For the Knicks, the draft presents multiple paths.
With three picks from 24th through 38th, they must first consider what their roster will look like after free agency.
That’s a tough projection considering the Knicks have three free agents in OG Anunoby, Isaiah Hartenstein and Precious Achiuwa, plus a looming luxury tax bill.
But that’s why Leon Rose, who is taking his fifth draft pick as an executive, is getting paid so much.
Two years ago, the executive made a move on draft night, clearing cap space to sign Jalen Brunson about a week later.
It worked fine.
Here are three different strategies Rose could employ in the two-day draft, which will feature the first round on Wednesday and the second round on Thursday.
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The Knicks have No. 24 (provided by the Dallas Mavericks, final payment in the trade for Kristaps Porzingis), No. 25 (the Knicks’ own first-round pick) and No. 38 (provided by the Jazz).
Adding three rookies to the roster will be a tough challenge for any team looking to win, especially with Tom Thibodeau not known for giving rookies big roles.
That doesn’t mean the Knicks can’t get three picks in the draft.
As mentioned above, re-signing a free agent would put them in the luxury tax zone, while a rookie would be a cheap roster addition.
There is also the possibility of developing a few players in the G League or overseas, with 2021 second-round draft pick Rochas Yokubaitis yet to move from a European league to the NBA.
But for a team hoping to make a conference finals run, it’s a waste of assets.
As of now, the Knicks only have six players with guaranteed contracts for next season: Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Mitchell Robinson, Julius Randle and Miles McBride.
If the Knicks do indeed use all of their picks, some notable names to consider include Virginia’s Ryan Dunn, a top-tier wing defender with significant offensive defences; centre Kell Ware, who played under Mike Woodson at Indiana; and Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves, who averaged over 20 points per game last season.
Still, the Knicks will likely avoid drafting three players in that range. The alternative is…
Consolidate the pick or punt?
Rose isn’t shy about making changes to his pick order on draft night.
In fact, he hasn’t used a first-round pick since acquiring Obi Toppin four years ago.
One option the Knicks are considering is combining their picks to move up in the draft, according to a source from a rival team in contact with New York.
This could work if the Knicks target a player they didn’t get at No. 24. Take Ware, for example.
He has been heavily linked to the Toronto Raptors, who have the 19th pick.
In this theoretical scenario, the Knicks would combine the 24th and 25th picks to draft Ware, moving him up into the teens.
Rose could also trade his pick for a future pick, with next year’s picks being more valuable given this draft is considered a historically weak one.
Rose has already been traded out of two different drafts, which are far less appealing options than the next one.
Trading player picks
There is no clear target for a big deal, but sometimes such a deal can come out of nowhere.
According to NBC Chicago, the Knicks recently offered “draft capital” to the Bulls to acquire Alex Caruso, but Caruso instead went to the Thunder in exchange for Josh Giddey.
There are rumors that the Knicks are interested in Paul George, and he would fetch the Clippers a lot of money on the trade market.
To go to New York, George would have to pick up the option to take on the massive $49 million salary he is due to receive in the final year of his contract next season.
For such a trade to be worthwhile, the Knicks would ultimately have to commit nearly the maximum long-term capital to George, a risky gamble on a 34-year-old player with an injury history.
A source said trade rumors involving George and the Knicks last year were exaggerated and that “nothing happened” at the time.
Now, George has a number of options heading into the summer, including returning to the Clippers, becoming an unrestricted free agent or signing an extension in order to be traded.
Miami’s Jimmy Butler is also one of the players rumored around the league to be on the move this summer.
The Knicks could be stuck with a high-priced center depending on Hartenstein’s free agency situation, according to multiple reports, and are already in trade talks for Mitchell Robinson. There’s a lot on the table heading into draft day.
