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3 players Knicks could select with No. 42 pick in 2022 NBA Draft

By Jordanna Clark

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 08: Torry Johnson #11 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons guards Buddy Boeheim #35 of the Syracuse Orange as he shoots the ball during the second half of an NCAA basketball game at the Carrier Dome on February 08, 2020 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 08: Torry Johnson #11 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons guards Buddy Boeheim #35 of the Syracuse Orange as he shoots the ball during the second half of an NCAA basketball game at the Carrier Dome on February 08, 2020 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks, Marquette Golden Eagles, Justin Lewis
Justin Lewis, Marquette Golden Eagles. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) – New York Knicks /

2: Justin Lewis – Marquette

Justin Lewis has been mocked to New York, so if he ends up being the team’s selection at No. 42, it wouldn’t come as a surprise. In 2021-22, the 6’7” forward with a 7’2” wingspan averaged 16.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 32 games while shooting 44% from the floor and 34.9% from the 3-point line.

Based on what Lewis averaged in 2020-21, which was 7.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, the 20-year-old was named the BIG EAST Most Improved Player of the Year. His efficiency took a huge jump, as he shot 41.7% from the field and 21.9% from behind the arc in his first season coming off the bench.

Not many people foresaw the past year that Lewis had with the Golden Eagles or much less foresaw him blazing a path to the NBA as a second-round prospect.

Lewis is a combo forward who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. While his outside shot improved dramatically between seasons for Marquette, that growth is going to need to continue at the next level.

He averaged 1.9 turnovers per game this past year and has been cited with having issues as a playmaker off the dribble. If he were to be drafted by the Knicks, that’s something that he could spend time working on in Westchester.

Lewis’ strength and versatility will benefit whichever team he ends up on. Depending on if Julius Randle gets traded or not (there’s no guarantee that he’ll be gone just because fans want him to be), that’d make the addition of Lewis more valuable to a young team.

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