2016 NBA Draft: Prospects New York Knicks Have Met With

The New York Knicks have scheduled meetings with a number of prospects who have entered the 2016 NBA Draft. Find out who!

Ian Begley of ESPN New York opened up a new world of possibilities when he reported the New York Knicks’ interest in acquiring a second-round selection in the 2016 NBA Draft. It was a massive development from a team that currently has no draft picks.

New York all but confirmed that interest by sending interim head coach Kurt Rambis, general manager Steve Mills, and a number of other front office members to scout the 2016 NBA Draft Combine.

It didn’t take much time before it was revealed whom New York is targeting in the early-goings of the NBA Draft process.

It must be stated that the Knicks merely interviewing a prospect isn’t a guarantee of genuine interest. It’s merely a preliminary meeting to gauge how said player would or wouldn’t fit Phil Jackson‘s vision for the team.

Moreover, it’s an exploratory attempt at determining whether or not they’re the type of person and talent that’d be worth trading into the 2016 NBA Draft for.

New York needing to trade into the draft suggests only those whom the organization truly covets will be considered. Some combination of future draft picks—what you hear is the echo of Knicks fans screaming, “NO!” in unison—Kyle O’Quinn, and Jose Calderon‘s expiring contract would need to be dealt, and all could be valuable in the long-term.

The question is, who are the Knicks meeting with?

Next: High School Phenom

Cheick Diallo, Kansas Jayhawks

Position: Power Forward
Age: 19 (9/13/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’9″, 219 pounds, 7’4.5″
Slash Line: .569/.000/.556
Season Averages: 7.5 MPG, 3.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.6 ORPG, 0.9 BPG

There aren’t many players more physically impressive in the 2016 NBA Draft than Cheick Diallo. Standing at 6’9″ with a near 7’5″ wingspan, Diallo is an excellent athlete who runs the floor well, plays above the rim, and blocks shots with relative ease.

According to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv, Diallo met with the New York Knicks on Friday, May 13.

Diallo is one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft class.

Coming out of high school, Diallo was regarded as one of the Top 10 prospects in the 2016 NBA Draft. Ineligibility issues kept him sidelined, however, and once he returned, it seemed as though the damage had already been done.

While his season averages may underwhelm, it’s worth noting that they translate to per 40 minutes marks of 16.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks.

Even in his limited action, Diallo excelled as a rebounder and shot-blocker whose athleticism permitted him to disrupt the pick-and-roll. With Kristaps Porzingis projected as a long-term center, acquiring Diallo as a project would be a wise move.

There’s no guaranteeing he’ll work out, but if New York has to trade into the 2016 NBA Draft, it might as well swing for the fences.

Next: Triangle Point Guard

Yogi Ferrell, Indiana Hoosiers

Position: Point Guard
Age: 23 (5/9/1993)
Height & Weight: 6’0″ & 178 pounds
Slash Line: .458/.420/.829
Season Averages: 34.7 MPG, 17.3 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 2.3 3PM

In a disappointing twist of fate, Yogi Ferrell wasn’t one of the participants at the 2016 NBA Draft Combine. Despite carving out a memorable collegiate career, Ferrell was omitted and overlooked by the masses.

The New York Knicks aren’t going to make that same mistake, per Jeff Goodman of ESPN.

Ferrell certainly fits the bill of a Triangle Offense point guard.

Ferrell is an outstanding 3-point shooter who converted better than 40 percent of his attempts in three consecutive seasons. The former Indiana Hoosiers star averaged 2.3 or more 3-point field goals in every one of those seasons, thus providing a very healthy sample size.

Ferrell’s defensive potential is limited by his short stature, but he’s an outstanding shooter who can thrive both on and off-ball—valuable versatility.

In both the modern era and, more applicably, the Triangle Offense, a point guard must be able to convert from beyond the arc. New York also needs to add facilitators, and Ferrell dished out 5.6 assists to just 2.5 turnovers in 2015-16.

Ferrell could be a sneakily smart acquisition in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft.

Next: Sharpshooting Senior

Michael Gbinije, Syracuse Orange

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 23 (6/5/1992)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6.75″, 205 pounds, 6’7.5″
Slash Line: .461/.391/.663
Season Averages: 37.9 MPG, 17.5 PPG, 4.3 APG, 4.1 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 2.5 3PM

Michael Gbinije was one of the standout performers at the 2016 NBA Draft Combine. He measured well, put on a show during the drills, and earned himself interviews with a number of teams.

That includes the New York Knicks, per Chris Herring of The Wall Street Journal.

Gbinije certainly fits a need for the Knicks.

Gbinije is a fluid athlete who registered a solid 33.5-inch standing vertical and a strong 37.5-inch max vertical leap. He ran the fasted three-quarter sprint of any prospect at the 2016 NBA Draft Combine in just 3.12 seconds.

In other words, Gbinije ran from the baseline to the opposite free throw line in just 3.12 seconds—.02 seconds faster than John Wall did it in 2010.

Gbinije, who shot better than 39 percent from 3-point range in each of the past two seasons, will make his name as a 3-and-D player—something New York needs. He’s athletic enough to defend NBA shooting guards, and is one of the best 3-point shooters in this draft class.

If New York can land him in the mid-to-late second round, Gbinije would be a steal.

Next: NCAA Champion

Josh Hart, Villanova Wildcats

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 21 (3/5/1995)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’5.5″, 204 pounds, 6’8.5″
Slash Line: .513/.357/.752
Season Averages: 31.4 MPG, 15.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.4 3PM

The working theory across the NCAA is that, had he played in a different system, Josh Hart would’ve been one of the most statistically prolific players in the country. For those unfamiliar, Hart is a skilled shooting guard with a unique inside-out game.

Per Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv, the Villanova Wildcats star met with the Knicks at the 2016 NBA Draft Combine.

Hart was listed on Daily Knicks’ list of ideal targets in the second round.

Hart measured very well at just under 6’6″ with a near 6’9″ wingspan and a strong 204-pound build. More importantly, he eradicated all preconceived notions about his lacking ideal athleticism during the drills portion of the 2016 NBA Draft Combine.

Hart’s 38.5-inch max vertical leap placed him in a tie for No. 9 amongst all prospects in the current draft class.

Hart’s style of play is interesting, as he played an interior-oriented game in 2015-16. He’s a very dangerous shooter who can space the floor with NBA 3-point range, but in 2015-16, based his game on playing with his back to the basket and creating from the elbow.

It was a very interesting role for Hart that showed one thing, above all else: whatever the team needs, he’s willing to do it.

Next: Hybrid Forward

Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin Badgers

Position: Power Forward
Age: 21 (12/16/1994)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’7.25″, 245 pounds, 7’3″
Slash Line: .368/.293/.736
Season Averages: 36.2 MPG, 15.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.0 ORPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 3PM

Between the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, Nigel Hayes firmly established that he’s much better in a complementary role than as a featured player. Fortunately for the New York Knicks, Hayes is a second-round prospect.

According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the Knicks will get a close view of what Hayes has to offer.

If nothing else, Hayes is remarkably versatile.

Hayes was dreadfully inefficient as a No. 1 option, but excelled when playing with Sam Dekker and Frank Kaminsky in 2014-15. He posted nearly identical season averages on a slash line of .497/.396/.744.

Thus, there’s reason to believe he could be a valuable role player if not tasked with being the go-to scorer.

Hayes is a very good passer who can operate from the high post and help orchestrate an offense. He’s a 6’7″ power forward, however, which is still undersized in the modern era.

Hayes is considering entering the NBA at the right time, but he needs to find his niche.

Next: The Next J.R.?

Wayne Selden Jr., Kansas Jayhawks

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 21 (9/30/1994)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’5.75″, 232 pounds, 6’10.5″
Slash Line: .474/.392/.612
Season Averages: 29.8 MPG, 13.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.9 3PM

Throughout the duration of the 2015-16 season, I referred to Wayne Selden Jr. as the next J.R. Smith. He’s an explosive athlete and lethal shooter who can take over when he gets hot, but has a troubling tendency to go cold for enduring stretches.

According to Chris Herring of The Wall Street Journal, Selden received an early chance to audition for the team Smith once played for: the New York Knicks.

Selden would be an intriguing of a second-round pickup.

Smith’s name may scare some fans away, but try not to forget that he won the 2013 Sixth Man of the Year award and helped New York win 54 games. It’s hard to project the same impact from any prospect, but Selden has the raw tools.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

When Selden goes off, he goes off.

Selden’s erratic nature makes him tough to project as an NBA prospect. The right system can shine a light on his borderline elite shooting stroke and remarkable finishing ability around the rim, but there’s always a lingering possibility that he’ll enter hero-ball mode.

If nothing else, Selden proved during his junior season that he has the talent to play in the NBA. That immense upside is worth exploring.

Next: Local Standout

Isaiah Whitehead, Seton Hall Pirates

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 21 (3/8/1995)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4.5″, 210 pounds, 6’8.75″
Slash Line: .379/.365/.760
Season Averages: 32.3 MPG, 18.2 PPG, 5.1 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 2.4 3PM

Seton Hall Pirates star Isaiah Whitehead was one of the more surprising entrants into the 2016 NBA Draft. He was splendid statistically, but was overwhelmingly inefficient and didn’t measure ideally for a professional 2-guard.

According to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv, Whitehead met face-to-face with assistant general manager Allan Houston.

"“I mean I walked into the Knicks meeting and I shook Allan Houston‘s hand,” Whitehead said of one of his interviews. “That’s a blessing right there. He’s a great player and I was shell-shocked. I was kind of starstruck to really be in front of him and him ask me questions about me. That really was a blessing.”"

Whitehead is an interesting option, and Houston fronting the interview could be a telling sign of New York’s intentions.

Houston isn’t just the assistant general manager for the New York Knicks; he’s also the general manager of the Westchester Knicks. Westchester, of course, is New York’s NBA D-League affiliate.

There’s a strong possibility that New York was meeting with Whitehead to determine if he’d be willing to spend time in the D-League before being brought up to the main roster.

Whitehead, a Brooklyn native, did himself plenty of favors at the Combine. His wingspan was previously reported at 6’5.5″, but it measured at a 6’8.75″ in Chicago—a significant difference that dramatically aids his draft stock.

He’s not the most explosive athlete, but with a quality physical build and a remarkably well-rounded skill set, Whitehead is on the radar.

More knicks: Which Round 2 prospects should the Knicks be targeting?

Based on his meeting with Houston, Whitehead could be a desired project for both the Westchester and New York Knicks.