The New York Knicks are expected to be very active this offseason and players like Greg Monroe, Rajon Rondo and Marc Gasol could be free agent options for Phil Jackson and this comes as the team could look at Justise Winslow, Trey Lyles, Emmanuel Mudiay, Willie Cauley-Stein, D'Angelo Russell and Kristaps Porzingis as targets in the draft over making a trade.
The Knicks were jumped in the lottery after finishing with the second worst record in the league and they now are picking behind the Lakers, Sixers and Timberwolves. The Knicks come in with the fourth overall pick in the draft and while that was a bit disappointing, the team still has the chance to get a strong prospect with that selection. Phil Jackson said that the team would be open to listening to trade offers, but nothing is set in stone considering moving the pick.
According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, the Knicks are looking at Justise Winslow and Trey Lyles as potential draft options along with Willie Cauley-Stein. Isola writes that the team likes Lyles a lot and that could force them to look at a trade, as he is considered to be more of a mid-round pick than a lottery option.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor are considered to be the two best prospects in the draft and they potentially could be taken at the top. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers have the top two picks in the draft after finishing with the worst and fourth worst records in the league. The Knicks got jumped after finishing second worst in the NBA standings, while the Philadelphia 76ers slotted in for the third pick in the draft.
The Knicks had hoped to be in position to draft Towns or Okafor, but the only way they get one of those players is with some luck. Russell or Mudiay should be there at four and those names could be options for the Knicks if they go the guard route. Willie Cauley-Stein has been getting more attention as the draft gets closer and he also could be a fit, while the Boston Celtics have reportedly been interested in trading up for the Kentucky big man.
The Knicks are also expecting to spend big in free agency this summer, as they have over $25 million in cap space for Jackson to play with. The team has a need at point guard and could look at picking Emmanuel Mudiay or D'Angelo Russell, but if they don't go that route, players like Rajon Rondo, Goran Dragic and Reggie Jackson could be options in free agency.
Greg Monroe is expected to be a top target and Isola reported earlier in the season that it "was very likely" that if Monroe leaves Detroit, he will sign in New York. The team would love to add LaMarcus Aldridge or Marc Gasol, but those players could potentially stay with their teams in Memphis and Portland. Aldridge is a target for the Mavericks and Rockets, while Gasol could potentially be an option for the Spurs.