The New York Knicks will select 8th in the 2020 NBA Draft.
The New York Knicks, who haven’t won the NBA lottery since 1985, will have to wait at least one more year for luck to fall on their side, as it was revealed on Thursday that they will select 8th in the upcoming NBA Draft.
New York had a 9% chance of landing the top pick. With the sixth best odds heading into the lottery, they had a 20.6% chance of falling to 8th.
It’s unclear if general manager Scott Perry will still be with the organization by the time the draft comes on October 16. Perry is considered a top candidate for the open GM position in Sacramento after Vlade Divac stepped down last week. The New York Post speculated that recently-hired head of college scouting Walt Perrin could take over for Perry if he departs.
Perrin brings an impressive draft resume to New York as a former influential voice in the Utah Jazz’ front office in helping them identify and select hidden gems such as Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
The Knicks will also select late in the first round (27th overall) with the pick they acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in the Marcus Morris trade. Their own second round pick is due to Philadelphia from a draft day trade by Phil Jackson in 2015, but New York gains Charlotte’s second rounder (38th overall) from the Willy Hernangomez trade.
Now that we know where the Knicks will be picking, plenty of speculation will follow on whether team president Leon Rose plans on using the pick or trading it, either higher up to chase a player like LaMelo Ball, or back to secure extra assets, or perhaps he will use it in a larger package for a veteran star.
For now, let’s focus on who the Knicks could select assuming they keep their pick.
1) Knicks Draft Options: Tyrese Haliburton
If the Knicks are looking for a playmaker who can also shoot from the perimeter, perhaps Tyrese Haliburton is their best option, assuming he’s still available at eight.
The Iowa State product brings size – standing 6-foot-5 – high basketball IQ, playmaking ability out of the pick-and-roll, and an efficient three-point shot.
The Stepien projects him to be a top of the rotation, “elite glue guy” at the high end. At worse, they see him as a strong first guard off the bench. Obviously, when picking in the lottery, team scouts will be betting on their ability to draw out the best from the 20-year-old guard.
Haliburton averaged 15.2 points in 22 games during the shortened-college season. Most impressive, he increased his volume shooting from deep, after attempting 3.2 threes in his freshman season, he launched 5.6 per game this year, while maintaining his accuracy at 41.9%.
What is most exciting about Haliburton is his ability to defend in a system, something that should be very appealing to new Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. While he is not the greatest 1-on-1 defender, he plays with basketball smarts, rarely missing a rotation and executing on team schemes, which would be a welcome addition to the Knicks roster under the new coach.
The Knicks desperately need a lead guard who can shoot and play stellar defense next to RJ Barrett. Haliburton might be the best option.
2) Knicks Draft Options: Killian Hayes
While most draft prospects were building their skills against teenagers in college, Killian Hayes was playing professionally for Ulm of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) in Germany.
In ten games there, he looked the part, averaging 12.8 points per game on 45.5% shooting while adding 6.2 assists and 1.5 steals per contest.
Hayes is not known to be the most athletic guard in the draft, but he has nice polish on his overall game with an intriguing skillset that could translate well at the NBA level.
The 6-foot-5 guard is best creating off the dribble, both setting up his teammates and finding his own shot. He needs some work shooting off the catch, but showed improvement in that area last season.
There are wide-ranging opinions on where Hayes will be selected, from the top of the lottery until perhaps as late as where the Knicks will be picking. If he is around at eight, he could be a high value choice for New York.
3) Knicks Draft Options: Isaac Okoro
SEC standout Isaac Okoro is an intriguing wing option for the Knicks, despite their most obvious roster need at the guard position. Playing as a freshman for Auburn, Okoro showcased the size, athleticism, and strength that a modern forward is expected to have in the NBA.
With an unusual scouting season due to the coronavirus pandemic keeping teams from performing in-person evaluations, perhaps new hire Kenny Payne, who coached against Okopo at Kentucky, can provide some added insight into his potential.
Okoro is a “jack of all trades, master of none on offense” according to the scouting report by The Stepien. In his freshman season, he shot only 28.6% from downtown on 2.5 attempts per game. Drafting Okoro won’t solve the Knicks’ spacing problems.
However, he would give them a player who can play in transition, finish strong around the hoop, and do all of the little things that help his teammates thrive.
And most intriguing to recent hire Tom Thibodeau should be Okoro’s defensive ability. As much as the Knicks lack shooting, they also need to drastically improve the defensive presence on their roster.