Knicks Notes: Trades, Draft Pick, Prospects

The Knicks are looking to see what they could possibly get if they trade their draft pick, writes Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. Technically, New York cannot trade its pick due to the Ted Stepien Rule, but the team can make arrangements to trade a player that it selects with the pick ahead of time. The Knicks are 12-49 on the season and, as our Reverse Standings indicate, they are in a good position to nab an elite prospect in the 2015 draft.

Here’s more from New York:

• The Knicks might make such a trade because of soon-to-be 31-year-old Carmelo Anthony, Begley adds. This option might be more palatable than wasting another season or two of Anthony’s prime by waiting for a 19-year-old prospect to develop. If New York can lure a marquee free agent to the city and trade the player it drafts for a more established talent, the team could challenge the 2007/08 Celtics for best single-season turnaround in NBA history, although that is just my speculation. Boston won 66 games that season after only winning 24 games during the 2006/07 season. It’s highly improbable that the Knicks reach 24 win this season, so the team could approach the record even if it has a less successful campaign next year than the Celtics did during their championship season.
• The team has had either had a front-office member or scout at approximately 20 of the past 30 Kentucky practices and games, league sources tell Begley for the same piece. It could be a sign that New York has interest in Karl-Anthony Towns, who ranks fourth in our latest Prospect Power Rankings. Begley speculates that it could also mean the team is doing its homework on Willie Cauley-Stein, who comes in at sixth place on our list.
• The Knicks should take a page from the Pacers’ book on running an organization, opines Marc Berman of the New York Post. Berman applauds president of basketball operations Larry Bird’s approach and compares the two franchises. Both teams are without their star players but the difference is that the team in Indiana has stepped up, while turmoil has surrounded the Knicks during their time learning Phil Jackson‘s triangle offense.