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NBA Draft: New York Knicks Making No. 4 Pick ‘Very Available’ In Trade Talks

Ryan Ward NBA News
USA Today

USA Today

The New York Knicks headed into the 2015 NBA Draft Lottery with high hopes of getting their hands of the top pick. Many anticipated the storied franchise to target either Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor in the upcoming draft giving Phil Jackson the frontcourt player of his dreams.

Unfortunately, the Knicks had the worst result of any team in contention for the top pick on Tuesday. New York fell to four after having favorable chances of getting at least a pick in the top two which would’ve resulted in getting either Towns or Okafor.

Almost immediately after the Knicks learned the bad news, the rumors started to circulate about the team seriously considering trading their lottery pick. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports says to expect New York to dangle the pick as trade bait:

Although the Knicks may ultimately send the pick elsewhere for a package of picks or a proven star player, the New York franchise is lined up to take Emmanuel Mudiay with the fourth overall pick on June 25. Most NBA mock drafts right now have the Minnesota Timberwolves taking Karl-Anthony Towns with the top pick, Jahlil Okafor heading to the Los Angeles Lakers with the second selection and D’Angelo Russell being taken with the third overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.

With those three draft prospects potentially off the board, Mudiay is the next in line with the Knicks sitting with the fourth pick. Mudiay is a solid prospect and may be the most talented point guard in the draft, but it seems Jackson and company are looking for a better option to upgrade their roster this summer.

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