The New York Knicks are hoping to use their first round pick to find a franchise centerpiece and another core player, but a tiebreaker caused them to fall from the No. 6 overall pick to the No. 7 pick. The lottery may change that, but for now, let's assume they have that selection. Who will they take? Here are the three players they are most likely to target:
1) De'Aaron Fox, Fr., PG, Kentucky Wildcats
Fox's stock is rising after the NCAA Tournament, and he's a good fit with the Knicks who need a point guard with Derrick Rose entering free agency. He has the size (6'4") and athleticism that NBA teams love, along with having the scoring ability to take over a game. That being said, he is also a pass-first point guard that would rather get his teammates involved. He's a bit like former Kentucky point guard John Wall in that sense - dangerous scorer, but he's most dangerous with his passing ability.
Fox's jump shot is a work in progress, but his form is fluid and he developed a good mid-range shot and floater as the college season went on. All that leads me to believe he will eventually be able to hit from the perimeter consistently.
2) Dennis Smith Jr., Fr., PG, NC State Wolfpack
New York would be more than happy to land a player with Smith's potential now that he has fully recovered from a torn ACL he suffered in high school. Smith is an elite athlete and lightning quick. Couple that with very good ball handling, and Smith can get to where ever he wants on the court. He can play a little reckless at times and doesn't have the most reliable jumper, but all of the physical tools of a star are there.
3) Malik Monk, SG, Fr., Kentucky Wildcats
Landing Monk might be the best-case scenario for the Knicks, assuming they don't jump into the top three in the lottery. His dynamic shooting and scoring ability nearly helped Kentucky make the Elite 8. There were times this year when he was simply unstoppable, and New York needs a perimeter weapon like that - especially as they prepare to move on from Carmelo Anthony.
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