The New York Knicks are currently picking at No. 11 in the 2022 NBA draft, and if they hold still at that spot, there’s no way Purdue’s Jaden Ivey will be a Knickerbocker.
However, recent rumors and indications have told fans that this front office absolutely adores the game of the rangy, athletic guard, and if they were to make a move up in this draft, it would be purely to target the sought-after Ivey.
He is seen as one of the highest ceiling prospects in recent drafts, and while nothing is a certainty, this would be the perfect way for the Knicks to upgrade their backcourt, especially if they paired him with one of their current homegrown players with star-making ability of his own, Immanuel Quickley.
Given how many teams have their eyes on the explosive Ivey, it’s unclear at this point whether New York has what it takes to get into the top four, or if the Knicks would even be willing to give up enough, but if they are, Ivey could transform this young core into one of the most dangerous in the entire Eastern Conference.
How does Jaden Ivey fit in with this current New York Knicks squad?
This current Knicks squad is filled with plenty of young talent, and while RJ Barrett would still be the leader on the team (assuming Julius Randle is involved in the trade that allows New York to draft Ivey), there’s no doubt that Ivey would step in and be one of the best, most explosive players on this team from day one.
Ivey is the best athlete in the 2022 draft, and with a strong, wiry frame, he is the perfect combo guard for today’s NBA, and if the Knicks can add him to a lineup that includes Quickley, Barrett, and Obi Toppin, they will have their core of the future ready to grow together.
At times, his aggressiveness can get him in trouble against smarter opponents, but that is something that Tom Thibodeau will be able to control and use wisely, and if he can develop his three-point shot at the next level, we could be looking at an elite player in the NBA for years to come.
Ultimately, Ivey is the perfect fit for this team, and if New York is willing to give up what it will take to get him, he could be a key part of a young Knicks core that takes the team back to the playoffs consistently for the first time in 20 years.
Will Jaden Ivey be available when the New York Knicks draft at No. 11?
Simply put, no.
Ivey is seen as arguably the best prospect in the 2022 NBA Draft, and while he likely won’t be the No. 1 pick in favor of guys like Jabari Smith Jr. or Chet Holmgren, he will definitely be gone within the top four.
That means that the Knicks will need to look at a team like the Sacramento Kings, who have the No. 4 pick, and offer them a package that will tempt them enough to move back to the No. 11 spot.
A package centered around Randle, the No. 11 pick, and another young player (the most commonly named one here is Quentin Grimes), along with future picks could do the trick, and if New York believes Ivey is the key to the future, the Knicks should do whatever it takes to move up.
Should the New York Knicks move up to the top four to draft Jaden Ivey?
Simply put, yes.
It’s not quite as easy as that, as the Knicks need to find a trade partner, as well as crossing their fingers that Ivey still falls to them, but if the move is right, New York should absolutely go all in on acquiring a star of the future.
What this would mean for Quickley as the point guard of the future is still unknown, but Ivey would pair perfectly with IQ and RJ in the starting lineup, and he would fit the timeline and growth of this team perfectly.
If the price isn’t right, there’ll be plenty of talented players that will be available at No. 11 where the Knicks are currently drafting, but if they can find an offer that Leon Rose and Co. can live with to get to No. 4, then they should absolutely pull the trigger and add a standout athlete to this young, up-and-coming squad.
3 teams Knicks could make a trade with during the 2022 NBA Draft
The New York Knicks desperately need young stars to fill out the core they're building and trading up on draft night may be the best way to do just that.