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2022 NBA Draft Lottery: 3 results Knicks should be rooting for

By Jordanna Clark

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 27: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena on March 27, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 27: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena on March 27, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks, Purdue Boilermakers, Jaden Ivey
Jaden Ivey, Purdue Boilermakers. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) – New York Knicks /

2: A pick that could result in a starter for 2022-23

Out of New York’s picks dating back to 2018, only two players are starters. Those two players are Barrett and Mitchell Robinson (a 2018 second-round pick), who could sign with a new team this summer as an unrestricted free agent if he and the organization don’t agree to an extension.

But when it comes to the Knicks’ picks in the top-10 over the past six years, Barrett’s the only one who’s a starter. Kristaps Porzingis (No. 4 pick in 2015), Frank Ntilikina (No. 8 pick in 2017), and Kevin Knox (No. 9 pick in 2018) have all been traded from New York in recent years.

The goal of the front office should be to draft a player who can be a consistent starter in 2022-23. With Tom Thibodeau as the head coach, that’s going to be difficult, but the higher the draft pick, the higher the likelihood that this will happen. Or theoretically, that should be the case, at least.

Let’s look at Obi Toppin, for example. He was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 draft and due to situations out of his control, such as Julius Randle having a breakout 2020-21 season, he’s started in a combined 10 games over the past two years.

And all of those starts came from this past season, mostly from the end of the year when Randle was injured.

Of course, development is crucial, but the Knicks’ first pick of the draft shouldn’t spend the majority of next year watching from the sidelines. If New York were to draft a player like guard Jaden Ivey, who could become the team’s point guard, one would assume that he’d be in the starting rotation sooner rather than later.

If the Knicks draft someone like Jabari Smith Jr. or Paolo Banchero, and both could end up going No. 1 overall, it’d be hard to see Thibodeau opting for one of the two over Randle. And then there’s also Toppin.

New York has many things that need to be sorted out this summer, such as the Randle/Toppin dilemma, but the first-round pick that the Knicks draft in June shouldn’t be held back by veterans who don’t deserve the increased playing time.

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