March Madness has arrived and the New York Knicks will surely be keeping a close eye on how some of the top prospects slated to enter the NBA Draft will perform under the bright lights.
The Knicks are currently teetering back and forth from being one of the very bottom teams in the league to being in the play-in tournament. With the NBA Draft being a lottery, it’s hard to tell where they’ll be selecting this offseason.
New York Knicks: March Madness NBA Draft Prospects
There are plenty of ways the Knicks could go in the 2022 NBA Draft. This is a team that’s far from drafting for “need” and is really here to draft whoever is at the top of their board.
It’s safe to say the Knicks will be in the lottery, but exactly where they’ll land remains a mystery. Not just because of the randomness that comes with the process, but because any late-season winning streak or losing streak could still drastically impact where they wind up.
The 2022 NCAA Tournament will feature a ton of the draft’s marquee names and a large chunk of the first round. Here are some of the players the Knicks may target.
March Madness NBA Draft Prospects — Keegan Murray
The safest assumption would be that the Knicks will be picking somewhere in the middle of the draft lottery — perhaps somewhere in the 6-10 range. That’s right around where Iowa forward Keegan Murray projects to go.
Wing players might not be the most pressing roster need for New York. RJ Barrett and Evan Fournier are holding down a ton of minutes and young wings Cam Reddish and Quentin Grimes are right behind them.
Murray is probably more of a 4 than a 3, which is yet another position occupied by multiple Knicks. And yet, they might find Murray’s skillset too tantalizing to pass up. Locking up a player like Murray into a rookie contract would certainly be a good insurance policy if some of the other Knicks players don’t last very long (or the front office decides to make some trades).
Murray’s versatile skillset and defense are attributes you won’t find on this current roster. He’s an incredibly aware player with instincts for the game that few prospects have. He’s the type of “connector” and “glue guy” that could help this Knicks team be a more cohesive unit.
He’s been the most important part of a resilient Iowa Hawkeyes team that will look to make a run this March Madness. The energy he brings and the way he can play a variety of roles at a high level due to his terrific measurables may be enough to woo New York into adding him to their young core.
March Madness NBA Draft Prospects — Jalen Duren
Whatever the team’s plans for Mitchell Robinson this offseason are will have a direct impact on whether or not they would entertain selecting Jalen Duren in the 2022 NBA Draft. Duren will remind fans a lot of Robinson with his explosiveness, size, and shot-blocking ability. The difference is that Duren has shown the potential to be a much more dynamic interior scorer.
Duren is a highly-touted prospect who will very likely be snagged within the first 10 picks. He’s got terrific NBA size with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and his frame appears as though it could fill out well as he continues to add muscle.
Duren is still just 18 years old, and the opportunity to get a rookie who could not only slot into a major role (If Mitch were to walk) but also grow into something special could work out very well for the Knicks.
The No. 9 seed Memphis has some notable names on the roster and Duren will be the headliner. He’s had some dominating performances, including a recent 21-point, 20-rebound game against UCF. Duren could have some big tests this March Madness so it will be fun to see how he performs.
While he may be mostly a rim-runner on offense, Duren has the potential to be an effective post player and finisher. He’s shown plenty of scoring flashes this season at Memphis and his potential may be enticing for the Knicks front office.
March Madness NBA Draft Prospects — TyTy Washington
Knicks fans have been clamoring for a point guard of the future and TyTy Washington could be that guy. The freshman guard out of Kentucky has some classic guard skills at his disposal that are captivating, and he’s a very realistic option for NY.
Speed is the name of the game for TyTy Washington. He’s lightning quick and he uses that speed to his advantage when floating around the court. He is one of the most electrifying players you will see this March Madness.
Of the Knicks’ current young guards and wings, Washington would likely already be the best passer in the group. He’s no Chris Paul- or LaMelo Ball-level passer/half-court floor general, but Washington has some really nice maneuvering skills that you like to see out of a point guard. His understanding of getting teammates involved and operating an offense are all there. Washington seems to grade well in plenty of advanced metrics as well.
The uptempo nature of his game could be fun to pair alongside other players such as Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. He’s not the most explosive athlete, but his ability to impact the game in multiple ways from the guard position could be big for the Knicks.
People will likely be divided on Washington as he is the classic “combo guard” who you’re not quite sure where he projects to be most effective — point guard or shooting guard. He’ll have a big opportunity to really showcase himself for Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.
March Madness NBA Draft Prospects — AJ Griffin
He’s one of the best shooters in the country and, at this point, a lock to go top-10 in the NBA Draft. AJ Griffin is one of the most exciting players in this entire tournament.
Often playing in the shadow of his teammate and projected top-four pick Paolo Banchero — it could be argued that Griffin is just as compelling of an NBA prospect as Banchero. There are so many qualities about Griffin that just seem to scream potential NBA star.
We’re talking about an 18-year-old player, who stands at 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan and is one of the most creative scorers in the entire NBA Draft. He’s a dynamic ball-handler at his position who shot a ridiculous 46.7% from 3-point range on a whopping 137 attempts. He’s the real deal.
Everything you hear about his demeanor and commitment to basketball is remarkable. That’s why he’s one of my favorite prospects. It’s not just about his physical attributes and ability to score in so many ways. It’s about his awareness, understanding, and love for basketball. Having that extra basketball IQ can oftentimes separate the good players from the great ones.
The biggest knock on Griffin has been his injuries in high school — he had severe injuries that caused him to miss about two years. But, here he is now, healthy, and absolutely dominating in college.
While the Knicks do have depth at wing, Griffin would be an ideal fit alongside RJ Barrett. It would give the Knicks a formidable Duke alumni wing combo that could potentially dominate for years to come.
March Madness NBA Draft Prospects — Johnny Davis
Point guard is probably the position that Knicks fans want answered more than any other, and Johnny Davis could be one to take over. Davis is a bit of a throwback guard, and his tenacity could be a great fit for a Tom Thibodeau-led Knicks team.
Davis will be leading a Wisconsin team this March Madness that has high hopes as a No. 3 seed. He’s very much been the heart and soul of the squad all season.
The sophomore guard isn’t someone who will jump out of the gym. He’s more of a technical guard who will meticulously break down defenders and slice his way into scoring opportunities.
Davis is another one of these combo guards who likely projects to be a player who spends more time at shooting guard. Still, he’s got plenty of passing chops and the leadership skills you’d want in a ball-handler.
Davis could very well be a top-10 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. It’s not just about his ability to score at different levels. His defense is what truly makes him one of the most well-rounded guards in the country. Thibodeau would have a lot of fun deploying Davis as a defender on the perimeter.
While New York has had some of its young perimeter players show flashes of great defense, I’m not sure any of their guards came into the NBA with the level of defense that Davis has. It would a lot of fun to see rotations of Davis, McBride, Quickley, Grimes, and Barrett all playing perimeter defense alongside one another.
Which player in the NCAA tournament do you want to see on the Knicks this summer?