Projecting New York Knicks' Moves for Each 2015 NBA Draft Scenario

After a monumentally brutal 2014-15, the New York Knicks have a lot of ground to cover in constructing a competitive roster next season. The upside: No matter where they land in this year's draft lottery, there should be a can't-miss prospect on the board. 

Finishing with the league's second-worst record, New York has a 19.9 percent chance of landing the first-overall pick. The highest odds fall at No. 4, at 31.9 percent. Ironically, the last time the second-worst team landed a pick better than No. 3 was in 2006, when the Knicks ended up going No. 2. The Chicago Bulls owned that pick, though. 

Whether Phil Jackson's front office is selecting top two, top four or somehow falls to No. 5, there will be legitimate options to fill one of the several holes throughout the roster. 

No. 5

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Percent Chance: 12.3 percent

Projection: Justise Winslow

It would take a heavy dose of typical Knicks luck, but the team could possibly fall as far back as No. 5. By then, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor will presumably be off the board, while point guard prospects D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay could both be gone as well.

If one of Russell or Mudiay is there for the taking at No. 5, the Knicks should absolutely go that route. The point guard position has been a gaping hole in New York for the better part of two decades, and both prospects have the frame and skill sets to start NBA games right away. But there's a likelihood that those two will come off the board at No. 3 and No. 4.

Phil Jackson has insinuated that he'd be interested in moving the pick if it fell to fifth. During an April press conference discussing the team's outlook, the team president said:

"

Do you move a pick one, two, three, four? That's questionable. Do you move a pick five if that's the alternative end result? And use it as a chip? Maybe. There's a lot of options that are out there. The reality is that we want to grow a star through this system that'll be here for 15 years.

"

There's a possibility that Jackson could flip the fifth overall pick in a package for a more seasoned player. But working under the assumption that Towns and Okafor go first while Russell and Mudiay fall next, Justise Winslow will be available at No. 5. If the Knicks fall this far, he should be the most likely scenario.

Winslow's value came to light in this year's NCAA tournament, even while Jahlil Okafor was struggling. He made 41.7 percent of his 110 three-point attempts this season with Duke, averaging 12.6 points and 6.5 rebounds while being able to defend several positions. His 6'10" wingspan helps him cover ground—or air—defensively. 

If Carmelo Anthony is playing the power forward, Winslow could slide in at the 3 and bring superb two-way play to a lineup that, as of now, is severely deprived of it.

No. 4

Percent Chance: 31.9 percent

Projection: Emmanuel Mudiay

If Towns and Okafor are the first players selected, this year's crop of point guards could be next. The order could vary depending on the actual draft order, but scouts' familiarity with D'Angelo Russell, along with the Ohio State product's shooting prowess, could make him the pick at No. 3. 

This leaves Emmanuel Mudiay at No. 4, who the Knicks would be wise to fill their long-term point guard void with.

Mudiay spent the season playing professionally in China but appeared in just 12 games after suffering an ankle injury early on. He returned in time for the playoffs and, after months away from the team, posted 24 points and eight boards for Guangdong in a pivotal postseason matchup.

Mudiay has slightly more size than Russell—6'5", 200 pounds vs. 6'5", 180 pounds—but is far less of a shooter. He shot 34.2 percent from three-point range in China but was far too inconsistent, and his poor form resulted in a number of ugly misses.

But nearly everything else about Mudiay is exciting, specifically for the Knicks, who are desperate for someone to take the scoring load off Carmelo Anthony. Mudiay makes great reads, is highly skilled in the pick-and-roll—which Derek Fisher began to implement later in the season—and is an above-average finisher for his age.

His defensive effort was questioned overseas, but with ideal size for a guard, he should be able to translate athleticism into results on that end.

No. 3

Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Percent Chance: 17.1 percent

Projection: D'Angelo Russell

Should the Knicks land the third overall pick, they'll likely have every player left on the board aside from Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor. The team has a need at point guard for the future, and this year's draft has one of the best we've seen in some time. 

Out of Ohio State, D'Angelo Russell figures to be the best point guard of this class, edging out Emmanuel Mudiay. He led the Buckeyes with 19.3 points per game this season to go along with five assists, 44.9 percent from the field and 41.1 from the three-point arc. He also grabbed 5.7 rebounds a night while coming away with 1.6 steals. 

Russell's reads are impeccable for a 19-year-old, as anyone with Internet access saw this year via Vines of his insane spinning bounce passes. He does lack a bit of explosiveness off the dribble and struggled against better NCAA defenses. DraftExpress' Mike Schmitz explained how that could translate to the NBA next season:

"

For that reason, Russell might not project as a player that can carry an NBA offense from day one like some of the worst teams in the league drafting in the top five probably hope. He'll need the right type of players around him, but thankfully he possesses the type of complementary skills (passing, shooting, positional versatility) required to help facilitate that.

"

With Carmelo Anthony as the focal point of the offense, and potentially a free-agent pickup, New York would be a perfect opportunity for Russell to hone his weaknesses while contributing his strengths.

No. 2

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Percent Chance: 18.8 percent

Projection: Jahlil Okafor

Selections in this draft after No. 3 can be hard to project depending on draft order, with the lottery still to be decided. But the first and second picks? Those aren't up for much debate.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor are likely to be the first two players taken, and the consensus has Towns going first overall. If the Knicks end up selecting second, one of the two big men will be on the board. The smart money has Phil Jackson taking whichever is left—the likely scenario bringing Jahlil Okafor to Madison Square Garden.

Drafting Okafor would give Carmelo Anthony an immediate scoring partner in the frontcourt. Okafor averaged 17.3 points and 8.6 rebounds for Duke this season as the offensive focal point on the title-winning squad, shooting a remarkable 66.4 percent from the floor.

Okafor's offensive polish is borderline unprecedented for a player his age. His post moves are NBA-ready, and his frame is large enough to compete with professional centers right away. The Knicks need to provide Anthony with scoring help, and make no mistake, Okafor would be the one to provide it.

But the concern with Okafor—and the reason why Towns has surpassed him on several projections—has to do with almost every other aspect of his game. There are questions about his physical fitness, his defensive instincts, his offensive range outside of the paint and if his ceiling has much room left.

Pairing Okafor and Anthony together—two minus defenders—is concerning. But with at least $25 million to spend this offseason, Jackson should be able to piece together a roster that can cover their flaws. At No. 2 overall, it'd be crazy to neglect the 19-year-old's offensive game.

No. 1

Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Percent Chance: 19.9 percent

Projection: Karl-Anthony Towns

"With the first pick in the 2015 NBA draft, the New York Knicks select..."

It's a sentence that every fan in the Big Apple is dreaming of, and if the ping pong balls fall correctly, it just might come true. If it does, there shouldn't be much question as to how Adam Silver finishes that sentence. 

Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Kentucky product didn't dominate the way Okafor did in the box scores, primarily because he wasn't given the chance to. On John Calipari's stacked Wildcat rosters, Towns averaged just 21.1 minutes per game, posting 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks nightly—which equate to 19.5 points, 12.7 boards and 4.3 blocks per 40 minutes.

Towns doesn't have the advanced post game that Okafor does, but his arsenal has a much broader foundation, including a jumper that extends to the three-point line.

Defensively, it's no contest. Towns' athletic frame enables him to check several different positions and, more importantly, alter shots at the rim. He was rarely Kentucky's primary rim protector, with Willie Cauley-Stein typically at center, so it may be overwhelming to ask that of him as a rookie. But Towns' defensive ceiling is undeniable. 

With so many facets to his game, you get the feeling that Towns is just scratching the surface of his potential. The 19-year-old is good enough to be the first overall pick, and if that's where the Knicks land, they'll end up with a franchise-altering piece.