New York Knicks Draft Rumors: Justise Winslow, Trey Lyles, Emmanuel Mudiay, Kristaps Porzingis Targets Over Trade For Phil Jackson?

Jun 09, 2015 04:55 PM EDT
Justise Winslow #12 of the Duke Blue Devils celebrates with Quinn Cook
Justise Winslow #12 of the Duke Blue Devils celebrates with Quinn Cook #2 after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63."

The New York Knicks have a top four pick in the NBA draft this year and they have cast a wide net of targets, as players like Justise Winslow, Trey Lyles, Willie Cauley-Stein, Kristaps Porzingis, Emmanuel Mudiay, Frank Kaminsky and D'Angelo Russell are potential options and this comes as Phil Jackson may consider trading the pick to move down in the first round.

The Knicks were disappointed after getting jumped in the lottery by the Lakers, but at number four they have the chance to get a top prospect. The team is fourth in line in the draft order behind the Timberwolves, Lakers and Sixers and in most mock drafts it's Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor going one-two. According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, the Knicks are looking hard at Justise Winslow out of Duke at number four and the team also sees Trey Lyles as a "good fit" for the triangle offense.

Pro Basketball Talk writes that if Lyles is a target for the Knicks, there is a chance that the team will look at moving down in the draft with a trade. Lyles is considered to be a mid-round pick and if Jackson really likes him, he likely could trade down, get some extra picks and still select Lyles in the first. Isola writes that Cauley-Stein and Towns have gotten attention at Kentucky over Lyles, but that Lyles could be the best option for the Knicks based on their offensive system.

The PBT Mock Draft has Winslow going number four to the Knicks and other experts like Chad Ford also predict that the Knicks will look at Winslow at four over making a trade. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Winslow is a main target for the Knicks and the team worked him out this week as they try and whittle down their list of prospects. The team is also reportedly interested in European prospect Kristaps Porzingis, who played in Spain last year. Porzingis comes in after averaging 10 points and five rebounds per game and he also is just 19 years old.

The Knicks are also expected to go after free agents this summer and players like Greg Monroe, Marc Gasol, Goran Dragic, Reggie Jackson, Rajon Rondo and LaMarcus Aldridge could be options. Jackson is going to have between $20 million and $25 million to work with in projected cap space and that could mean two or three key signings for Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks may look at some mid-level players along with someone like Monroe or Aldridge, as they also have a major need in the front court.

The Knicks have a major gap at point guard and depending on how the draft goes, the team could look at free agency to help at that position. If Lyles or Willie Cauley-Stein is the pick for the Knicks over Russell or Mudiay, the team could try and sign Rondo, Goran Dragic or Reggie Jackson to take over at point guard. Brandon Knight is also hitting the market and Sean Deveney of the Sporting News writes that the team could consider signing the younger tier of free agents over players like Rondo or Aldridge.

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