New York Knicks: 5 best options for the No. 19 pick in the NBA draft

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 27: Jared Butler #12 and Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears react in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game against the Villanova Wildcats in the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 27, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 27: Jared Butler #12 and Davion Mitchell #45 of the Baylor Bears react in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game against the Villanova Wildcats in the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 27, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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New York Knicks
New York Knicks, NBA draft Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Without taking any short breaks from playoff excitement, the New York Knicks are set to be heavily involved in this week’s NBA Draft, as they try to make the best out of the many picks they have.

Even though the postseason didn’t exactly go according to plan, there isn’t a single Knicks fan that wasn’t on the edge of his seat through the entirety of the 2020-21 season. The team simply went from a laughingstock to a rising stock with home-court advantage for the playoffs.

The young core got some invaluable experience out of it which will hopefully be enough to take the next step in the upcoming season. That is, of course, if the front office addresses some of the major weaknesses in the team’s game.

In a guard-heavy NBA Draft, the New York Knicks have a wide variety of picks necessary to make the correct decision for the future of this young core.

First things first, let’s analyze exactly what it is that the Knicks so desperately crave. The one glaring weakness is that of the starting point guard. Realistically, the Knicks haven’t had a quality point guard since Stephon Marbury and those 10 glorious games of Jeremy Lin.

Derrick Rose more than filled the void during the latter stages of the season, though his return to The Garden isn’t certain by any means. Immanuel Quickley was a rather pleasant surprise, though his flawed playmaking abilities make him a questionable selection for that spot.

Last but not least, let’s not forget Elfrid Payton and Frank Ntilikina, both of which are wanted out of New York by the majority of Knicks fans. With Kevin Knox possibly joining them on their way to JFK, the management should also monitor any potential backup forwards for the future.