Plan B for New York Knicks If They Don't Get Lucky at 2015 NBA Draft
Save for an anomaly in 2012-13, the New York Knickerbockers’ river of bad luck has run deep and wide for over a decade.
What makes you think the water will stop flowing now?
There seems to be this notion that the Knicks will, without a doubt, get a top-two pick at this summer’s NBA draft. In reality, New York has just a 19.9 percent chance of winning the first selection and a 55.8 percent chance of landing in the top three, per NBA.com’s Jonah Ballow.
That means there is a 44.2 percent chance the Knicks will land at fourth or fifth. Ironically, that number is nearly identical to Carmelo Anthony’s shooting percentage (44.4) in 2014-15.
| 1st | 19.9 |
| 2nd | 18.8 |
| 3rd | 17.1 |
| 4th | 31.9 |
| 5th | 12.3 |
Let’s say New York doesn’t get lucky and winds up with the third, fourth or fifth pick. It wouldn’t be too shocking since things rarely seem to go according to plan at the lottery.
So, the Knicks, who desperately need on-court help and someone fans can rally around, will likely miss out on a pair of big-bodied studs in Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns.
What should they do then?
Option 1: Draft D’Angelo Russell
Phil Jackson has already shown interest in Ohio State’s superstar freshman D’Angelo Russell, and for good reason. The southpaw is so smooth with the ball and can get easy buckets for himself and his teammates.
After watching the point guard total a modest 11 points in 26 minutes on Feb. 26, Jackson called Russell “a great-looking kid,” and “[a] great prospect,” according to Cleveland.com’s Doug Lesmerises.
Less than a week later, the Zen Master was whacked with a fine for tampering.
While talking about Russell publicly was a poor decision, drafting him at No. 3, 4 or 5 would be a wise one.
The 19-year-old put up 19.3 points, five assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals this season while shooting 44.9 percent from field, 41.1 percent from three-point land and 75.6 percent from the foul line. He and Okafor were the only freshmen named as AP First Team All-Americans.
Despite all the 6’5”, 180-pound guard has accomplished, some folks aren’t all that high on him. Frank Isola of the New York Daily News would fall under that category:
Anthony, whose opinion matters more than media members', doesn't appear to love the idea of Russell in New York. Here’s what he told Chris Herring of The Wall Street Journal:
Anthony makes a valid point, but Russell is no ordinary rookie.
“When he speaks, everyone listens. He is their leader,” an NBA scout told Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix. “...He sees how a play is going to develop before it does. There are not many NBA point guards that can do that. It's a Chris Paul-type skill. And he has got it."
Watch the video below to see exactly what the scout is referring to. Russell has an uncanny ability to fire on-the-money bullets right in his teammates' chests...before they even know they're open.
Anthony needs to be on board with whichever prospect Jackson and the Knicks choose, of course. But Russell is the type of player who can become a franchise cornerstone, a foundational piece for the future.
If Okafor and Towns are gone when the Knicks pick, Russell is the one they should take.
Option 2: Trade the Pick
Two years ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded their ninth pick, Trey Burke, to the Utah Jazz for the 14th (Shabazz Muhammad) and 21st (Gorgui Dieng) selections.
The Wolves didn’t love Burke at No. 9, so they gave up a starting-caliber player for two guys who made legitimate contributions this past season—Dieng and Muhammad combined for 52.8 minutes per game in 2014-15. Both look like strong rotation players and/or starters going forward.
New York needs to consider something like this, especially if the team lands at No. 4 or 5.
The Boston Celtics (No. 16 and 28) are the only team with multiple first-rounders in 2014-15, so this would take some shuffling.
But the Knicks would be better off trading down to somewhere near 10th, taking Frank Kaminsky and then perhaps picking up another big man like Montrezl Harrell in the 15-to-20 range.
The Naismith Player of the Year, aside from his frail frame, has few flaws as a player. Kaminsky scores inside and knocks down threes, handles the ball like a guard and passes exceptionally well. He’s a technically sound defender but will obviously need to bulk up for the pro level.
Wisconsin’s senior star would be a great addition to the Knicks, who will continue to run the triangle next year. The 7-footer has the ability create all kinds of matchup problems for opponents by bringing forwards and centers out of the paint.
Harrell, on the other hand, would come in as a J.J. Hickson type of player—an undersized, super-athletic, physically imposing bull in the frontcourt.
Apparently, Jackson is already considering going through with this type of move, per Marc Berman of the New York Post.
"[Phil] confessed to being more likely to trade the Knicks’ first-round pick if they fall to No. 5," Berman wrote on April 21, "and he emphasized a defensive big man is a priority."
Harrell would fit that bill, while Kaminsky would give the Knicks some offensive diversity.
These two rooks probably won’t be stars, but they’ll make immediate impacts and help the team down the road. Assuming Jackson can convince a few respectable free agents to don the blue and orange, this could turn out to be a decent team in no time.
Right now, though, the Knicks need all the help they can get.
If a definite star like Okafor, Towns or Russell isn’t available, it might be best for the ‘Bockers to trade down and gear up for the long run.
All stats are accurate, courtesy of Basketball-Reference.
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