New York Knicks: Recent NBA Draft successes, busts in the second round

The New York Knicks have found success in the second round over the past decade, but had players never materialize as NBA talents.

The first round of the NBA Draft receives the spotlight, and for good reason. It produces most of the League’s players, delivers generational talents and has the most value towards trades, as the New York Knicks have tinkered with.

However, there are another 30 picks, with the second round of the draft that sometimes creates long-term NBA players. Manu Ginobili and Isaiah Thomas are a handful of this round’s popular picks of the past two decades.

The Knicks have fared well in spurts in the second round, much like other teams. Some picks have not materialized, though, so let’s look at a quick recent history of their work in the unheralded part of the selection process.

First, the highs:

• Mitchell Robinson, Pick 36 (2018): The lone draft pick acquired in the Carmelo Anthony trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Robinson’s rookie year already pegged him as one of the best second-rounders in Knicks history. As an athletic shot-blocking machine, the future is bright for Robinson.

• Damyean Dotson, Pick 44 (2017): Dotson was Phil Jackson‘s last pick as president of basketball operations, but he has stuck for two seasons. As a solid “3-and-D” player, Dotson carved out a reserve and part-time starter role and should have a long-term future.
• Landry Fields, Pick 39 (2010): Fields survived the Amar’e Stoudemire trade and was a co-star in “Linsanity,” playing like a steal as a glue guy for a talented lineup. Once a lucrative offer sheet arrived from the Toronto Raptors, the Stanford star bolted, failed to replicate his success and dropped out of the NBA quickly.

Then, the lows:

• Cleanthony Early, Pick 34 (2014): Without a first-round pick, the Knicks acquired a high second-rounder. This became Early, who struggled to find the floor due to woeful shooting. He was last heard ripping the Greek basketball team he signed with in 2017.
• Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Pick 51 (2014): Not every Antetokounmpo is destined for NBA fame. The Knicks selected Giannis’ brother, Thansis, with the 51st pick. He played two games and was never heard from again.
• Andy Rautins, Pick 38 (2010): An effective shooter at Syracuse, Rautins was part of the back-to-back picks New York owned in the second round of the 2010 draft. Unfortunately for Rautins, he played just five games, all of which came in the 2010-11 season, and never returned for another NBA regular season game.

Recent second-round history for the New York Knicks has produced varying results. How will it change with the 55th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft?