2015 NBA Draft: New York Knicks' Biggest Needs
Every rebuilding effort must start somewhere, and the New York Knicks will start with the 2015 NBA draft.
Phil Jackson and Co. are pretty much finished with the "tearing down" phase of the rebuilding process, and now it's time to assemble the team's core around Carmelo Anthony. Only four players have guaranteed contracts entering 2015-16, so the draft will be a critical phase in reshaping the roster.
After perhaps the ugliest season in franchise history, Knicks fans were hoping to land the first or second pick in the lottery. Unfortunately, they were bumped to No. 4.
While they probably won't be able to snag a superstar prospect as they had hoped, the Knicks can still add a high-quality asset at that spot. And considering all the holes that need attention, there's a good chance they'll find someone who can address a key deficiency.
New York must not only bring in players who can operate the triangle offense alongside Melo, but also those who can fortify the club's defense for head coach Derek Fisher.
What specific areas are most pressing, and which prospects can address those needs?
3. Two-Way Small Forward
At this stage of his career, Anthony's strengths and weaknesses are less suited for the 3-spot. He's not as explosive or agile as he used to be, so Anthony fits better as a stretch forward who can post up, sprinkle in plenty of threes and guard opposing 4s in today's smaller, sleeker NBA. Melo's overall PER has been better at the 4 than at the 3, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
As such, the Knicks should hunt for a small forward or versatile wing who can collaborate with the superstar on both ends of the floor.
B/R's Dan Favale agrees that Melo's ideal habitat is the 4-slot and analyzed what kind of player New York needs at the 3: "Carmelo Anthony belongs at power forward. End of story. Drafting someone who can play the 3, assume the toughest wing assignments on defense and play off Anthony's ball-dominant scoring would be a boon for New York on both ends of the floor."
New York lacks a high-caliber wing defender, a critical staple in today's NBA. The Knicks surrendered far too many wide-open perimeter opportunities last year, with opponents shooting a league-best 38 percent from downtown against them. Fisher's crew also lacked someone who could boost the team's offensive efficiency without loads of touches.
With apologies to studs like Stanley Johnson and Mario Hezonja, Duke's Justise Winslow should be the Bockers' coveted prize to address these issues.
The 6'6" freshman has the highest upside of any small forward in this year's class. Winslow has the tools and talent to be a lockdown, multi-position defender and also shows the tangible potential to become an explosive inside-out offensive weapon. According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Knicks are "heavily considering" picking Winslow.
As B/R's Jonathan Wasserman mentioned in the video, one of Winslow's most attractive traits for the Knicks is his ability to impact the game without a ton of touches. Winslow's a safe pick because his energy and instincts will make him a valuable role player, but he's also a high-upside commodity who could grow into a Jimmy Butler-type star.
2. Point Guard
Although veteran Jose Calderon is signed through 2017, point guard is one of the Knicks' most pressing positional needs.
Calderon will turn 34 prior to next season, and is coming off a down season that was shortened by an Achilles injury. He's not nearly competent enough defensively or dynamic enough offensively to bring New York back to contention. The Knicks would love to get younger and upgrade their physical tools at the floor-general spot.
Whoever takes the reins must be able to initiate the offense, hit timely shots and attack off the bounce when things break down. He also needs to effectively check opposing playmakers. As previously mentioned, New York's perimeter defense has been deplorable in recent years.
D'Angelo Russell is widely projected to land before the Knicks pick but would be a phenomenal acquisition if he fell to No. 4. Russell would help streamline the triangle with his passing precision and would supply long-range shooting as a creator and spot-up threat.
If he's not available, the Knicks should strongly consider plucking Emmanuel Mudiay. The former SMU commit who opted for the Chinese League is a rangy, agile innovator who can attack the rim and deftly set up teammates. His speedy 6'5" frame would eventually boost the team's defense as well.
Still, Mudiay may not be the best fit for the triangle because he's a slasher and pick-and-roll type of guard. However, he has size and vision, which will both translate to the league and to New York's offense.
Another option to fill the point guard spot is Murray State's Cameron Payne. League sources told ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley that the Knicks will work out Payne and that they're seriously considering trading down to draft him. Payne isn't an explosive, star-level prospect but has superb playmaking instincts.
1. Center
The Knicks may not actually draft a center, especially if they're drawn to the upside of a guard or wing, but it's absolutely their biggest need. They would love to land an offensive anchor and defensive stalwart to the team's frontcourt.
New York's lack of a dependable 5-man was glaring last season. Outside of Samuel Dalembert's small sample of rim protection, the team had no one who could stymie opposing bigs and control the paint. After Dalembert, the two players with highest blocks-per-possession rates were Cole Aldrich and Lou Amundson. That's not an ideal security team.
Fisher's squad also didn't see much offensive production out of the 5-spot. And we're not just talking about post-ups; we're talking about the failure to consistently finish lobs, dump-offs or putbacks.
The club needs a big who can work in the flow of the triangle, solidify the team's defensive efforts and bring back some of the enforcer swagger that Tyson Chandler had.
Throughout the year, Duke center Jahlil Okafor was a coveted option among Knicks fans. He certainly would give the offense a colossal upgrade, but now that the Knicks are at No. 4, he won't likely be on the board. And there's no chance that two-way stud Karl-Anthony Towns, who would be an even better fit, will fall to them.
Even though the hope of landing a superstar may be all but crushed, New York's consolation prize may be an elite defensive weapon. Willie Cauley-Stein is no Towns but may actually be a better asset than Okafor.
Why? Cauley-Stein will deliver the defensive ranginess and versatility of which Okafor can only dream. He sits atop the SEC in career defensive rating at 87.0, according to Sports-Reference.com, due to his physical tools, sharp instincts and motor. The comparisons to Tyson Chandler are apt, and as a bonus, it looks like Cauley-Stein's modest offensive ceiling could be higher than Chandler's, according to DraftExpress' video profile.
The dark-horse option at center is Latvian stretch big Kristaps Porzingis, a 7'1" teenager who shows shot-blocking potential along with his much-hyped shooting skills.
But Cauley-Stein is the Knicks' most likely draftee if they go the center route. While it's not a flashy choice, it's a pick that would provide them with a much-needed defensive cornerstone.
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