New York Knicks: Re-drafting the last 5 selections

2013: Tim Hardaway Jr.

The 2013 NBA Draft was thought to be one of the worst draft classes ever. Then CJ McCollum had a breakout season. Then Giannis Antetokounmpo. Then Victor Oladipo. And now, no one seems to be disappointed with the amount of talent the 2013 boys brought into the NBA.

The 2012-13 season was a good one for New York basketball. The Knicks finished the season with 54 wins, their most since 1996-97, and earned the second seed in the conference. A scoring leader in Carmelo Anthony, a defensive monster in Tyson Chandler and a Sixth Man of the Year winner in J.R. Smith pretty much had the Knicks heading in the right direction.

Unlike the events of the 2011 NBA Draft, in 2013, no star players were selected barely ahead of New York’s selection. But there is one player that the Knicks could have drafted, to take over once Chandler began his aging process.

Should have drafted: Rudy Gobert

The French big man was ultimately selected three spots after Tim Hardaway Jr., at No. 27. During his rookie season, Gobert struggled to find minutes on the court, being constantly on the shadows of Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors.

But after Kanter’s trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder during Gobert’s sophomore season, the 7’1” center would prove that he was the man for the job. Gobert has become an elite defender in the league, and a strong favorite to win his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award.

Dream selection: Rudy Gobert