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The New York Knicks own two first-round picks in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Knicks own the 24th pick via the Dallas Mavericks and the 25th pick, which is their own.
New York hasn’t made a first-round draft selection since 2020, when they drafted Obi Toppin with the eight overall pick.
Now, coming off a 50-win season and second-round playoff appearance, the Knicks have a chance to add some young depth to their roster. Of course, there will be much speculation that the Knicks will attempt to trade their draft picks to land another star player.
For now, though, we’re consulting five experts’ mock drafts to see who the Knicks might land with their picks. Our experts are: Kyle Irving of The Sporting News, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo of ESPN, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, Kyle Boone of CBS, and Jeff Zillgitt and Scooby Axson of USA Today.
Here are their picks.
No. 24
Sporting News: Tidjane Salaun, F, France
Expert quote: “Salaun is a versatile defender who will give an NBA team athleticism, size and length in the frontcourt.”
ESPN: Tyler Smith, F, G League Ignite
Expert quote: “Smith made positive strides with G League Ignite and has the blueprint to develop into an effective floor-spacing forward, as well as enough size to hold his own on defense.”
The Ringer: Pacome Dadiet, F, France
Expert quote: “Dadiet could benefit from learning in New York’s system, which holds players accountable and rewards them only if they play focused, committed defense.”
Bleacher Report: Kyshawn George, G/F, Miami
Expert quote: “The combination of 6’8″ size, 40.8 percent three-point shooting, ball-handling and passing skills create an archetype and intrigue that Kyshawn George may ride into the first round.”
CBS: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Expert quote: “Edey was the best player in college basketball the last two years, and while there may be questions about his NBA fit (his shooting and his court coverage in space, in particular), there will likely be a team willing to bet on him somewhere in this range.”
USA Today: Kevin McCullar, G/F, Kansas
Expert quote: “Injury concerns aside, McCullar is an outstanding defender and productive scorer.”
No. 25
Sporting News: Ryan Dunn, F, Virginia
Expert quote: ”Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau would love having a versatile stopper like Dunn at his disposal.”
ESPN: Kel’el Ware, C, Indiana
Expert quote: “Ware has tremendous physical ability with his size, length and mobility as well as his ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim in small doses.”
The Ringer: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Expert quote: ”Edey would provide immense size and interior scoring that would give them another style of big in the rotation.”
Bleacher Report: Harrison Ingram, F, North Carolina
Expert quote: “Harrison Ingram could go in the first round to a team that sees an easy fit with shooting and passing skills for a connector.”
CBS: Nikola Djurisic, SF, Serbia
Expert quote: “Djrusic had a strong week in Chicago playing in the scrimmages at the combine by displaying real passing ability and feel for the game.”
USA Today: Kyshawn George, G/F, Miami
Expert quote: ”George is inconsistent as a scorer and playmaker, but has the ability to knock down 3s. Has shown enough as a scorer and rebounder with his size to attract first-round attention.”
Consensus Knicks draft picks
Based on the experts mock drafts above, the Knicks would come away with Purdue center Zach Edey and Miami G/F Kyshawn George.
Edey would certainly come as a bit of a surprise, given that the Knicks have Mitchell Robinson and want to re-sign Isaiah Hartenstein. Using a first-round pick on a top big man — one who doesn’t necessarily fit Tom Thibodeau’s mold of a mobile big man — would be surprising, though it’s hard to doubt Edey’s talent.
Experts think George has a way to go to become a true 3-and-D wing, but he has the foundation to become one. The Knicks could use more shooting and ball-handling, which George provides. And defending hard would be the only way for George to see the floor with the Knicks.
Of course, there is still a month to go until the draft, and the Knicks are a team whose moves have been hard to predict. It’s quite possible that if the Knicks keep these picks, they’ll go with players that even the experts didn’t see coming.