Best/Worst Case Scenarios
(#4 pick)
Best Case Scenario: Trading the pick for good value
You could also easily say that the best case scenario for the Knicks is to get one of Towns, Okafor, or Russell, but it’s all too likely that they go top three. To trade or not to trade, that is the question. Personally, I believe that Phil Jackson should be aggressively shopping the pick in exchange for veterans, that could help the Knicks start winning sooner rather than later. This is necessary because the 31 year old superstar SF/PF Carmelo Anthony is aging fast, and the window in which he could lead the Knicks to the title would be closed by the time a prospect like PG/SG D’Angelo Russell could develop. An interesting trade partner could be the Denver Nuggets, whom the Knicks acquired Anthony from. The Nuggets are looking to deal away their veterans to start a youth movement in Denver, and are trying to acquire all the prospects and draft picks they can: a perfect trading partner for the Knicks. Getting quality players like PG/SG Ty Lawson and/or SF Wilson Chandler should be at the top of New York’s wish list.
Worst Case Scenario: None
I’m going back and forth between proven PG Emmanuel Mudiay and the fast-rising PF/C Kristaps Porzingis at #4, should the Knicks keep their pick and Okafor, Towns and Russell go top three. I’ve come to the conclusion that I have to give the slight nod to Porzingis, but only because of his superior fit for the Knicks. He’s got superstar PF Dirk Nowitzki potential, and to maybe be a better defender than Nowitzki, as Porzingis is a big man that can shoot the lights out -- a combination valued very highly in today’s NBA. But really, I wrote “none” because Mudiay would also be a more than fine pick, as he is an excellent all-around player. The only “bad” scenario would be Phil Jackson reaching on SF Justise Winslow or C Willie Cauley-Stein, or trading the pick for bad value, of course, but that’s not going to happen.
(#4 pick)
Best Case Scenario: Trading the pick for good value
You could also easily say that the best case scenario for the Knicks is to get one of Towns, Okafor, or Russell, but it’s all too likely that they go top three. To trade or not to trade, that is the question. Personally, I believe that Phil Jackson should be aggressively shopping the pick in exchange for veterans, that could help the Knicks start winning sooner rather than later. This is necessary because the 31 year old superstar SF/PF Carmelo Anthony is aging fast, and the window in which he could lead the Knicks to the title would be closed by the time a prospect like PG/SG D’Angelo Russell could develop. An interesting trade partner could be the Denver Nuggets, whom the Knicks acquired Anthony from. The Nuggets are looking to deal away their veterans to start a youth movement in Denver, and are trying to acquire all the prospects and draft picks they can: a perfect trading partner for the Knicks. Getting quality players like PG/SG Ty Lawson and/or SF Wilson Chandler should be at the top of New York’s wish list.
Worst Case Scenario: None
I’m going back and forth between proven PG Emmanuel Mudiay and the fast-rising PF/C Kristaps Porzingis at #4, should the Knicks keep their pick and Okafor, Towns and Russell go top three. I’ve come to the conclusion that I have to give the slight nod to Porzingis, but only because of his superior fit for the Knicks. He’s got superstar PF Dirk Nowitzki potential, and to maybe be a better defender than Nowitzki, as Porzingis is a big man that can shoot the lights out -- a combination valued very highly in today’s NBA. But really, I wrote “none” because Mudiay would also be a more than fine pick, as he is an excellent all-around player. The only “bad” scenario would be Phil Jackson reaching on SF Justise Winslow or C Willie Cauley-Stein, or trading the pick for bad value, of course, but that’s not going to happen.