NBA Mock Drafts have started months in advance of the event. Who are the New York Knicks projected to take?
The New York Knicks, with Saturday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets, sit 8-19 in the 2018-19 season. It places them among the bottom five teams in the NBA, with the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks grouped in.
With the bad record comes a potential high spot in the 2019 NBA Draft. There’s still the lottery to sort through in May, 2019, but the projections start as early as opening night.
Well, nearly two months into the season, the draft order is already shaping up. That means mock draft have started, predicting collegiate or international players to the 30 first-round slots.
As of Dec. 9, who does everyone have the Knicks selecting in the 2019 NBA Draft? Note that some of these picks were with New York in different parts of the draft order, pending what their record was:
Romeo Langford, Indiana (CBS Sports)
CBS Sports projected Romeo Langford of Indiana to the Knicks at No. 5 overall. At 6-foot-6, he offers a versatile scoring option in the backcourt, finding ways to attack the rim. His 23.7 three-point shooting percentage is a concern, however, on 3.8 attempts per game. Still, Langford to projects to be a lottery pick in June.
Kevin Porter Jr., USC (Bleacher Report and NBADraft.net)
Bleacher Report has the Knicks selecting Kevin Porter Jr. The USC guard broke onto the scene in November, rising up draft boards to become a projected lottery pick.
Porter already creates his own shot and hits baskets at a high percentage, so he should intrigue teams high in the draft, including New York. Although Allonzo Trier and Tim Hardaway Jr. are already in the backcourt, it can’t hurt to have another scorer supplementing them.
NBADraft.net also has Porter to the Knicks, but at No. 6, before this recent losing streak. Duke’s trio, Rui Hachimura and Bol Bol are all ahead of him.
RJ Barrett, Duke (Sporting News)
This mock released on Nov. 25, when the Knicks had the second-worst record in the NBA.
RJ Barrett is one of the few players in this class with star potential. He’s a ball-dominant stud who’s finding ways to contribute in all areas, with 24.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
Barrett to the Knicks will, of course, depend on where they fall in the lottery. A top two spot is needed to pull this off.
Cameron Reddish, Duke (ESPN)
ESPN’s mock draft (subscripted required) has another Duke freshman to the Knicks, Cameron Reddish. Perceived as the third star to Barrett and Zion Williamson, he has 14.5 points on 36.5 percent from behind the arc, but on just 39.2 percent shooting overall.
Still, at 6-foot-8, Reddish offers intriguing versatility as a two-way player in the NBA. He would make an impact in New York, with the ability to play in uniquely long lineups of Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina.
There are still five months before the 2019 NBA Draft arrives. Who will the New York Knicks be in position to take?