John Calipari: Phil Jackson is Interested in Trey Lyles

If you’re getting sick of the never-ending flow of reports about what the New York Knicks will do with the No. 4 overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft, I apologize. The reality is, not a single soul outside of the Knicks’ front office knows what the team will do on draft day.

The front office might not even know, either, at this point in draft season.

What is known is that Phil Jackson, Steve Mills and head coach Derek Fisher are doing their due diligence. The Knicks are working out and interviewing just about every player imaginable as they consider all potential options.

According to Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari, Jackson likes the idea of having Trey Lyles in the Triangle Offense, per Ian Begley of ESPN New York.

"“Phil came in and watched practice, watched shoot around and what I’m hearing is he walked away saying, ‘This is the kind of player [we like] in the triangle,’” Calipari said Thursday during a conference call. “He’s 6-10. We played him at a 3. I could’ve had him closer to the elbows, the basket and he could’ve scored more and done more but people who really know the game walked away saying the kid can shoot, he can pass, he’s really skilled, he’s got size. He’s physical enough to be able to come in and guard his position right now. So I think they really like him.”"

It’d be a reach at No. 4, but New York is reportedly interested in trading down.

If New York is able to land multiple assets and also draft Lyles, it’d have experienced a successful draft night. Lyles isn’t as big of a name as Kentucky teammates Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns, but he has an intriguingly high ceiling.

During the latter half of the 2014-15 college basketball season, Lyles often provided the most consistent offensive impact on the Wildcats’ star-studded roster.

The 19-year-old measured well at the 2015 NBA Draft Combine, checking in at 6’10.25″ and 241 pounds with a 7’1.5″ wingspan. His body fat percentage was surprisingly high, but Lyles is as impressive physically as any power forward in this draft class.

That includes his underrated ability to finish above the rim.

As far as the Triangle Offense is concerned, Lyles has a solid mid-range jump shot, is a good passer and can score with his back to the basket.

If you’re surprised by the news of New York’s interest, don’t be; this isn’t the first time Lyles, generally viewed as a late lottery or mid-first round prospect, has been linked to the Knicks.

Frank Isola of The New York Daily News reported in late May that the Knicks were, “Enamored,” with Lyles. The news was met with mixed reviews, to say the least, as fans questioned where this interest stemmed from.

With Jackson having spent so much time around Lexington, potentially acquiring Lyles may not be as shocking as it appears to be.

Next: The New York Knicks prefer to trade down from No. 4 overall

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