In two days the New York Knicks will learn their first pick in the upcoming draft in June. The 2022 NBA Draft Lottery will take place on Tuesday, May 17 in Chicago at 8 p.m. ET.
The results from draft lotteries of the past haven’t been kind to New York but that bad luck could be reversed with a high pick in the 2022 draft. The Knicks locked in the 11th-best lottery odds once the New Orleans Pelicans advanced to the playoffs and have a 2% chance to land the No. 1 pick.
New York has a 9.4% chance to have a top-4 selection, and if that were to happen, the scene in the city will likely mirror the one from the team’s 2021 playoff appearance. And if somehow, someway the Knicks get the No. 1 overall pick, the best kind of chaos will erupt.
If the odds are in New York’s favor on Tuesday evening, there are a few players in particular that the Knicks should consider drafting with their first pick. And if Leon Rose and company opt for one of the following three players, fans should be more than satisfied.
3 players the New York Knicks could draft with a successful 2022 NBA Draft Lottery
3: Paolo Banchero (PF)
Who’s in favor of adding another member of The Brotherhood to New York’s roster? Knicks fans should be, especially considering that the last time that the team had a top-4 pick, RJ Barrett’s name was called.
There are a few players who could go No. 1 overall and one of them is Paolo Banchero. The freshman had a phenomenal year in Mike Krzyzewski’s final season as the head coach of the Blue Devils.
The six-foot-ten forward averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists at Duke. He shot 47.8% from the floor, 33.8% from the 3-point line, and 72.9% from the free-throw line.
In the NCAA tournament, Banchero averaged 18.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in five games. His best performance took place on Mar. 24 in a 78-73 win over Texas Tech. Banchero finished with 22 points (7-of-12 from the floor, 3-of-4 from the 3-point line), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.
Paolo Banchero vs. Texas Tech:
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) March 25, 2022
22 PTS | 4 REB | 4 AST
"I coach that guy, holy mackerel."
🎥 @MarchMadnessMBB pic.twitter.com/7XShjHIFlU
Why should the New York Knicks draft Duke forward Paolo Banchero?
Regardless of which team Banchero ends up on, he’s going to make an immediate impact at the next level. He can score anywhere on the floor and as his numbers show, he’s an elite passer and crashes the boards as well.
The biggest area of need for Banchero is his defense, which is a challenge that Tom Thibodeau would likely love to take on. If the forward can up his defensive game, he’s going to be even more of a problem for opposing teams.
If New York were to draft Banchero, he isn’t the type of player who should watch a large part of the 2022-23 season from the bench. Depending on what happens with Julius Randle, along with Obi Toppin, the combo forward could (and most likely should) be in the Knicks’ starting lineup on opening night.