The New York Knicks were searching for a way to get into the 2014 NBA Draft, and by trading Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to the Dallas Mavericks, the Knicks received the No. 34 and No. 51 picks in the draft along with four other players. A prime target with the No. 34 pick could be Patric Young, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Patric Young, P.J. Hairston are potential targets of Knicks’ new draft picks
Patric Young is a strong interior presence who has a good chance to be available when the Knicks pick at No. 34.
Jamie Squire
Young impressed Knicks president Phil Jackson in a workout earlier this month, and the 22-year-old would be a nice addition to a frontcourt that needs some with the departure of Chandler. Young is a physical presence down low who would bring some toughness and post defense. The exiting senior averaged 11.0 points and 6.2 rebounds last season at Florida.
Young is projected by most to be an early second-round pick, although his stock has been rising of late and he could sneak into the first round.
The Knicks are also high on P.J. Hairston and Tyler Ennis, although it’s unlikely either of those players fall into the second round. Ennis is a potential lottery pick, while Hairston is projected to go late in the first round. Hairston could fall if teams are scared off by his legal issues at North Carolina, but it still seems like a long shot that he falls to No. 34.
To have a chance at drafting Hairston or Ennis, New York would likely have to trade into the first round. The Knicks likely don't have enough cash to trade into the first due to giving money to Toronto in the Andrea Bargnani trade, but they've been dangling Iman Shumpert in trade talks. New York could also look to package these new picks to try and get a first-round selection.
With the No. 51 pick, the Knicks could be eyeing Jahii Carson, the speedy point guard out of Arizona State. New York recently worked out Carson, who’s projected to go in the second round.
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