Draft consolation prizes not so bad
CHICAGO — Once everybody gets over the Zion Williamson disappointment, there's good news for the Knicks: this draft is considered heavy at the top, specifically through three picks. New York drew third in the draft lottery Tuesday.
That means a chance at either Murray State's Ja Morant or Duke's RJ Barrett, the consolation prizes for losing out on Williamson.
Morant is the playmaking point guard out of Murray State with triple-double potential. Barrett is a prototypical NBA wing, skilled enough to be the primary ballhandler and big enough to guard a power forward.
The Knicks will interview Barrett today. Morant said he didn't have a meeting scheduled, but would be happy if picked by the marquee franchise. Coincidentally, the South Carolina native said he has never traveled to New York — or Chicago until this week. He has a big game with a small-town life experience. “Obviously it's New York. It's somewhere I've never been before. But it's a big spot,” he said. “And I guess it'd be a great experience.
“Obviously, it'd be great, the fanbase. But like I said before, wherever I go, I'll be happy.
Before we get further into the possibilities of Barrett and Morant in New York, a dose of reality: the Knicks are highly motivated to trade for Anthony Davis, according to people who've talked to members of the front office, and will have to include the third pick in any trade offer.
The ideal scenario is to team up free agent Kevin Durant with Davis, not Durant with a 19-year-old rookie.
But the lottery Tuesday hurt that effort because New Orleans bucked the odds to win. They have greater incentive to keep Davis now, and worse for the Knicks, the Lakers won a valuable trade chip by moving up to pick fourth in the draft.
So the Knicks could very well keep the pick for Morant or Barrett. The team's front office again declined to speak with the beat writers at the draft lottery, instead issuing a bland statement from GM Scott Perry and president Steve Mills.
“We are excited to have the third pick and are confident we will be able to add a great player to our talented young core and the team that we are building,” it read.