The New York Knicks are still considering all options leading up to the upcoming NBA Draft, including the prospect of packaging their lottery pick in an attempt to land superstar forwards Kevin Durant or Kevin Love.
Coming off another nightmarish campaign, the Knicks will enter this summer with a cloud of uncertainty hovering over the heads, as they try to add more talents around superstar swingman Carmelo Anthony next season.
As a result of finishing the season with one of the five worst records in the league at 17-65, the Knickerbockers gained the consolation price of having a higher percentage of landing a top-5 pick for June’s NBA Draft.
And while the incoming rookie class is souped up with quality big men, there are chatters around the league that the Knicks might pull off a big move at draft night, packaging their lottery pick with multiple players for an established star.
NBA insider Al Iannazzone claimed in his latest report on Newsday that a league executive told him that the Knicks would not rule out the possibility of using their precious top-5 pick for a superstar if given an opportunity.
“Although Jackson and general manager Steve Mills, during a “town hall” with season-ticket holders two weeks ago, seemed to give indications that the Knicks are unlikely to trade the pick, some league insiders say the Knicks could consider doing so to become competitive immediately. Otherwise, the fix might not be as quick.”
“They could try to trade it for Kevin Durant,” one NBA executive said. “Or maybe Kevin Love. Cleveland probably would do that."
Phil Jackson believed winning the lottery and having a chance to pick first in the draft would be a big plus for any organization. However, he also thinks it wouldn’t guarantee the one-and-done college prospect is going to be a ‘slam-dunk’ superstar now than it used to be before, when seasoned college standouts like Patrick Ewing entered the league and put up big numbers right off the bat.
Durant, whose 2014-15 season came to a close earlier than expected as he struggled with a foot injury all year long, will enter the final year of his deal with Oklahoma City Thunder and become an unrestricted free-agent next summer.
On the other hand, Love will have an early termination option after this season, and many analysts are expecting him to opt out if the Cleveland Cavaliers fail to make a deep run into the postseason.