The New York Knicks reportedly might be eying either Kentucky freshman Karl-Anthony Towns or his teammate, Willie Cauley-Stein, in the 2015 NBA draft. Knicks president Phil Jackson also is open to trading the first-round draft pick, according to a report from ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
New York (12-49) is headed for the NBA draft lottery, and although what pick New York ends up with won't be known until late May, Jackson may already have his sights set on a player. ESPN's Ian Begley reported members of the Knicks' staff have been present at an abnormally large number of Kentucky basketball games, a likely indicator Jackson sees somebody on the Wildcats roster whom he likes.
"League sources say the Knicks have had either a front-office member or scout at approximately 20 of the past 30 Kentucky practices and games. This confirms a New York Daily News report that stated that no team has watched Kentucky play more than the Knicks this season," Begley wrote Sunday. "The Knicks' regular attendance at Kentucky practices and games is an interesting development. It could be taken as a sign that the Knicks have significant interest in taking Towns with their first-round pick. It could also be an indication they are doing their homework on Willie Cauley-Stein in case they fall out of the top two slots."
Towns is widely expected to go second or third in the draft, behind consensus No. 1 pick Jahlil Okafor and possibly D'Angelo Russell. Cauley-Stein will likely go toward the end of the first 10 picks.
Whomever New York drafts, though, may not stay with the Knicks for long. Jackson is considering trading the player he drafts in the first round, according to Windhorst.
Per ESPN:
"In an interview on ESPN New York's 'The Robin Lundberg Show,' ESPN NBA reporter Brian Windhorst said the Knicks are at the very least considering their options when it comes to trading their first-round pick. Specifically, Windhorst said the Knicks are looking into 'opportunities' to see 'what they could possibly get if they trade their draft pick.'"
Per NBA rules, Jackson would have to select a player on behalf of another team and then trade that player to the team.
