If the New York Knicks use any of their three draft picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, they may favor a player who can help right away.
The Knicks own the 24th, 25th and 38th picks in the draft. According to multiple reports, the Knicks are exploring trade scenarios with those picks and may only make one pick.
If they make a pick, it would be more in line with head coach Tom Thibodeau’s philosophy of getting an NBA-ready player.
While speaking in “Knicks Film School” podcast, said SNY’s Ian Begley his guess It would be that the Knicks are targeting a more “experienced” player.
“That’s been Thibs’ ethos, to sign players, guys who are ready to play right away. Those are the guys I think he likes,” Begley said. “I think he’s maybe an older, more experienced player than an 18-year-old who hasn’t played much in college, but he has a lot of upside.”
In fact, recent Knicks draft picks such as Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride have played multiple seasons in college.
Begley said on the podcast that during the Knicks’ injury-plagued second-round series against the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks coaches came away feeling like they needed to add more depth in the offseason, players who could contribute in a pinch. Begley didn’t elaborate, so details are unclear, but it’s possible that Knicks coaches didn’t feel the team’s final players this season were ready to play.
Of course, it’s not entirely surprising that the Knicks want a player who is ready to play right away; most teams want it. That potential thought could simply limit who the Knicks target in the draft.
For example, some mock drafts had the Knicks taking Baylor center Yves Missi. As Athletic’s Sam Vecenie had observedMissi is a raw player with great potential, but someone who can take a while to develop.
Meanwhile, the Knicks have also been linked to Virginia forward Ryan Dunn, considered the best defender in the draft. Dunn only played two years in college, but is considered an NBA-ready defender.
Vecenie and others have also seen Purdue center Zach Edey fit for the Knicks. Edey, the reigning national player of the year, is 22 years old and played four years in college, so he could fit the NBA-ready type that Begley referenced.
The Knicks have been active on draft day under president Leon Rose, frequently making deals to trade throughout the draft and even negotiating to acquire future assets. Amid rumors that the team is exploring deals surrounding its picks, it’s difficult to project what the Knicks will do or who they might go with on draft night.
