The NY Knicks are coming into the draft with D'Angelo Russell, Justise Winslow, Trey Lyles and Frank Kaminsky as potential targets, as they could trade down depending on how the top three plays out and this comes as the Knicks may target players like Goran Dragic, Greg Monroe, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rajon Rondo as free agents this summer.
The Knicks have the fourth pick in the draft after getting jumped in the lottery by the Lakers and now they have to wait and see how the top three plays out. Reports have Karl-Anthony Towns as the pick for the Timberwolves, which leaves the Lakers and Sixers to go after the top players left on the board. The Knicks would love the chance to draft Jahlil Okafor, but that is looking unlikely and they may also miss out on D'Angelo Russell.
Most mock drafts coming into the draft have the Knicks taking Justise Winslow with the fourth pick, but he likely will be gone if the team trades out of that spot. Winslow has worked out for the team and early on he was identified as a top target past players like Okafor and Towns. The Knicks wanted Towns or Okafor coming into the lottery and they had hoped for a top three pick after finishing second worst in the league, but things did not work out as planned.
Chad Ford at ESPN writes that Phil Jackson may trade out of the fourth pick if those players are off the board, as the team has names they like in the mid first round. According to Pro Basketball Talk, players like Cameron Payne, Trey Lyles, Kaminsky and Willie Cauley-Stein could be options. The Knicks have needs all over the place and they have worked out guards as well as big men. The team has looked at Winslow extensively and reports have them considering Payne if they trade down.
Russell and Kristaps Porzingis could be options depending on how the draft goes and the team likely would be thrilled to get Russell. Porzingis has been called the best player in the draft by some scouts, but with all the Knicks have riding on this pick, there is a chance they will not risk taking a player that is coming over from Europe. Winslow is going to be the likely pick if the team stays at four and Russell is off the board with Okafor.
The Knicks plan on being active in free agency and according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Greg Monroe is one of the most likely players to sign in NY. Isola writes that Monroe to New York is as "close to done" as can be at this point and that would play into the chatter of what was being reported at the end of the season. Monroe is looking for max money and the Knicks could be the team willing to give it to him after he had a career season for the Pistons. The Knicks had the second worst record in the league and they likely will be adding multiple free agents and they also could chase Rajon Rondo and Goran Dragic.
