The college basketball season is officially wrapped up which means teams already out of the playoff race will begin to focus on who they can bring in to help turn the franchise around. Currently holding tight to the worst record in the NBA, the New York Knicks will be guaranteed at least a top four pick with the best chance at the No. 1 overall pick if they stay at the bottom of the ranking. Phil Jackson is already getting to work on who to scout and he likely played close attention to the championship game.
While speaking with season ticket holders, Jackson said he has already been scouting players looking to enter the draft. The Knicks' team president did not get himself into trouble, but he did hint a great interest in Jahlil Okafor of Duke or even Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky. Jackson hinted that he wanted someone that was a key defender and could replace someone like Tyson Chandler who was traded. Both players fit that mold.
"Defender,'' Jackson said, via the New York Post. "That's a good starting point - a guy like Tyson Chandler and the defensive passion they have to have. So many screen and rolls, so many 3-point shooters, a player of size has to cover and protect the basket but also step out defensively and do defensive work on the extreme part of the floor. It's very important for that player to have defensive capabilities.''
Jackson stressed his belief that a draft pick could change the direction of an entire franchise. With this season a total wash, the pressure is on Jackson to step up and improve immediately. A top draft pick is a good place to start that effort and the team president is already getting at hard at work picking the right player.
"A draft pick can move an entire organization forward ... and this is our opportunity," Jackson said. "If you sit around (picking) in the 20s and the late teens when you're drafting players, you're not going to move the franchise ahead. You've got to have a high draft pick to do that. They're the ones that really move the franchise ahead. And this is our opportunity. It may be a godsend in the end result."
If the Knicks draft someone like Okafor or Towns, that could easy their efforts on trying to get someone like Kevin Love. The Knicks could then focus on players like Greg Monroe or Marc Gasol. LaMarcus Aldridge could also be a strong option for New York. Jackson wants defense and a draft pick is a good place to start, but they also need to star power to help rookies out
