The Knicks, like the rest of the 14 worst teams in the NBA this season, will learn where they’ll pick in the 2019 NBA Draft next week when the Draft Lottery takes place.
Every Knicks fan is dreaming of landing the top overall pick and Duke superstar Zion Williamson, but there is only a 14 percent chance of that happening. As such, the Knicks have to be ready for other scenarios that see them slip in the lottery, and they are apparently fans of another one of Duke’s freshmen.
Ian Begley of SNY reports the Knicks talent evaluators are high on Cam Reddish, who had a rough season at Duke that dropped his draft profile considerably for many. The Knicks cannot pick worse than fifth overall, and as such it would be stunning to see him go to New York, but he apparently has caught their eye.
Now, Begley goes on to note this doesn’t mean he’s a target of the Knicks, but it is simply worth noting how they view him.
Again, this is not to say that the Knicks will certainly target Reddish if they end up picking fourth or fifth. There is a long way to go between now and when they’re on the clock on June 20. But Reddish does have New York talent evaluators who think highly of him.
It would be a surprise if the Knicks took Reddish in the top five given that many view him as a mid-to-late lottery prospect at this point, but it could indicate that if New York were to slide in the lottery to their worst-case potential, a trade back may be considered. If someone in the back half of the lottery felt compelled to try and move up and snag someone higher on boards than Reddish, and New York believed they’d get better value out of a pick later (with Reddish or someone else), then it may be possible they’d consider a move.
Still, Knicks fans will hope they don’t have to worry about any of that after lottery night, as the top pick would assure them Zion, or possibly Anthony Davis, if they wanted to go that route. If not, expect plenty of reports out of Knicks-land that will have fans concerned and nervous about what the team will do on draft night.
