NBA Mock Draft leading up to the Knicks selecting 8th overall

A mock draft based on the lottery results with the New York Knicks falling to 8th.

The NBA conducted their annual lottery on Thursday, and while some things change – the lottery was conducted virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic – other things remain the same: the New York Knicks finished with a lower pick than the standings suggested they should.

As New York fell from 6th to 8th, the big winner of the lottery was the Minnesota Timberwolves, who won the prize for the first overall pick. In fact, if you think the Knicks have had bad lottery luck, last night was the first time the Wolves have jumped in 23 tries.

After learning where the Knicks will pick, the obvious next question is who are the best players who could be available with the 8th pick, given the Knicks don’t trade it to move up or down, or for a veteran player.

But before considering who might still be around as late as eighth, it’s important to understand the teams picking ahead of the Knicks: what are their roster needs, which prospects are too good to pass up on early in the draft?

In our first post-lottery mock draft, we will count down to the Knicks pick at eight to give you an idea of the prospects being considered in the lead up to New York’s pick.

Remember, the Knicks also have the 27th overall pick from the Clippers, as well as the 38th pick in the second round from Charlotte. They have two future first round picks owed from Dallas. If team president Leon Rose wants to move up, he has the assets in both draft capital and young players already on his roster. For purposes of this article, we will focus on the team’s lottery pick, and the players who could be selected ahead of them in case there is an intriguing prospect worth trading up to get.