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Knicks: Mock draft of former NYK players in the NBA playoffs

By Jeffrey Bellone

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 03: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers adjusts his headband during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on December 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 03: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers adjusts his headband during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on December 03, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 01: J.R. Smith #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half of an NBA basketball game at The Arena in the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 1, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) /

Mock of former Knicks in NBA Playoffs: The Maybes

These players aren’t all necessarily better than the previous names listed, but if conducting a mock draft where none of the options are very appealing, each of these former Knicks offers a potential role in a limited capacity that could make some sense.

12) JR Smith

JR… JR… JR… We will find out during these playoffs how much value he can still provide to a contending team. Having gone 612 days between playing in an NBA game, JR Smith returned to the court with the Lakers in Orlando. He hasn’t looked good, but cobwebs are expected. I will leave him in the middle of the pack until we see more. This is the obvious high-risk/high-reward mock pick.

11) Jamal Crawford

The ageless one. Obviously, adding Jamal Crawford to your roster at this point of his career would be for a very specific reason. But if he wants to sit on the bench, provide leadership and stun the basketball world with a few more high scoring nights, sign me up.

10) Noah Vonleh

Noah Vonleh’s best year as a professional came when he was with the Knicks in 2018-19. He scored, rebounded, looked adept at passing the basketball, and played stellar defense. Unfortunately for him, he hasn’t found the same success anywhere else. Playing between Minnesota and Denver this season, he has struggled to find a rhythm while battling with injuries. However, my eyes still remember seeing the little things he can do to help a team win. He’s still only 24-years-old, so in a mock draft, I would take a flyer on him in the right spot.

9) Trey Burke

Trey Burke is never going to turn into an NBA starter at this point of his career. But the diminutive guard is still a decent player off the bench. After landing in the G-League with the Knicks, he never stopped working and has become a nice comeback story.

Say what you want about his limitations on defense, with improve accuracy from deep this season, especially in the bubble, he offers some value at a low cost. Playing in both Philadelphia and Dallas, both teams saw positive differences in their offensive efficiency with Burke on the floor this season: +7.7 and +7.6 points/possession, respectively.

I feel like Burke at 9 is too high, but then I remember the list of players behind him.

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