Knicks need to stay near bottom

When the Knicks snapped their 18-game losing streak last Thursday in Atlanta, just getting a win was much needed for their spirits. And as has been oft-repeated, the race to the bottom isn’t quite as important since all three of the worst teams will have the same odds for the top spot in the NBA draft lottery.

But, it isn’t unimportant either.

The win over the Hawks in the final game before the All-Star break, hard as it may be to believe after 18 straight losses, knocked the Knicks out of the bottom spot. When play resumes later this week the Phoenix Suns hold the worst record and the Knicks are a halfgame ahead of them in the standings.

One Eastern Conference team executive tagged the 2019 NBA draft as a fiveplayer draft that turns weak after that. While the three worst teams all have an equal spot at the top pick, their fate isn’t equal after that. The worst team can only drop as far as No. 5 in the draft. The second worst team — currently the Knicks — can fall to No. 6 with a 20 percent chance of landing there. Third-worst team can go to No. 7 — a 33 percent chance of drafting outside the top five spots.

So while the Knicks insist they are not interested in tanking, maybe they should be a little more interested. Here’s what the top of the draft looks like right now.

1. ZION WILLIAMSON, DUKE

The most unique prospect to come out maybe ever, a physical freak at 6-foot-7, 285 pounds and able to jump beyond anything his body type should be able to create. But while scouts are mixed on just what his pro potential and position are, one NBA front office exec said that he thinks there won’t be any issue because Williamson is a much more instinctive and intelligent player than he is credited for because of his athleticism.

2. R.J. BARRETT, DUKE

His spot in mock drafts has shifted throughout the season, but he has just begun to show that he is more than a ball-dominant scorer, posting a tripledouble with no turnovers against N.C. State.

3. JA MORANT, MURRAY STATE

One NBA scout said Morant wasn’t as highly regarded in high school mostly because he weighed about 150 pounds. He has filled out into a prototypical point guard of the present NBA — able to score at all levels with explosive athleticism .

4. CAM REDDISH, DUKE

How do you figure a player projected as a lightsout shooting wing in the NBA who has been wildly inconsistent in his one college season? NBA officials are still high on Reddish — with one scout even predicting that he could go ahead of Barrett.

5. KZ OKPALA, STANFORD

Intriguing prospect with great length (7-2 wingspan), he looks like an immediate impact player with defensive ability, a smooth 3point shooting stroke and a smart passing game.