New York Knicks' 10 Best Draft Picks Since 2000

Despite mostly inept roster management over the past 12 years, one area in which the New York Knicks have succeeded is the draft. Despite frequently picking low in the draft as a result of "win-now" trades, the Knicks have managed to acquire a substantial amount of young talent over the years.

The success of Knicks' draft picks since 2000 gives fans confidence that they will be able to secure a rotation player despite not picking until the middle of the second round this year.

Note: The following list takes relative value into account, so draft position is a big factor in the rankings.

10. Jordan Hill (2009, No. 8 Overall)

Jordan Hill never fully fit into Mike D'Antoni's system, but he has proven himself to be a valuable role player in stints with the Rockets and Lakers.

With a top-10 pick, five points and five rebounds in limited minutes is not the expectation, but there will always be a place for players like Hill in the NBA.

9. Channing Frye (2005, No. 8 Overall)

Frye is another player who has carved out a solid career for himself in the NBA despite not quite living up to the expectations of his draft slot. Ten points per game over seven seasons, to go with a 39 percent rate from beyond the arc, is nothing to sneeze at.

Frye has benefited from playing with Steve Nash in recent years, but he performed well in his two seasons with the Knicks as well. Not a superstar, but better than your average role player.

8. Nate Robinson (2005, No. 21 Overall)

The second of three players selected in the Knicks' outstanding 2005 draft, Robinson energized the Garden for five years before being traded to the Boston Celtics. While Robinson was always a scoring threat off the bench for the Knicks, his shoot-first mentality and occasional lapses in judgment frustrated his coaches.

The Nate Robinson era didn't end well in New York, but he provided fans with a lot of great moments during some lean years.

7. Wilson Chandler (2007, No. 23 Overall)

When the Knicks drafted Chandler out of DePaul, they expected exactly what the ended up getting—a dynamic scorer who could be the focal point of an offense at times, but a player who did not excel in all aspects of the game.

Chandler grew to be the centerpiece of the trade with the Denver Nuggets that brought the Knicks Carmelo Anthony, showing how much his value had grown since the 2007 draft.

6. Landry Fields (2010, No. 39 Overall)

Fields has performed very well in stretches since the Knicks inserted him into the starting lineup almost immediately after drafting him two years ago, but his play has been inconsistent. At times a dynamic role player in the Knicks' offense, Fields has looked uncomfortable playing with Carmelo Anthony.

There are still questions as to what Fields will eventually become, but a potential NBA starter is a pretty good haul from a second-round pick.

5. Trevor Ariza (2004, No. 44 Overall)

Despite falling to the middle of the second round in the 2004 draft, Ariza has sustained a successful NBA career as a strong wing defender and complementary player on good teams.

While his shot selection is poor at times, Ariza has contributed at every stop and is an NBA champion. Not bad for a No. 44 pick.

4. Iman Shumpert (2011, No. 17 Overall)

I really wanted to put Shumpert higher on this list. He has become a fan favorite in six months, with his aggressive defense and inspired play energizing the Garden crowd night in and night out. He has all the tools to be a star in this league.

But it has only been one year, and it remains to be seen how he will recover from the gruesome injury he suffered against Miami. He may very well be No. 1 on this list in five years, but he just doesn't have the track record yet.

3. Danilo Gallinari (2008, No. 6 Overall)

The highest draft pick the Knicks have had since 1986, Gallinari improved his game upon entering the league, transforming from a sharpshooter into an all-around threat. The Knicks have not had much success with international players, so Gallinari was in some ways a pleasant surprise despite his lofty draft position.

Gallo left town with Chandler in the trade that brought back Carmelo Anthony, a superstar prize for the Knicks' successes in identifying and grooming young talent.

2. Nene (2002, No. 7 Overall)

Though he never played a game for the Knicks, Nene may be the best basketball player on this list. Despite some early injury troubles, Nene has had a consistent career as a force to be reckoned with in the paint, both offensively and defensively.

Drafting Nene was a great decision by the Knicks. Trading him as part of a package that landed Antonio McDyess was a mistake.

No. 1 David Lee (2005, No. 30 Overall)

No other player could possibly sit atop this list besides Lee. The third player selected in Isaiah Thomas' stellar 2005 draft, Lee became an underdog favorite as early as his second season. As Lee gained playing time, his scoring prowess became readily apparent.

In Lee's final season as a Knick, he averaged 20 points per game and became the first Knick draft pick to make the all-star game since Mark Jackson. Not bad for the last pick in the first round.