The NY Knicks are hoping for the top overall pick in the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday night and the team may target players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, D'Angelo Russell or Willie Cauley-Stein depending on where they end up and if Phil Jackson gets a pick outside of the top four, the New York Knicks could make a trade out of the lottery.
The Knicks are coming into the lottery with the second best chance at the number one pick. The worst team in the league has not received the top pick in years and that in a way gives the Knicks some hope that they will get it. The consensus heading into the month leading up to the draft is that Okafor and Towns are considered the top two picks. Last year it was Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker and now the Duke star and Kentucky prospect will battle to see who goes first overall.
The Knicks are hoping for a top two pick, or they could end up making a trade, as Jackson sees Towns and Okafor as game changers and worth a selection. The team could consider a player like Russell or Winslow if they get number three, but the team wants to make the most of this pick that they can. The Knicks are expected to chase free agents this summer and adding a star prospect like Okafor or Towns could help recruit players to come to the Big Apple for Carmelo Anthony.
The Knicks come in with a 55 percent chance at getting a top three pick after finishing in the bottom two. The team also has a 19 percent chances of getting the top pick. The team would love to get into that mix in the top two, as they would be able to get either Towns or Okafor, the top two players in this draft. Jackson has scouted quite a bit and Russell has received high marks from him, but the team wants either Okafor or Towns for this draft.
The Knicks plan on going after free agents this summer and part of their rebuild is adding a top prospect here. Jackson broke down the team and now they are looking to make additions to the roster with Anthony and the players left over. Langston Galloway made the All-rookie team and he could have a spot next season, while Andrea Bargnani may return on a deal.
The team is locking in on Greg Monroe and reports have him as close to a sure thing if the team can convince him to join Anthony as the best place to win. The Knicks have a ton of work to do and after Tuesday they will know what draft pick they have and what player they can get. They are hoping for Towns or Okafor, with Towns being called the second coming of Patrick Ewing by some.