3 New York Knicks Draft Rumors You Need To Know

The New York Knicks have the No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft, and there has been a lot of clutter to sort through as to their plans with the pick. Here are three rumors you need to know:

Sixers To Block New York From Jahlil Okafor, D'Angelo Russell?

New York is hoping one of the top three prospects – Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, and D’Angelo Russell – will fall to them. However, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Philadelphia 76ers are set on making sure the Knicks don’t land one of those three.

According to a league source, the Sixers, who pick third, still have a firm Big 3 of Karl-Anthony Towns, Russell and Okafor and won’t let any of the trio slip to Phil Jackson. Despite their young, marquee depth up front, the Sixers would take Okafor even if it’s to collect an asset to trade later.

Kristaps Porzingis Wants To Play In New York

Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis wants to throw his name into the conversation for the No. 4 pick, and in a conversation with Sports Illustrated, Porzingis said he wants to end up playing in the Big Apple:

“For sure, it’s a big spotlight being here, playing here in New York, a lot of pressure,” Porzingis said. “But I would love to play here one day with the Knicks, and hopefully they pick me.”

The 19-year-old 7’1″ center would’ve been a first round pick in the draft if he would’ve come out last year, but decided to wait another year to improve his game. The seven-footer has emerged as one of the more offensively polished big men in this draft, and his stock is skyrocketing.

New York Trying To Get Late First-Round Pick

According to RealGM, the Knicks “are in active discussions offering cash considerations to acquire a draft pick in the late first-round to early second-round range.”

The end goal for the Knicks appears to be drafting French big man Mam Jaiteh, who is a projected early second-round pick, but is rising quickly up draft boards.

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