Report: Knicks ‘Looking Strongly’ at Willie Cauley-Stein With No. 4 Pick

The New York Knicks have the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Of course, Knicks fans weren’t too happy when they fell from the second-best odds at the top pick to No. 4 in the Lottery, but it is what it is at this point. The next step is figuring out who to take with that selection.

By most accounts, big men Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns will be gone (as much as Towns would love to play in NYC). Which means New York could opt for a guard like D’Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay. Or, they could take Towns’ college teammate, power forward Willie Cauley-Stein.

According to Chad Ford of ESPN, the Knicks are “looking strongly” at Young Trill. Here’s what Ford said in one of his chats today:

If you are Phil Jackson what is your draft day plan for #4?

 

Be patient. Take whoever falls. I think there are five guys worthy of the No. 1 pick. At four you’ll have your choice of two of them. Of the five guys, I don’t believe Towns or Russell will be there. But there are scenarios where Okafor, Mudiay or Porzingis will be there. And I hear that Justise Winslow has some strong support in New York. And two different sources today told me the Knicks are also looking strongly at Willie Cauley-Stein. They want a strong defender in New York which explains the Winslow and Cauley-Stein interest. Of course, I also think there’s a good chance they just trade this pick if the right veteran comes around. But for me, I think they really should keep it. Lots of talent with long-term potential where they are drafting.