2015 NBA Draft Combine Prospects the New York Knicks Must Watch Most
The 2015 NBA draft is shaping up to be one of the most important in the New York Knicks' history and not just because they actually have their own pick this year.
If the draft lottery goes their way, the Knicks will have a top-two pick. If not, there will still be plenty of talent left over to find a long-term building block. Early in their rebuild, finding an elite prospect will be a huge boost.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor—the two centers New York should be most interested in—will not be present at the NBA Draft Combine, but there is still plenty of talent to scope out ahead of the lottery.
The Knicks need to prepare for scenarios where they don't get the pick they want or end up trading down, and the best way to do that is to get an up-close look at the alternative prospects.
Let's go through the top five players New York should keep its eyes on at this year's combine.
D'Angelo Russell
1 of 5
The Knicks have been in need of a quality point guard for years, and while the triangle may not necessarily emphasize the position, drafting an elite prospect there would help to keep up with the rest of the league.
Along with Emmanuel Mudiay (who will not be participating in the combine), the Ohio State Buckeyes' D'Angelo Russell is one of the two premier point guards available in this year's draft.
Standing at 6'5", Russell is capable of playing both guard positions, and his build is particularly impressive. He's tall, fairly strong for a guard and has a sizable 6'9.75" wingspan. He isn't quite as fast or athletic as some of his elite NBA counterparts, but what he lacks in those areas, he more than makes up for in terms of skill.
Russell is not only an efficient shooter but also a team player and is more of a "pure" point guard than we're typically used to seeing at this stage in a player's career. He handles the ball well, makes smart decisions and ultimately improves the play of those around him.
The real concern with Russell is that a system like the triangle may limit his input on a team. This is a system that requires a solid shooter who can defend and effectively manage games, not someone who projects to be one of the team's leading forces.
If they do end up with Russell, the Knicks may end up having to adjust the triangle rather significantly. This isn't a bad thing by any means, but it is worth getting as much a look as possible at Russell before making such a major decision.
Justise Winslow
2 of 5
While there has been a lot of hype about who the Knicks could pick up at point guard or center, it's worth noting that they also should be in the market for two-way wing players to pair with Carmelo Anthony.
In fact, if you look at the ongoing NBA playoffs, you'll find that wings who can contribute effectively on offense without hurting their team defensively are a staple on most teams. You aren't going to get very far without at least a couple, and the Knicks have been a prime example of that for years.
Justise Winslow from the Duke Blue Devils could be the perfect fit for the Knicks at forward. He's energetic, incredibly athletic and, despite his age (19), already displays proficiency on the defensive end. On top of that, he has a diverse offensive game, being able to create his own shot and get to the rim with relative ease.
If the Knicks miss out on Towns, Okafor and Russell, Winslow would be an obvious choice, but they need to use the combine to see if it's worth investing more in him than simply having him as a Plan B. If they view him as an equal prospect, it could be useful to trade down a few spots, pick him up and end up with an additional future pick.
Willie Cauley-Stein
3 of 5
While Towns and Okafor remain the two major center prospects, Willie Cauley-Stein could be an alternative a few spots further down.
At 7'0", Cauley-Stein has the frame of your typical defensive-minded center and has the game to match. He moves fast around the rim, while his athleticism and reach make him an effective shot-blocker. Playing alongside Towns with the Kentucky Wildcats, however, has made it difficult to get a real view of how he could perform as a team's defensive centerpiece, and that's what New York should have in the back of its mind at the combine.
Where Cauley-Stein lacks compared to Towns and Okafor is the offensive end, which is what is ultimately holding him back from being considered on the same tier. However, if the Knicks grow confident in his defensive ability, he could be a safe choice if they end up with a lower pick or trade down in order to acquire additional assets.
Cauley-Stein himself may not be better than Towns or Okafor, but if you were to throw a future pick or another major piece into the scenario, that could be more valuable to the Knicks. The combine will give the Knicks an opportunity to see if they'd be comfortable making such a move.
Stanley Johnson
4 of 5
Like Winslow, the Arizona Wildcats' Stanley Johnson is another forward who could fill a two-way role for the Knicks.
At nearly 19, Johnson is more raw than Winslow, but his physical stature and upside make him an equally intriguing prospect. Johnson stands at 6'8" and 243 pounds and could grow into the type of player physically capable of defending both forward positions, which would work wonders for a potential partnership with Anthony.
Johnson is far from a finished product on the offensive end, but he can spread the floor and is particularly effective in transition due to his speed and athleticism.
Due to his physique and aggressive play, Johnson caused serious trouble for opponents in college, forcing turnovers and keeping matchups under lock and key. The real question is if he can keep this up at the NBA level against bigger, older and more talented opposition.
Kelly Oubre Jr.
5 of 5
In all likelihood, entertaining the idea of selecting a player like Kelly Oubre Jr.—generally expected to go late in the lottery—is pushing the Plan B idea a little far, but again, he could be an option in a trade scenario.
Oubre is yet another two-way forward with an impressive 7'2'' wingspan, and while it'd be difficult to project an absolute star here, there is potential for a quality defensive player who can hold his own on offense.
Both on the boards and as a one-on-one defender, Oubre has been impressive with the Kansas Jayhawks, although he isn't nearly as physically intriguing as the likes of Winslow and Johnson. The combine will give the Knicks a closer look at his weaknesses and whether it can be realistically expected for him to bulk up at the NBA level.
Oubre rightfully isn't a name that has been mentioned regarding the Knicks, but with the combine here, it would be a waste not to look deeper into him (and others like him). The Knicks could find an underrated prospect here, which would further help to make them comfortable with entertaining the idea of a trade.
