All Eyes on Phil: What's Next after Disappointing Lottery

After weeks of guess-work and speculation, we finally have our first glimpse of what the new season will hold for the New York Knicks. And it is not what Phil Jackson, Derek Fisher or Knicks’ fans wanted to see.

After finishing the season with a 17-65 record, the worst season in franchise history and tied for the 33rd worst season in NBA history, Knick fans were truly hoping that a top-two pick in the NBA draft would be their consolation prize for such an awful year. We were once again disappointed.

Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The Knicks fell to the fourth overall pick, making it very unlikely that they get a chance to draft Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor. So now it is decision-making time.

What will Jackson do with his first critical decision of this make-or-break offseason?

This team certainly needs better guard play, and D’Angelo Russell might be available at the four slot. The former Buckeye averaged 19 points, 6 boards, 5 assists and 2 steals while shooting 45% from the field in his only season under Thad Matta at Ohio St.

Russell may have the mindset needed to thrive in the Big Apple too. According to him, he’s the best player in the draft. If he is right, and slips past the Sixers, then the basketball gods really smiled upon the Knickerbockers.

ESPN NBA Analyst Brad Daugherty mentioned Willie Cauley-Stein as a possible pick at the four spot, but I would be surprised if they took him that high. He does fit the bill for a lot of the Knicks’ needs, who had zero rim protection and could not guard the pick and roll to save their lives.

Once he gains some strength, Cauley-Stein could develop into a Tyson Chandler type player in the NBA.

The Knicks have enough holes to fill, that they have options at number four. Either Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay will be available, and New York desperately needs a point. Stanley Johnson and Justise Winslow will both be available as well, and either would instantly become the team’s best perimeter defender. Or they could take the best big man available, most likely Cauley-Stein and try to pair him with another big in free agency.

Unless, of course, Jackson is so pissed that he missed out on the big man that he coveted that he pulls a Cartman and says, “Screw the draft, I’m going home.” He wasn’t in attendance on Tuesday night, and he missed the Combine too. Maybe he really wasn’t kidding when he said he didn’t plan to build through the draft.

Maybe it’s for the best. The Knicks suck at drafting. Since 2001, David Lee is the only player drafted by New York to make an All-Star Game. They used five lottery picks over that span on the likes of Mike Sweetney, Danilo Gallinari, Channing Frye, Jordan Hill and Nene Hilario. None were with the team for more than three seasons.

Sweetney averaged 7 points and 5 boards in his two seasons with New York. He only lasted four total seasons in the NBA. Gallinari has turned out to be a pretty good NBA player, although he has had a few health issues. He averaged 14 points per game in his three seasons as a Knick before being shipped off to Denver as part of the mega-deal that brought Carmelo Anthony to New York.

Frye has made his living as a stretch four, shooting 39% from beyond the arc for his career. He has played for four teams over nine seasons, and only played in New York for two. Hill only played 24 games for the Knicks, Nene played zero.

All Eyes on Phil: After a Disappointing Lottery, Knicks Must Improvise

By Tyler Hankins | May 21, 2015