It's been nearly two years since the New York Knicks selected a player in the NBA draft. In fact, the last one they selected was Trevor Keels, a 2022 second-round pick. New York traded him in September.
One of the only things Knicks fans used to have to look forward to was the draft, but times have changed. The Knicks are good!
Unlike 2023, New York has four 2024 first-round picks, but two (via Detroit and Washington) won't convey. That leaves the Knicks with a 1-10 protected pick via Dallas (that will convey) and their own pick.
If the front office doesn't decide to include those two picks in a trade before or during the draft, New York could leave Barclays with a couple of first-round picks. With the NCAA tournament starting this week, now's the time for Knicks fans to get familiar with a few of the 2024 draft prospects.
3 2024 NBA Draft prospects Knicks fans need to watch during March Madness
3. Donovan Clingan - UConn
Donovan Clingan could be their guy if the Knicks decide to draft a center. The 20-year-old is in his second season at UConn with the defending national champions. He's averaging 12.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.5 assists per game, shooting 63.8% from the field.
Last season, he averaged 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in 39 contests, none of which he started. Clingan's made quite the jump for arguably the best team in the tournament. The con about that (at least for New York) is that the center could be a lottery pick, which would put him out of the Knicks' range.
The tear he's been on lately has upped his stock. He finished with 22 points (7-of-12), 16 rebounds, two blocks, and two assists in UConn's BIG EAST Tournament Championship win over Marquette.
Donovan Clingan dominated both ends of the floor, scoring 22 points with 16 rebounds to lead UConn to the Big East Championship. The 7-foot-2 Clingan, a projected top-10 pick, played his best game of the season at the right time for the Huskies. pic.twitter.com/3YkKjpsJI4
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 17, 2024
Clingan could easily become one of the hottest players in the tournament. If another team with a higher pick doesn't jump on him, New York should.
On Friday, the Huskies will play Stetson at 2:45 p.m. ET at Barclays Center.
2. Johnny Furphy - Kansas
This spot would go to Kevin McCullar Jr., who several draft experts have slated to be picked by New York. However, the star Kansas guard will be out for the tournament with a knee injury that's kept him sidelined. That's unfortunate news for McCullar, who averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game for the Jayhawks this season.
Let's pivot our attention from McCullar to Johnny Furphy, a 19-year-old guard in his first season at Kansas. He's averaging 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.9 steals per game, shooting 47.6% from the field and 35.4% from deep. He's played in 31 games (17 starts).
The six-foot-nine wing has been in a shooting slump lately. Furphy has failed to score in double figures in the past four games, combining for only 25 points. He was on a hot streak earlier in the season. His best game came against Cincinnati on Jan. 22, when he scored a career-high 23 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 shooting from three. He also pulled down 11 boards. The potential is there.
another angle of this buzzer beating FurphTHREE 😮💨#LevelUp x Johnny Furphy pic.twitter.com/crYCYTFi7N
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) January 23, 2024
There's no guarantee Furphy will enter the draft, as he could choose to stay at Kansas for a second season. However, a strong tournament showing could change things.
On Thursday, the Jayhawks (who last won the championship in 2022) will play Samford at 9:55 p.m. ET in Salt Lake City.
1. Jared McCain - Duke
Jared McCain has been linked to New York in several different mock drafts. If the Duke guard is still on the board when the Knicks make their pick, the front office shouldn't hesitate to draft him. He can do it all. He has that winning mentality.
McCain has arguably been the Blue Devils' most consistent player this season. Kyle Filipowski hasn't had as dominant of a season as many thought he would after his freshman year. In times of need, McCain has been the one to consistently step up for Duke.
The 20-year-old is averaging 13.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 45.6% from the field and 39.9% from three. He gets it done on both ends.
Duke was an early exit in the ACC tournament, so the Blue Devils could come out firing on Friday against Vermont. The game will tip-off in Brooklyn on Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET, so New York fans in the area should take advantage and watch the guard.
The only downside to March Madness is that McCain could raise his draft stock on college basketball's biggest stage, putting him out of the Knicks' draft range. Even if that happens, he's still worth watching.