The New York Knicks have the number four pick in the draft and if they hold onto the pick, players like Emmanuel Mudiay, Justise Winslow and D'Angelo Russell are potential targets and this comes as the Boston Celtics are interested in a trade up for Willie Cauley-Stein and they could look at NY as a partner for trading up.
The Knicks finished with the second worst record in the league, but they ended up getting the fourth overall pick with the Lakers jumping up in the lottery. According to the New York Post, the Knicks will consider trading the pick heading into the draft, but there is a good chance they sit tight and stay at the selection. The Knicks were terrible this season and many fans were dismayed to see the team jumped in the standings.
The Knicks were hoping to get one of the top two picks and now they are at fourth, while the Timberwolves, Lakers and Sixers are in the top three. The presumptive top picks are Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor this year and most mock drafts have D'Angelo Russell going to Philly at number three. According to SB Nation, the Knicks are going to look hard at Mudiay along with Winslow if they hold onto the pick. The Knicks will have teams looking to trade up and the Celtics could be one of the better options.
According to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN New England, the Celtics are interested in Willie Cauley-Stein and could look at trading up for him. The Knicks appear to be a target for a trade and the report says that sources have reported that the Celtics are "very open" to moving up in the draft. The team has the arsenal to do it with numerous draft picks in their possession and Cauley-Stein appears to be the main target. The Celtics have two first round picks this year at 16 and 28 and they can use those to move up. The Knicks may sit tight and if they do, expect Mudiay or Winslow.
The Knicks are coming into the offseason with a ton of money to spend and they plan on using it on free agents. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Greg Monroe is expected to be a top target along with players like Goran Dragic, Marc Gasol and Rajon Rondo. The team may flirt with Jimmy Butler, but he is likely staying in Chicago, while Kevin Love could be a target if he leaves the Cavs. Frank Isola writes that the Monroe deal is nearly a guarantee and that would likely mean that players like LaMarcus Aldridge and Gasol will be off the table.
Monroe has not dealt with any serious injuries in his career and he is looking to cash in after a strong start to his career in Detroit. According to the Sporting News, the Knicks will try and skew towards the younger free agents on the market, including Monroe, Brandon Knight and Reggie Jackson over players like Rondo or Dragic. The Lakers are interested in the point guards as well and right now it looks like Dragic will remain in Miami with the Heat after his trade.
