG and C) and avoid the steep learning curve that comes with picking a big man like Karl Towns. If I had full reigns if the team though, I’d push even further. I’d package both Melo, Calderon and Dieng to the Lakers for their 4th pick and 25th picks. I’d then trade those picks to the Sixers for Thomas Robinson, their 3rd and 34th picks. With the 3rd pick, I’d selecf Jahlil Okafor and witb the 34th pick, I’d take a flyer on someone I could draft and stash.

If I’m the Knicks and I get the no.1 pick, I’m looking to trade down. Should the rankings and draft order hold, I’d move Towns and Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Wolves for their no.2 pick, D’Angelo Russell, and Gorgui Dieng. Towns is an upgrade over Dieng and is an ideal fit for the uptempo pace the Wolves are destined to play. The move also allows the Wolves to avoid having to take the best player available at no.2, Russell, who would be redundant with Rubio already in tow.

The Knicks, meanwhile, manage to address their two weakest positions (PG and C) and avoid the steep learning curve that comes with picking a big man like Karl Towns. If I had full reigns if the team though, I’d push even further. I’d package both Melo, Calderon and Dieng to the Lakers for their 4th pick and 25th picks. I’d then trade those picks to the Sixers for Thomas Robinson, their 3rd and 34th picks. With the 3rd pick, I’d selecf Jahlil Okafor and witb the 34th pick, I’d take a flyer on someone I could draft and stash.

 Depends how quick Phil wants to rebuild the Knicks, he has cap space so can probably land a good FA, does he go all in and try to pull a Wiggins/K-Love type trade to get another top player in.

Rather like the Lakers, it could be a FA build across a couple of summers, get one good FA, a few good complimentary players this summer, allow the draft pick a year to develop. Then in 2016 when cap goes up, they have a better team and a better chance to land a top level FA then.

Melo and Kobe together for one year would be interesting to watch, not sure how they would share ballhandling duties. Melo like Kobe has a no trade clause and a rumoured 15% kicker the Knicks would need to pay him if he waived it and was traded. That kicker would be worth $15 million at least.

On a couple of the Basketball news feed sites, it highlights Louis Labeyrie who the Knicks drafted at 57 last year after buying the pick from Indiana for $1.5 million. Louis is a 23 year old 6ft 10ins combo forward who is a friend of Utah’s Stiffle Tower Rudy Gobert. The story today is the Knicks want him to play Summer League this year with a view to coming over full time in 2016.

Also interestingly it adds that the Knicks still have 51st pick last year Thanasis Antetokounmpo playing D-League this year with Westchester Knicks. He of course is the Greek Freak’s older brother, though still only 22 years old. Apparently Phil persuaded Thanasis to play D-League with Westchester to learn the triangle system.

 Depends how quick Phil wants to rebuild the Knicks, he has cap space so can probably land a good FA, does he go all in and try to pull a Wiggins/K-Love type trade to get another top player in.

Rather like the Lakers, it could be a FA build across a couple of summers, get one good FA, a few good complimentary players this summer, allow the draft pick a year to develop. Then in 2016 when cap goes up, they have a better team and a better chance to land a top level FA then.

Melo and Kobe together for one year would be interesting to watch, not sure how they would share ballhandling duties. Melo like Kobe has a no trade clause and a rumoured 15% kicker the Knicks would need to pay him if he waived it and was traded. That kicker would be worth $15 million at least.

On a couple of the Basketball news feed sites, it highlights Louis Labeyrie who the Knicks drafted at 57 last year after buying the pick from Indiana for $1.5 million. Louis is a 23 year old 6ft 10ins combo forward who is a friend of Utah’s Stiffle Tower Rudy Gobert. The story today is the Knicks want him to play Summer League this year with a view to coming over full time in 2016.

Also interestingly it adds that the Knicks still have 51st pick last year Thanasis Antetokounmpo playing D-League this year with Westchester Knicks. He of course is the Greek Freak’s older brother, though still only 22 years old. Apparently Phil persuaded Thanasis to play D-League with Westchester to learn the triangle system.

 Phil must have seen something in Labeyrie to get the Knicks to pay $1.5 million for a late second round pick.

The Knicks literally have that one pick near the top of the draft. I just wonder if there is no player that the Knicks are set on if Phil might see what trade down deals he might get. He might give Philly a call if the Knicks were a bit ahead of them in the draft order and try to get some of the 76ers early 2nd rounders for swapping first round picks. Something like 1st pick for 3rd, 33rd, 35th etc. Hinkie has a load of 2nd rounders so might look to consolidate them to move up the draft a spot or two. 

The Lakers potentially hold 4th, 26th and 34th so a trade deal might possibly be on there too.

The Knicks have deep pockets so I certainly expect them to look to buy a pick or two extra in the draft.

 Phil must have seen something in Labeyrie to get the Knicks to pay $1.5 million for a late second round pick.

The Knicks literally have that one pick near the top of the draft. I just wonder if there is no player that the Knicks are set on if Phil might see what trade down deals he might get. He might give Philly a call if the Knicks were a bit ahead of them in the draft order and try to get some of the 76ers early 2nd rounders for swapping first round picks. Something like 1st pick for 3rd, 33rd, 35th etc. Hinkie has a load of 2nd rounders so might look to consolidate them to move up the draft a spot or two. 

The Lakers potentially hold 4th, 26th and 34th so a trade deal might possibly be on there too.

The Knicks have deep pockets so I certainly expect them to look to buy a pick or two extra in the draft.