Knicks Rumors: Prospects That NY Should Target at No. 48 in 2012 NBA Draft

NY needs shooters.

The New York Knicks will enter the 2012 NBA Draft with plenty of needs, but only one pick—No. 48 overall. Steve Novak and J.R. Smith are both unrestricted free agents so their greatest need is for a shooter. Throw in the fact that Iman Shumpert is coming off a torn ACL, and the Knicks need help on the perimeter.

According to Jared Zwerling of ESPN, New York isn’t planning on trading up for a prospect like Doron Lamb or John Jenkins, though.

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I'm hearing from several sources that the Knicks' focus is on free agency, not the draft. Don't expect much action, just 48th pick. #Knicks

— Jared Zwerling (@JaredZwerling) June 28, 2012"

Here are three downtown snipers that’d be available at No. 28 and be solid additions to their rotation.

3. Darius Johnson-Odom (SG, Marquette)

At 6’3”, DJO doesn’t possess the physical gift of height. That won’t prevent him from succeeding in the league, though. He’s as tough as nails and has the athleticism to make up for a lack of length.

But more importantly, Johnson-Odom knows how to put the ball in the basket. He averaged 18.3 points per game for the Golden Eagles last season and shot 38.5 percent from downtown. There aren’t many teams in the NBA that couldn’t use his ability to knock down open shots and play quality defense.

2. Darius Miller (SF, Kentucky)

New York doesn’t need a player that’s capable of creating their own shot—they have too many of those types of scorers already. What they need is a catch-and-shoot specialist and no prospect stuck to that role more in college than Miller. On John Calipari’s stacked Wildcat clubs, he’s always been a role player and because of that, he wouldn’t be forced to adjust his game at all in the NBA.

In his last two seasons at Kentucky, Miller nailed 114 three pointers at an efficiency of 40.7 percent. At 6’8”, 233 pounds, he’s got great size and is a solid athlete.

1. Kevin Murphy (SG, Tennessee Tech)

Last year, New York fans booed the Knicks’ selection of Iman Shumpert because he wasn’t a household name. They’d most likely do the same to Tennessee Tech’s Murphy, but like Shumpert, fans would eventually fall in love with him.

Wherever Murphy ends up, he’ll define instant offense off the bench. Last season for the Golden Eagles, he averaged 20.6 points per game and shot 41.6 percent from beyond the arc. At 6’6”, he’s gifted with length and athleticism.

Murphy is the Knicks’ ideal selection.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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