The NBA draft is on Thursday and rumors have Karl-Anthony Towns going to the Timberwolves, which leaves players like Jahlil Okafor, D'Angelo Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay, Justice Winslow and Kristaps Porzingis as the top options for the NY Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers if there are no trades that happen in the top 4 this year.
The Timberwolves won the draft lottery after finishing with the worst record in the league and now media reports have the team looking to take Towns number one overall. Pro Basketball Talk reports that Towns has been informed by the team that he will be picked and that means the Lakers are basically on the clock. Most draft experts see the Lakers picking between Jahlil Okafor and D'Angelo Russell, but the team also may look at making a trade. DeMarcus Cousins is reportedly a target for the team and if that happens, the Kings likely would get the number two pick.
Porzingis could end up being the best player in the draft, but at 19 he is raw and after playing in Europe there is not as much attention on him as other players. It would be a big surprise if he goes at number two and that puts Russell and Okafor as the main options. The Knicks would love nothing more than to get Russell or Okafor and that is what Phil Jackson is hoping for on Thursday. The team had the second worst record in the league but fell in the draft lottery to number four.
According to the New York Post, the team is willing to trade out of the number four pick, but only if the deal is right. Jackson said to the newspaper that the team is not looking for deals, but they are listening to trade offers. There is a lot swirling right now up front, as the Boston Celtics are looking to trade up, while the Cousins trade talk also could affect how things go in the top two. Okafor has emerged as an option for the Lakers and if Russell ends up going at two, there is a chance that Okafor could slip to four, but that is highly unlikely.
The Knicks may think about trading out if Russell, Okafor and Towns are all off the board and that could get a team to trade up for Porzingis. The Orlando Magic reportedly have put Porzingis through a workout and they really like him as a player and if they do not get involved in the Lakers deal with the Kings, they could be an option to move up. The Knicks basically want to ensure they get a player that can contribute this year and that may not mean getting the "best" player left available when they pick at four.
Check here for a mock draft and predictions on trades for the draft.
The Knicks have been looking into Justise Winslow, Kevon Looney and Trey Lyles as options and the team also has looked at Willie Cauley-Stein as a draft target. Stein is getting a lot of attention as he is a strong defense player and good on pick and rolls, while Winslow is very well rounded. Jackson wants the team to play better defense and that could be a main factor in the pick. If the team trades down, players like Lyles and Kaminsky could be options.