NY Knicks: 3 reasons why the team should trade for T.J. Warren
By Max Hoover
Reason #3: A T.J. Warren deal could allow the NY Knicks to trade up in the draft
In his most recent mock draft, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has the Pacers currently selecting PG Davion Mitchell out of Baylor with their 13th pick.
He also has players like Kai Jones, Josh Giddey, and Keon Johnson going around that range as well.
Another name to note would be Chris Duarte who conducted an individual workout with the Knicks on June 23rd.
Wasserman mocks him at 14th to the Warriors who have been rumored to have an interest in the wing from Oregon.
There’s also always the possibility that a player the Knicks really like that’s currently projected to go earlier in the lottery–someone like Moses Moody or Corey Kispert for example–drop on draft night and the Knicks are able to scoop him up.
The main point here is that there has been no shortage of smoke around the idea that the Knicks would love to package some of their picks to move up in the draft.
It’s hard to imagine Tom Thibodeau marching out a rotation that features 3-4 rookies playing heavy minutes. However, landing one key rookie in the late lottery who could contribute immediately feels aligned with what this franchise wants to do.
In that way, the Pacers are ideal trade partners.
In my framework from the first page, the Knicks are essentially trading picks 19 and 32 to move up to 13 and trading Kevin Knox and pick 21 to take a one-year flyer on Warren.