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NBA Mock Draft: Knicks land promising prospects in back-to-back picks

By Jordanna Clark

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 3: Bobi Klintman of the Taipans looks on during the round six NBL match between New Zealand Breakers and Cairns Taipans at Wolfbrook Arena, on November 3, 2023, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 3: Bobi Klintman of the Taipans looks on during the round six NBL match between New Zealand Breakers and Cairns Taipans at Wolfbrook Arena, on November 3, 2023, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images) /
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The 2023-24 season started only a couple of weeks ago, but it’s never too early for mock drafts! It’s been over a year since the New York Knicks selected a draft pick, and that player has since been traded.

New York was close to getting a late lottery pick in 2023, but then Dallas decided to tank for a top-10 pick. In 2024, the Knicks currently have one unprotected pick and three picks from other teams (Mavericks, Wizards, Pistons) that may or may not convey.

In Bleacher Report’s latest mock draft, New York is slated to have two first-round picks, one pick from its own arsenal and the other via Dallas.

New York Knicks select Bobi Klintman, Riley Kugel in 2024 NBA Mock Draft

With the No. 19 overall pick in Bleacher Report’s mock, New York selects combo forward Bobi Klintman. The 20-year-old spent his first year at Wake Forest but now plays for Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League.

At Wake, Klintman averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 blocks per game, shooting 40.7% from the field and 36.8% from deep. He started in five of the 33 contests he played in.

Klintman is six-foot-ten with a seven-foot wingspan, making it more impressive that he’s a threat from deep. He declared for the 2023 NBA Draft last year before withdrawing, and the feedback he got should help him as he prepares to go pro in 2024. With New York needing forward depth, Klintman would be a solid pick.

With the No. 20 overall pick in B/R’s mock, the Knicks select Riley Kugel out of Florida. The six-foot-five shooting guard is a three-level scorer who averaged 9.9 points per game in his first year as a Gator, shooting 45.6% from the floor and 37.6% from three.

The 19-year-old was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team after an influx in minutes propelled him to be Florida’s top player. Kugel scored in double digits in the Gators’ final 10 games of the season, averaging 17.3 points per game during that stretch.

His offensive skills will assimilate well to the NBA, while his defense needs some work. That’s a challenge Tom Thibodeau should be willing to take.

If the Knicks walk away from the first round of the 2024 draft with Bobi Klintman and Riley Kugel, that’d be a solid haul.

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