Draft Night Trades

With the Knicks not being able to trade their first round pick this year until Draft Night, so it'll be hard to figure out what the Orange and Blue want to do with the #4 selection. For a second, let us imagine Towns, Okafor, and Russell are picked top 3. In this scenario the top prospect on the board should be PG Emmanuel Mudiay. Our president of Basketball Operations has stated over and over again that the Triangle is the offense the Knicks want to run. For better or worse they are probably only going to try and fill this team with players that fit the system as well as possible. Frankly though, Mudiay is not one of those players and here's why.

Mudiay can't shoot. Not only is he just a bad three point shooter, he also is a terrible FT shooter as well, and he's questionable from mid-range as well. He's probably one of the most ball dominant guard in this draft. He routinely made bad decisions, and in the CBA, where competition is nowhere near as tough in the NBA, his defense was bad. His inexperience on that end showed, and boy did it show. Just ask former New York Knick PG Stephon Marbury who dropped 38 points while being guarded by Mudiay in a series clinching win in game 4 win against Mudiay's Guangdong Tigers in the CBA Semi's.

Mudiay does have a lot going for him as a prospect though. He's an explosive athlete that is really strong. Can finish over ANYONE, and he does have decent court vision which should only improve like it did in China. Mudiay is not just tall for a PG (he's 6'5) he's also extremely big for one too (playing around 215lbs of muscle in China right now), and he's also has good length (6'9" wingspan). Mudiay is fast and really quick, but he was never John Wall quick like people seem to think. Mudiay is more of a Derrick Rose type of athlete than Wall type. Mudiay can dominate a game in the scoring column due to his great finishing ability evident by his 24 points in a Game 3 win against Marbury's Ducks. Where he got to the basket seemingly at will.

Drafting Mudiay is basically saying the Knicks aren't just planning on not contending anytime soon, but they are also not going to be building around Anthony going forward. Mudiay is going to take longer than any of the other top 4 guys to reach his ceiling.

In come the Sacramento Kings.

If the second best PG in franchise history is Mike Bibby, then there's some problems SacTown. The Kings have been in dire need of a franchise-caliber PG for a while, maybe even since they moved to the Bay Area. The Kings have been one of the teams being rumored of wanting to move up in the draft this year. So this is where the trade idea comes from.

The Kings send the Knicks Darren Collison and the #6 Pick in the draft for #4 (Mudiay). This trade makes plenty sense for both sides. The Knicks are getting a good scheme fit in + established talent in Collison while only dropping two spots. From the Kings point of view they get their guy. A PG with star upside to add alongside their Cousins and Gay core

Lets face it, Calderon is probably on the move even if they don't acquire a PG in the draft or through Free Agency. Plenty contenders would still be willing to add Calderon as a starting role player or as a back-up point guard. Here's a short list of teams that would be interested in Calderon's services:

Portland Trailblazers

Chicago Bulls

Houston Rockets

Memphis Grizzlies

Toronto Raptors

Washington Wizards

Dallas Mavericks

Oklahoma City Thunder

If any of those teams were to actually call for Calderon on draft night, you'd have to assume the Knicks are going to want to listen. Collison's contract is worth around $5M next year. I find it hard to believe after finding up an upgrade Collison The Knicks would want to keep Calderon's egregious contract. The most likely scenario would include the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls send Pick #22 and SF Mike Dunleavy (S&T) to New York for PG Jose Calderon & SG Tim Hardaway Jr.

Of course this trade is going to get a little back lash because we're giving up one of our young pieces to basically move back into the first round. But in all honesty, THJ's development has been a major disappointment. Also adding depth behind Melo is a must this offseason and doing it with a silky smooth shooter like Dunleavy would do wonders for our second unit and we would also add another first round selection in the trade.

Also look for us to be active in the second round as we could send trade exemptions and cash considerations to the following teams: Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and others. But for this mock I'm going to choose the Thunder (#48) and 76ers (#37).

The Draft

Without further ado the Knicks are on the board at #6. There are only 3 guys the Knicks should and probably will really look at this pick (and number 4 as well), and they are Latvian Big Kristaps Porzingis, Duke Wing Justise Winslow, and Croatian Wing Mario Hezonja. With Magic being tied to Porzingis more than any other team in the top 10 expect him to be gone by 6. But I'll still go into depth on all three.

The Case For Kristaps Porzingis

The Knicks need size. The Knicks need shooting. Most of all however, the Knicks need a rim protector in the baddest way. How about we add all three in one selection? Porzingis is a 7 footer with 3PT range, and the above the rim athleticism to make an enormous contribution of defense. Want to talk upside? There are probably only 3 players in this draft with a higher ceiling than Porzingis. One of those guys is already in SacTown, while another probably went #1 overall (Towns). The last guy? I'll get to him in a second though. This guys defensive potential could match up with Salt Lake's Stifle Tower.

With such a rare combo of skills and high ceiling it's hard to believe that the draft community is relatively quite about him. Which raises the question, why isn't the community talking about this guy more? Well it's really simple, calling him a risk is an understatement. At 220lbs he is way too thin for his size and the NBA. The kid looks like a cart the way he gets pushed around in the post. He is routinely bullied in the post by much smaller players and that is worrisome. Adding weight and strength is a must. You want to see him finish through contact? Forget about it.

In summary Porzingis has the potential to Dirk on offense and Ibaka on D. That sounds great in theory, but this guy isn't going to be a starter likely for the first couple years he's in the NBA, and isn't that why we passed on Mudiay?

The Case for Justice Winslow

Probably everyone on this site knows about Duke Star Winslow by now. Since falling to #4 the Knicks have been tied to Winslow almost as much as Mudiay. What's not to like about Iggy 2.0? Before people think this is a slight to Winslow as a prospect, it's not. He plays the game like Iggy, but unlike Iggy, in the early stages of his career, Winslow's jump shot isn't broken (although his mechanics need work). The James Harden comparisons are lazy. He's a left handed 2 that attacks at an alarming rate, but thats where the similarities end. Winslow plays much more in control. And his game is smoother than Harden's herk-a-jerk style. He's already a good 1v1 defender. Winslow is also a super hard worker and will probably continue to develop.

Winslow is an elite athlete and loves playing above the rim. Winslow can also create his own shot, can rebound, and can hit the outside shot. Although he does those things well, he's not even close to elite at any of those areas. Winslow struggled to secure a lottery spot before the tournament. His inconsistency is a major red flag, especially considering he was the 3rd option for the Blue Devils for a majority of the season. Winslow also needs to be a much more aggressive player and the demand the ball. His mechanics need work if he wants to hit outside shots with consistency, also isn't really good at creating for his teammates and has suspect court vision. FT shooting is also a huge worry.

In summary Winslow is a high upside guy with a great work ethic, and his faults are all correctable. It's also a plus that Melo likes the kid.

The Case for Mario Hezonja

Mario Hezonja has the highest upside in this draft. Players with higher upside than Hezonja in the past 5 drafts include, Anthony Davis and Andrew Wiggins. Case closed. This kid's combination of athleticism, length, size, shooting stroke, ball handling skills, passing skills, court vision and basketball IQ at the age of 20 is unreal. Think work ethic is a problem? No way. Hezonja is a gym rat (when he's not partying and causing problems). Hezonja is a strong finisher with the ability to play above the rim. If you want to a barometer of how varying his skill set, Hezonja could be the first player ever to win the 3PT contest and the Slam Dunk contest. Want to know if he can defend? Hezonja will probably only a couple players to come into the league and be asked to defend the opposition's best offensive player. While he might have his growing pains Hezonja will most likely be a plus defender and an elite defender later in his career. He's also a very good rebounder for a 2 guard thanks to his size and athleticism. As a scorer Hezonja can hit a shot from anywhere on the court. With his feet set, off balance, leaning in, or hand in his face it won't matter he can make it. His ability to play the pick and roll is unmatched by any wing in this draft. And is great at setting up his teammates.

For Hezonja limitless upside comes with a major red flag. His attitude, If you want to talk comparisons, then the best one is Kobe Bryant. The way Hezonja approaches the game is very similar. Hezonja's mechanics are just as smooth (although forms are not similar). Hezonja is also competitive to a fault. By that I mean he yells at his teammates when they don't play to his lofty standards. And when it happened the first time, he was isolated by his teammates. He expects everyone on his team to be on his level of play. His youth also evident by his shot selection and his decision making.

Reaching stardom is only a matter of time for Hezonja. His claim of being this years best player earlier this season wasn't that far off at all. He'll give the Knicks something they sorely lacked in the locker room and on the court this season. Hezonja's rare and huge set of skills. He's someone who can light the scoring column, and still have double digit assists. Putting Hezonja next to Melo will help the kid tremendously allowing to him ease into a role of #2 option until Melo retires.

W/ the 6th Pick in the NBA Draft, the New York Knicks Select....

Mario Hezonja, SG, Barcelona (Intl.), 6'8" 215 Pounds

Hezonja just offers too much value and upside to pass up at #6. His style of play will translate to the Association right out of the gates. And that's what the Knicks need in their first round selection, a guy who can contribute right away. He'll take pressure off of Melo right away with his ability to create shots for himself and everyone around him.

W/ the 22nd Pick in the NBA Draft, the New York Knicks Select....

I'll keep this one short. I'm not going to go into a 3-Way battle for this pick as this one should be more clear cut. Big man, or a back up and long term solution at PG. I'll go with the later in this one since most all of the big's left on the board are either undersized and in need of serious refinement or limited potentially and only worth second round selections.

Danilo Fuzaro, PG, Minas (Intl.), 6'5" 185 Pounds

The Knicks are going to need someone who can contribute and learn behind Collison for a couple years (Collison has two years remaining on his contract). Fuzaro is the perfect blend of High Character and Hard Working. While those are two of his big selling points, it's not his best. That right is reserved for his World Class athleticism. While his countryman George de Paula gets most of the attention, a lot of scouts and GM's believe that Fuzaro is the superior prospect. Not just to de Paula either, most think Fuzaro is the best player to come out of Brazil in the past decade. He loves playing above the rim, but his jumper is consistent enough to demand respect; he hits it with regularity, especially from mid range. Fuzaro is also one of the best perimeter defenders in the draft, can isolate and completely neutralize his matchup. Fuzaro loves contact and scoring around the basket. He keeps his dribble alive until he either passes the ball or shoots. Good passer, and great rebounder for a PG. His lack of experience and exposure make leave him overlooked by many. He is top tier Lottery talent falling to #22, if he doesn't go here than he'll probably fall to a team in the early 30's. Which if he does fall, expect he'll go back to Brazil for another year.

The Second Round

With Pick #37 the New York Knicks Select: PF Richaun Holmes, 6'10" 250 Pounds, Bowling Green University

Holmes is a big man with excellent quickness for his size. He's a very athletic big who is an extremely good shot blocker because of it. He has great anticipation on defense, and throws shots with regularity. His face-up game is a big selling point, if he can knock down the mid-range shot with consistency he'll be a good defense first big. Athleticism jump shot and rebounding will allow him to be a pretty good 3rd big role. Needs seasoning in D-League though. Is a poor man's Ibaka.

With Pick #48 the New York Knicks Select: Wing JP Tokoto, 6'6" 195, Pounds, University of North Carolina



Tokoto made himself a lot of money with a strong combine. Tokoto is a luxury at this point I know, but can we really have too much depth. He'll have to get much better at shooting from the perimeter to actually contribute to a team. Probably a player we can draft and stash in the D-League while he works on that jump shot. Can be a lethal 3&D guy considering his athleticism if he's willing to put in the work. A lot like Danny Green coming out of college.

Depth Chart After Draft and Before Free Agency

PG: Darren Collison // Danilo Fuzaro // Langston Galloway

SG: Mario Hezonja // Langston Galloway // JP Tokoto

SF: Carmelo Anthony // Mike Dunleavy // Cleanthony Early // Thannis Antempkoupo

PF: // Richaun Holmes //

C:

Free Agent Signings

Paul Millsap, PF, Atlanta Hawks

3 Years/$34.41 Million Deal ($11.47M/Year)

Look, unlike most Knicks fans, I am realistic. I don't think Marc Gasol wants to come here. I don't think LaMarcus Aldridge wants to come here. So who should the top option be to add to our front court? My first answer is Draymond Green. One of the best defenders in the league, and he provides a perfect fit next to Melo at the 4. But is Golden St. going to let him walk? Not unless the Warriors are absolutely demential. So with that pipe dream out of my system, who else can is a good two-way PF in FA this year? Well no one else brings the do-it-all skill set except for Paul Millsap. Sneakily one of the better defensive bigs in the game, to go along with his ever evolving offensive game. Millsap is a good passer, good rebounder, and a good shooter from all over the court. Him and Melo would create a nice forward combo. Millsap is looking at about 10m-12m per year at this point, and honestly he's more than worth it. Outside of Melo there is no veteran leadership on the roster so adding Millsap who was a part of Atlanta's deep play off run should be a must. If Green is available and Warriors don't plan on matching he should be the first choice. But Millsap is good player and can impact the game just as much as Green can.

Robin Lopez, C, Portland Trailblazers

3 Years/$25.59M Deal (8.53/Year)

Robin Lopez is the type of player we need at C. He might not be the super glamorous pick up, but Lopez has always been my favorite Spartan Robot. Okay all jokes aside, how can you not like Robin? He works at correcting his faults every offseason and gets better in some departments. With Gasol not going anywhere and LMA probably leaving Portland for Texas, that leaves DeAndre Jordan and Robin Lopez on the board as viable options at C. If Aldridge leaves the Blazers are reportedly going to offer Jordan the max. That's including the plethora of max contracts he's likely to receive from everywhere this offseason. Well Lopez offers what Jordan can do (albeit not as well) and then some. He can pass well for a big man, he can finish well, he plays good defense and is an invaluable rim protector. Lopez doesn't demand shots either. He's might ever not win Defensive Player of the Year, but he'll give the Knicks a solid starting C that can rotate with whoever we have backing him up. He can also hit FT with regularity. Oh yeah, Lopez comes an astonishing $10M cheaper than Jordan.

Alexis Ajinca, F/C, New Orleans Pelicans

4 Years/15.48 (3.87/Year)

When he was starting for the Pelicans this season Alexis Ajinca averaged, 9.6PPG and 6.8RPG. Those numbers look pedestrian, but when you factor in he didn't get starters minutes (only averaged 21.6MPG when he started) those are high end bench big man numbers. Ajinca is also a good rim protector given his 7'2" height and his 7'9" wingspan. He also is a high IQ player and is a solid passer able to find the open man when need arise. He's a fluid athlete that can run the court and be a huge disruptive presence at the rim. While his post game is still a WIP, it's improving quickly to go along with his already fluid face up game.

Knicks Re-Sign C Jason Smith to 2 year $4.4M Deal ($2.2/Y)

Knicks Re-Sign PF Andrea Bargnani to a 2 Year $4.2M Deal ($2.1/Y)





Roster After Free Agency

PG: Darren Collison // Danilo Fuzaro // Langston Galloway

SG: Mario Hezonja // Langston Galloway // Thannis Antempkoupo

SF: Carmelo Anthony // Mike Dunleavy // Cleanthony Early

PF: Paul Millsap // Alexis Ajinca // Andrea Bargnani

C: Robin Lopez // Alexis Ajinca // Jason Smith

Bold Predictions for the 2015-16 NBA Season

Mario Hezonja wins NBA RoY Award in closest race since the year Elton Brand tied with Steve Francis.

Hezonja Averages: 18.3 PPG | 6.4 RPG | 4.9 APG | 1.6 SPG | .7 BPG | 48% FG% | 38% 3PT% | 84% FT% | 2.7 TPG

The New York Knicks win 47+ Games, and place 2nd in the Atlantic Division behind the Toronto Raptors. They do finish with the 4th best record in the Eastern Conference.

Robin Lopez finished 3rd in DPoY voting. The New York Knicks team defense improves to a top 12 defense (11th). Our offense ranks 5th overall.