Daily Knicks
Fansided

6 All-Stars the Knicks painfully passed on in the NBA Draft

By Elaine Blum

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 15, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The 76ers defeated the Cavaliers 118-109. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 15: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 15, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The 76ers defeated the Cavaliers 118-109. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) – New York Knicks
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) – New York Knicks /

2. Donovan Mitchell

Just one year before the Knicks passed on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they pulled off a similarly bad move in the 2017 draft. They had the 8th pick in a draft that produced All-Stars Jayson Tatum, De’Aaron Fox, Lauri Markkanen, Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, and Jarrett Allen. The latter three were still available when it was up to the Knicks to make their choice. They selected Frank Ntilikina over all three of those future All-Stars.

Ntilikina’s time in New York was characterized by dysfunction, but even now that he is with another team (even though the Dallas Mavericks also look rather chaotic these days), he is still not producing at the level of a top-10 pick. The Knicks drafted him much higher than might have been fair, hoping that he would fit their offensive system well. If they wanted a talented guard, Donovan Mitchell would have been the better choice, though.

Mitchell went 13th in the draft, made the All-Rookie First Team, and has since been an All-Star four seasons in a row. While he is leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first playoff appearance without LeBron James, Mitchell was even selected as an All-Star starter this season. Having one of the best scoring seasons in the league as well as the best of his career, he also has quite the case to be on an All-NBA team.

So far, he has recorded a record-breaking 71-point performance and 13 games with at least 40 points. The Knicks missed out big time by passing on Mitchell in the 2017 draft.

Home/Knicks Draft