NBA Mock Draft: Who do the Knicks take at 8th and 27th?

8. New York Knicks, Isaac Okoro, F, Auburn

So you clicked this far. It is finally time to talk about whom the Knicks would select based on the draft board outlined on the previous slides.

If things go as predicted here, New York would be left with a lot of intriguing options with the eighth pick. There would be plenty of playmakers still available, most notably Killian Hayes. But also Kira Lewis Jr., who the Knicks appear to like.

If they decide against targeting a lead guard, they could select Auburn’s Isaac Okoro or Florida State’s Devin Vassell. Big man Onyeka Okongwu can’t be overlooked either, despite the Knicks already having Mitchell Robinson.

Of course, the Knicks could trade back at this point, realizing they could net the player they have ranked the highest later in the draft. But for purposes of this mock, we will assume they make the pick.

I think they select Okoro. He just makes a lot of sense for a Tom Thibodeau-led team. The relentless defender has the size (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) to mix with NBA forwards upon entering the league and the versatility to switch onto guards on defense. He’s a winning player who could help in defining a new identity for the Knicks under Rose/Thibs leadership.