Like last year, the Knicks will have two first-round picks this July. They have their own pick, which will likely be post-lottery, and the Mavericks selection thanks to the 2019 Porzingis trade. In this mock, the blue and orange will be picking 18th and 21st — just outside the lottery but still within range of some high-quality prospects.
The largest team needs for the Knicks are probably the two most important positions in the NBA — starting PG and wing.
It is sad to say that Raymond Felton is very possibly the most accomplished Knick floor general of the 21st century. This has been a position the Knicks have inexplicably neglected for decades at their peril; it has become a permitter-oriented league and for too long the organization has lived in the past. Let this be the offseason that the organization finally finds a long-term piece at the position.
The NY Knicks have had more success at wing during recent years, what with names like Carmelo Anthony, but the cupboard is now bare. Reggie Bullock and Alec Burks are not long-term starters and Kevin Knox has not lived up to the hype generated by his 2018 summer league performance. If the Knicks want to reach lofty heights under Thibs and Leon Rose, they absolutely must find a quality 3.
So, this begs the question, who exactly will the Knicks take in the 2021 draft? Well, I’ll offer an answer in a moment. Before, that, though, we must project the rest of the draft so as to create a realistic draft board for New York when it’s their time to pick.
NY Knicks</a> will soon be on the clock.</p>
<p>Like last year, the Knicks will have two first-round picks this July. They have their own pick, which will likely be post-lottery, and the Mavericks selection thanks to the 2019 Porzingis trade. In this mock, the blue and orange will be picking 18th and 21st — just outside the lottery but still within range of some high-quality prospects.</p>
<p>The largest team needs for the Knicks are probably the two most important positions in the NBA — starting PG and wing.</p>
<p>It is sad to say that Raymond Felton is very possibly the most accomplished Knick floor general of the 21st century. This has been a position the Knicks have inexplicably neglected for decades at their peril; it has become a permitter-oriented league and for too long the organization has lived in the past. Let this be the offseason that the organization finally finds a long-term piece at the position.</p>
<p>The NY Knicks have had more success at wing during recent years, what with names like Carmelo Anthony, but the cupboard is now bare. <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/06/ny-knicks-reggie-bullock-has-quietly-become-a-key-role-player-for-ny/">Reggie Bullock</a> and <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/19/ny-knicks-handle-alec-burks-absence/">Alec Burks</a> are not long-term starters and Kevin Knox has not lived up to the hype generated by his 2018 summer league performance. If the Knicks want to reach lofty heights under Thibs and Leon Rose, they absolutely must find a quality 3.</p>
<h2>The Knicks will have plenty of options in the NBA Draft</h2>
<p>So, this begs the question, who exactly will the Knicks take in the 2021 draft? Well, I’ll offer an answer in a moment. Before, that, though, we must project the rest of the draft so as to create a realistic draft board for New York when it’s their time to pick.</p>
<p>The NBA draft order is based on a lottery simulation I ran <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"http://www.tankathon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Picks 1-2 </a>
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March Madness</a> bore witness to Mobley’s immense skillset during USC’s run to the Elite 8. It is rare to find a 7 footer who can shoot, playmaker, defend, and run the floor like Mobley. He is polished and will be ready to play on day 1. He is everything that NBA teams want in the modern big man.</p>
<p><strong>4. Golden State Warriors (from Minnesota), Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State</strong></p>
<p>I never want to hear a Warrior fan complain about anything for as long as I live.</p>
<p><a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/27/ny-knicks-draft-3-prospects-sweet-16/2/">Scottie Barnes</a> would be a natural fit in Golden State. He is the kind of player that the organization has come to value quite highly. He is a 6-9’ playmaker with the defensive ability and a high motor. He has drawn comparisons to Draymond Green and has a higher upside than the controversial Warriors forward. Others have compared Barnes to Ben Simmons.</p>
<p><strong>5. Detroit Pistons, Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite</strong></p>
<p>Jalen Suggs would make sense here, but the Pistons only just drafted Killian Hayes at the point guard position and likely still want to get a look at the young Frenchman after an injury-plagued rookie season.</p>
<p>So, instead, I have Detroit selecting Jonathan Kuminga, a raw, high upside prospect who played with Jalen Green on the G League Ignite team. This would be a swing-for-the-fences type pick that a struggling, rebuilding franchise like the Pistons can afford to make. In transition Kuminga looks like a prime Tracy McGrady, soaring down the floor in a flash and finishing with hyper-athletic dunks.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Picks 6-8 </a>
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starting point guard</a> for many years. Though there are no guarantees of finding one at this stage of the first round, Dosunmu is a half-decent bet.</p>
<p>Ayo flashes all the potential skills to be a long-time team-leading floor general in the pros. Throughout his three years at Illinois, Dosunmu showed an ability to control the offensive pace, take care of the basketball, and make heady decisions every time down the floor. He’s more than a mere game manager though; he’s crafty when looking to drive and can knock down 3s. He is also an able perimeter defender.</p>
<p><strong>19. Charlotte Hornets, Day’Ron Sharpe, C, University of North Carolina</strong></p>
<p>Day’Ron Sharpe is a North Carolina lifer, and his stay in the state continues in this mock draft.</p>
<p>Sharpe brings to mind James Wiseman. Both can do more than simply screen, roll, post-up, and rebound — though Sharpe is good at all of those things. Sharpe can also take defenders off the dribble, make plays for his teammates, and guard perimeter players.</p>
<p><strong>20. San Antonio Spurs, Josh Giddey, PG, Australia</strong></p>
<p>Giddey is one of the most interesting prospects in this draft. There are some who would tell you that Giddey is a top-ten prospect, while others, like the writers at NBAdraft.net, project him as an early second-rounder.</p>
<p>Giddey’s supporters will talk up his size at 6 foot 8, his flashy passing and ball handling, and his ability to knock down 3s. His stock has been helped by LaMelo Ball’s success this season, as Lamelo did in 2019-2020, Giddey has been honing his craft in the Australian NBL.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Picks 21-24 (Knicks 2nd selection) </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-115832 size-full" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2023,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1301315187.jpeg" alt="NBA Draft" width="3200" height="2023" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1301315187.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1301315187-768x486.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Brandon Boston Jr. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>NBA Draft Mock 1.0: NY goes for high ceiling</h2>
<p><strong>21. New York Knicks (from Dallas), Brandon “B.J.” Boston, F, Kentucky</strong></p>
<p>One thing I can almost guarantee: Leon Rose is going to select at least one Kentucky guy in every draft for the <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"https://dailyknicks.com/2020/10/28/knicks-rumors-fear-ny-kentucky-pipeline/">foreseeable future</a>. It won’t matter if he has to reach for them, trade up, down, whatever — Rose is a former Creative Arts Agency agent with exceedingly close ties to John Calipari and the University of Basketball men’s basketball program and has implicitly made clear that he is trying to replicate the culture of that program with the Knicks.</p>
<p>Brandon Boston Jr. will be a project. He went into this year’s college basketball season seen as a potential top 5 pick, but poor individual and team play has put him in later range. On this year’s 9-16 Kentucky team, Boston averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 steals on 36 percent shooting and 30 percent from 3.</p>
<p>Boston does have all the tools and at his best could be a Jayson Tatum/Brandon Ingram type all-star. Given how poorly his college season went, though, this would be a risky selection given the immediate need at wing. Leon Rose took that paid off with Immanuel Quickley, and he may feel that he can double his luck and create a dynamic tandem for The NY Knicks.</p>
<p><strong>22. Denver Nuggets, Johnny Juzang, G, UCLA</strong></p>
<p>I struggled to figure out where exactly to put 2021 NCAA tournament superstar Johnny Juzang in this mock draft. Some see him as a lottery pick while others still believe he is a second-rounder; all the while Juzang may forgo this year’s NBA draft entirely and return for another season at UCLA.</p>
<p>I’m sort of splitting the difference and giving him to the Nuggets here. Juzang is the kind of player the Nuggets really seem to value — a creative scoring guard with lights out shooting and off-ball versatility. Like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr, Juzang is a walking bucket who could thrive in Denver’s Nikola Jokic centric offense.</p>
<p><strong>23. Houston Rockets (from Portland), Kai Jones, Texas, C</strong></p>
<p>Jones is the kind of prospect the Rockets can be patient with. He is quite raw, and his stats through two years at Texas are not overly impressive, but Jones is highly athletic and flashes some multi-faceted skills on offense and defense. He reminds one of a player like Myles Turner, another Texas alumnus.</p>
<p><strong>24. Houston Rockets (from Bucks), Daishen Nix, G League Ignite, PG</strong></p>
<p>Nix was the floor general of the G League Ignite, handling the ball ahead of lottery picks Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga.</p>
<p>Nix’s basketball IQ and playmaking polish are potentially elite and he could be a 10 assist a night guy in his prime. His shooting numbers, however, were quite poor at 18% from 3 and 38% overall, and this must improve dramatically if he has to stick around in the league.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Picks 25-27 </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-117534 size-full" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1311014139.jpeg" alt="NBA Draft" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1311014139.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1311014139-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Jared Butler, NY Knicks.(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>NBA Draft Mock 1.0: Jared Butler falls to LA</h2>
<p><strong>25. Los Angeles Lakers, Jared Butler, G, Baylor</strong></p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>LeBron has been known to lobby his front offices for National Champion stars before. In this case, the Lakers would land a very solid, sharp shooting role player in Butler on day one. This is a guy who will be ready to contribute for a championship contender immediately and, much like during this year’s NCAA tournament, will not be afraid of the playoff or finals spotlight.</p>
<p><strong>26. Los Angeles Clippers, Alperen Sengun, C, Turkey</strong></p>
<p>Sengun put up impressive stats in the Turkish Super League this season, averaging 19 points and 9.4 rebounds a game on 63 percent shooting from the floor and 81 percent from the line. Sengun moves well for his size and can make baskets in the post or off the dribble. His offensive game is a bit like prime Serge Ibaka’s, but Sengun will need to learn to stretch out and hit three pointers, an aspect of his game which is currently missing.</p>
<p><strong>27. Brooklyn Nets, Joel Ayayi, SG, Gonzaga</strong></p>
<p>Joel Ayayi is the ideal prospect to add to the Nets super-team mix. In fact, his role on a team like the Nets would be similar to that of what he did for Gonzaga this year: knock down open jumpers, run some secondary point, and defend the permitter. Ayayi is also a good rebounder willing to get his hands dirty, a trait he shares with former teammate Jalen Suggs.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Picks 28-30 </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-117714 size-full" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1309483711.jpeg" alt="NBA Draft" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1309483711.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1309483711-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>NBA Draft Mock 1.0: The end of the 1st round</h2>
<p><strong>28. Phoenix Suns, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, PF, Villanova</strong></p>
<p>Given that CP isn’t going to be around much longer, the Suns need to maximize their roster in the short term. Like most Villanova guys in recent years, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl will enter the league ready to play. Also like a lot of the recent Villanova alumnus, Robinson-Earl is multi-faceted: he can score from distance and up close, and is mobile for his size. He averaged a near double-double for his college career at 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds over two seasons.</p>
<p><strong>29. Philadelphia 76ers, Marcus Bagley, F, Arizona State</strong></p>
<p>Marcus is Sacramento Kings’ lottery pick Marvin Bagley’s little brother, and I am mocking him to the Sixers. The Sixers, as well as their GM Daryl Morey, have always valued 3-and-d wings and Bagley could be a highly effective one.</p>
<p>Bagley averaged 10.8 per game on 39 percent from the floor and 35 percent from beyond the arc. He’ll have time to learn and grow in Philadelphia and could join Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton, Tyrese Maxey, Furkan Korkmaz, and others as long-term depth pieces around Joel, Ben, and Tobias.</p>
<p><strong>30. Utah Jazz, Roko Prkacin, F, Croatia</strong></p>
<p>The Jazz have the best record in the NBA, so they are picking last in this NBA draft.</p>
<p>The Jazz don’t have many, if any, holes on their roster, and are in a position to select a long-term project.</p>
<p>Prkacin reminds me a little of Deni Avdija, the 9th overall pick to the Washington Wizards in last year’s draft. Both Avdija and Prkacin are skilled ball handlers for their size with playmaking upside. They are also guys with some shooting question marks that possibly limit their overall ceiling.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="A thank you letter to Theo Pinson" data-url="https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/20/ny-knicks-a-thank-you-letter-to-theo-pinson/#" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/22/ny-knicks-2021-mock-nba-draft-1/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/20/ny-knicks-a-thank-you-letter-to-theo-pinson/#"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> A thank you letter to Theo Pinson </a> </div>
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