The New York Knicks will have plenty of options with the No. 4 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, but ESPN's Chad Ford says the Knicks are "entertaining" the idea of trading down if Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor and D'Angelo Russell are all off the board.
2015 NBA Draft rumors: Knicks may look to trade down, 76ers eyeing Kristaps Porzingis
The Knicks may look to trade down if Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor and D’Angelo Russell are off the board, while the 76ers are fans of Kristaps Porzingis.
Towns is expected to go No. 1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Ford says the Los Angeles Lakers may be "torn" between Okafor and Russell. Whoever doesn't get picked at No. 2 could slip past the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3, but if not, New York could find itself in a predicament.
The Knicks reportedly aren’t sold just yet on Emmanuel Mudiay or Kristaps Porzingins, and the team has been linked to several other players as possible options in trade-down scenarios, including Cameron Payne, Trey Lyles and Frank Kaminsky.
Ford notes that an ideal move for New York could be a trade back into the lottery that also nets them a quality veteran player. The Knicks need all the help they can get after a 65-loss season, so adding a lottery pick and solid veteran on draft night would be a good start.
The Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers are two teams reportedly looking to move up in the draft, with the Nuggets trying to get in the top five.
Sixers targeting Porzingis?
DraftExpress made some waves by having Porzingis go to the Philadelphia 76ers in their latest extended mock draft, and that was followed up by the talented Latvian putting on a show in front of Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie and others during a workout in Vegas. ESPN’s Marc Stein said Porzingis is in play for Philadelphia at No. 3 (and maybe even the Lakers at No. 2), and Ford reports there’s a “growing feeling” Porzingis could be the Sixers’ target on draft night.
Furthermore, Jake Pavorsky at Liberty Ballers reports Hinkie is "head-over-heels" for Porzingis. Philly already has several young big men in the pipeline, but Joel Embiid is a huge question mark because of his health issues and Dario Saric remains an unknown as well. If Hinkie truly is in love with Porzinigs, he may just be the pick and the possible logjam gets figured out later.
While Hinkie is a big fan of Porzingis, he certainly isn’t the only one:
Woj, on WFAN radio w/ @JoeandEvan, says: "So many teams want to trade up for Porzingis, that it could change the completion of this draft…"
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) June 16, 2015
There’s some potential for fireworks in this draft.
Nets looking to trade up
The Brooklyn Nets have the 29th pick thanks to their pick swap with the Atlanta Hawks, and the Nets are trying to move up in the draft. Interestingly enough, they're reportedly looking to deal Mason Plumlee to do it:
They are trying with goal of moving up in the draft. https://t.co/ovcMYAGILV
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) June 15, 2015 Plumlee was once viewed as a franchise cornerstone, but he regressed last season and is more expendable if the plan is to re-sign Brook Lopez to a long-term deal. The Nets need cheap, young talent on the roster, but if they can get one with more upside by trading up in this draft, dealing away Plumlee could be the right play.
Payne injures hand during workout
Like Porzingis, Murray State point guard Cameron Payne has seen his stock rise throughout the draft process. He’s worked out for numerous teams in the top 10, including the Nuggets on Monday. Unfortunately, that workout was cut short due to a right hand injury, according to Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post.
Payne underwent X-rays on the hand, but it doesn’t appear the injury is too serious and it was diagnosed as bruised.
Qualls tears ACL
In other injury news, Arkansas wing Michael Qualls has been dealt a tough blow in the days leading up to the draft:
Terrible news: Arkansas wing Michael Qualls tore his ACL in a workout in Phoenix. Injury diagnosed by the Lakers next day. Out 6-12 months.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 15, 2015 Qualls was pegged as a possible second-round pick, but this devastating injury may lead to him going undrafted.
Decisions made for international early entrants
The deadline for international early entrants to withdraw from the draft came and went on Monday afternoon, and as expected, Porzingis and Mario Hezonja kept their name in the draft. Other players expected to be picked include Guillermo Hernangomez, Nikola Milutinov, Mouhammadou Jaiteh and Cedi Osman.
Several notable players took their name out of the draft with the hope of getting picked higher in future years. This list includes Aleksandar Vezenkov, Timothe Luwawu and George de Paula.
DraftExpress has the full list of players who decided either way.
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