New York Knicks Offseason Guide: Cap Space, Draft Preview

Knicks Offseason: Draft Preview

We are living in strange times with the Knicks set to make three, count ’em, three selections in the first 38 picks of the 2020 NBA Draft.

You can watch the draft unfold on ESPN on November 18, starting at 7:00 PM EST.

New York will rely on their new scouting department led by Walt Perrin to find some diamonds in the rough. Perrin was part of the Utah Jazz front office that was aggressive in selecting Donovan Mitchell during the 2017 Draft, and he helped identify a three-time All NBA player in Rudy Gobert with the 27th pick of the 2013 Draft.

The Knicks hope that number 27 is lucky, as they will pick 27th this year, in a first round selection secured from the Clippers in the Marcus Morris trade.

But first, they must make a decision on what to do with their lottery pick (8th overall). Reading all of the rumors and reports circulating over the past several days, it seems the team is reluctant to move up at a high cost, considering none of the top prospects this year are considered sure-thing franchise players. It seems more likely they will trade back.

Several reporters who follow the team believe the Knicks are leaning toward selecting one of the wing players who could fall to them at 8th – either Auburn’s Isaac Okoro, Florida State’s Devin Vassell, or if he somehow drops far enough, Dayton’s Obi Toppin. Speedy point guard Kira Lewis Jr. has also been linked to New York.

Once the Knicks get out of the first round, they will pick again, 38th overall, with a selection they secured from the Charlotte Hornets in the Willy Hernangomez trade (ironically, the Knicks traded their own second round pick this year to Philadelphia in 2015 to acquire the pick they used to draft Hernangomez).

The Knicks have over $5 million in cash available to them to purchase an extra second round pick. There are plenty of teams motivated to switch positions in the draft. Buckle up for a crazy night.