New York Knicks: 4 options for No. 8 overall pick in the NBA draft

4. Trade up for LaMelo Ball

The Knicks have been searching for a point guard since Clyde Frazier was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1977. The stars were aligning for LaMelo Ball to be that guy.

With he and his family’s history in the spotlight, Ball seems primed for the high-profile job of Knicks rookie (savior) point guard. Ball and his team were even expected to push for a move to New York. As a bonus, fans have already fallen in love with him.

In a perfect world, we’d all be talking about the inevitability of Ball’s arrival in New York right now. But we all know that’s not how things work with the Knicks.

It’s unlikely that the draft’s top-rated point guard falls out of the top four. At pick No. 8, the Knicks are well out of range to take Ball. They would need to trade up to get him.

The most likely trade partner in the top four would be the Golden State Warriors. With Steph Curry and Klay Thompson returning next season, they plan on returning to championship contention. But drafting LaMelo Ball and trading assets to get him are two entirely different things.

Ball is no sure thing, and the Warriors would likely demand Mitchell Robinson and a future first-round pick in any trade. I know Knicks fans love to hype up the trade value of Kevin Knox, but he’s not getting you the second pick in any draft.

Rose and his staff will entertain the idea of trading up for Ball — he’s reportedly the No. 1 point guard on their board — but I think the price will be too high for them. Holding on to all of their assets for next year’s draft is the right move.