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New York Knicks: Top 5 Options In 2015 NBA Draft

By dfalkenheim

Jun 27, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Knicks fans cheer after Tim Hardaway Jr. (not pictured) was selected as the number twenty-four overall pick to the Knicks during the 2013 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 27, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Knicks fans cheer after Tim Hardaway Jr. (not pictured) was selected as the number twenty-four overall pick to the Knicks during the 2013 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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It was all doom and gloom for New York Knicks’ fans once it was revealed that they’d be selecting fourth in the 2015 NBA Draft. They convinced themselves that the Knicks’ abysmal season would all be worth it if it netted them Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns, and getting the fourth pick equaled being punched in the gut.

Fast-forward one month later, and selecting at No. 4 may not be as bad as originally thought.

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There’s newfound hope with the DeMarcus Cousins trade rumors and the latest hype on international prospect Kristaps Porzingis that Okafor or D’Angelo Russell may fall to the Knicks at No. 4. It’s a no-brainer for the Knicks should one of them fall, but the possibility of that happening is small.

Without further ado, here are the top five realistic options for the Knicks heading into the 2015 NBA Draft:

1. The Knicks select Mario Hezonja
Mario Hezonja should be the player the Knicks target at No. 4, assuming Towns, Okafor, and Russell are all gone by that point. Hezonja is a 6’8″ shooting guard that has many of the tangible skills that are important in today’s NBA. Shooting? Check. He has a quick release on his shot, can knock down shots off screens, and shot 39.6 percent from three, according to Draft Express.

Athleticism? Check. He’s quick and can throw down some nasty dunks. Defense? Check. He’s not an elite defender by any means, but he has the speed and length to guard shooting guards and small forwards at the NBA level.

While Hezonja may be a great combination of size, length, and offensive ability, he does have problems with his decision making and attitude. Think of him as the European J.R. Smith or Nick Young. He’ll take low-percentage shots or hold onto the ball for too long. He turned the ball over on 18.5 percent of his possessions, which is not good to say the least.

…he does have problems with his decision making and attitude. Think of him as the European J.R. Smith or Nick Young

The concerns about Hezonja are valid, but I think he can overcome some of his issues with more experience. He’ll contribute day one and is a solid fit for the triangle offense; the Knicks shouldn’t hesitate to pick him with the fourth overall pick.

2. The Knicks select Justise Winslow
Justise Winslow was one of the many freshman phenoms that helped Duke to win the 2015 NCAA championship. At 6’6” and 225 pounds, he has the strength and athleticism needed to be a top-flight small forward in the NBA. He can attack the basket and is a capable shooter – as he shot 41.4% from 3 this past season at Duke. Winslow is a fierce competitor and plays tough defense.

More than anything else, Winslow struggles with shooting the ball off the bounce. According to Draft Express, he went 2-for-19 when attempting shots off the dribble. That will likely be a problem for him at the NBA level because defenders will be able to sag off him when he has the ball in his hands.

Overall, Winslow is a versatile prospect that will make a lot of Knicks fans happy in the future should they draft him at No. 4.

3. The Knicks select Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis is not your typical 7-foot big man. Porzingis boasts unusual athleticism for a man of his size and can stretch the floor out to the three-point line. He can run the floor with ease, catch lobs, and has the length to crash the offensive boards with some success.

According to Draft Express, Porzingis scored 1.5 points per possession in transition for his team this past season, which is excellent for any player.

More recently, Porzingis has gained a lot of hype due to a workout video that showcases his athleticism and offensive versatility:

The major knock on Porzingis is his lack of strength. He struggles to secure post position and gets bullied on the defensive glass. From the Knicks perspective, his lack of strength could potentially be an issue in the triangle offense. The triangle is all about spacing, and that spacing could be easily ruined if Porzingis continuously gets bullied out of the paint.

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Porzingis isn’t a good distributor either, which can be a problem for a big man in the triangle offense.

The most important thing to remember about Porzingis is that he is only 19 and has a lot of potential. While the fit may be questionable, the Knicks would still be getting a prospect with rare skills for his position should they take Porzingis at four.

4. The Knicks trade their pick
It was blatantly obvious to anyone who watched the Knicks this year that they simply lacked the talent to compete. No NBA team serious about competing would play Langston Galloway 32 minutes per game, or Lance Thomas 26 minutes a game, or start Quincy Acy.

The Knicks need talent at every position, and this is where trading back in the draft and adding more talent becomes a smart move.

For example, it was reported that the Suns are willing to trade Eric Bledsoe and the 13th overall pick for the Knicks’ fourth overall pick. A deal like that allows the Knicks to add a good starter at the point and potentially end up drafting Trey Lyles or any other prospect that falls.

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    • If the Knicks aren’t satisfied with whose available when it’s their turn to select, they should definitely explore options to move back in the draft and add talent to a roster that desperately needs it.

    5. The Knicks select Emmanuel Mudiay
    Emmanuel Mudiay has elite size at 6’5” for a point guard and is one of the fastest players in this draft. He is Russell Westbrook-like in his ability to blaze down the floor and finish in transition with a dunk.

    He only played 12 games for Guangdong, his team in the Chinese Basketball Association, because of an ankle injury, but he did average 5.9 assists per game and has shown the ability to operate in the pick and roll.

    The major concern with Mudiay is his shooting ability. He shot 30 percent from three and only 58.1 percent from the free-throw line, according to Draft Express. He has the physical tools and passing ability to be an NBA point guard, but he’s going to need to develop a more consistent shot for him to take the next step and become a top point guard.

    The Knicks taking him at No. 4 wouldn’t be a terrible pick, but they have better options to optimize the value they can get from the fourth overall pick.

    Next: Golden State Warriors: 10 Steps To Winning The Title

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