There are few franchises across any sport that hold the level of poor luck as the New York Knicks. The Knicks have now gone 18 straight lotteries without moving up their draft selection. New York has seen their pick fall back seven times and remained the same eleven. This was the case this year as they were projected to have the 11th pick and walked away with exactly that.
New York narrowly missed the play-in tournament this season with a record of 37-45. Their roster is still in need of a great deal of work, however, there are a few young bright spots. Guys like RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley promise a bright future, although the future of Julius Randle with the team remains the biggest mystery. Regardless, New York has landed the 11th pick in this year’s draft and will look to add another key piece. As they find themselves remaining dangerously in NBA purgatory, unable to make the playoffs or get a good pick, it is crucial they get this pick right.
3 best options for Knicks after getting 11th pick in 2022 NBA Draft
Ochai Agbaji- Kansas SG
If the Knicks are looking for someone to score the basketball then this should be their guy. Ochai Agbaji spent all four years at Kansas where he raked up a long list of accomplishments. The former Big 12 Player of the Year and Consensus First-Team All-American has NBA size and an impressive skillset. The 6’6” wing plays with a high motor and averaged 18.8 points and 5.1 rebounds this season.
It has become less common for four-year players to come out of the draft but this should not scare the Knicks away from Agbaji. He has improved each year he has been in college and likely was not NBA-ready until this point. The 22-year-old shot 40.7% on three-pointers this year and was often utilized in off-ball plays. He can struggle to create his own shot and needs to tighten up his handle, but excels as a catch-and-shoot player. Knicks Head Coach Tom Thibodeau will love the way he hustles and adding a less ball-dominant player could help in the long run.
AJ Griffin- Duke SF
AJ Griffin has the look and feel of a solid NBA player and could shine in New York. But he lacks a little bit of substance. Oftentimes he was too passive in the Duke offense and failed to properly showcase his skills. The presence of Paolo Banchero and the rest of the Duke roster helped mask this. But it is still somewhat of a concern. In fairness to Griffin, he did not hesitate to make the right basketball play even if the stats did not come with it.
In total, the Duke product averaged 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game in his lone college season. Griffin was an impressive 44.7% three-point shooter which will allow him to space the floor immediately. The lack of assertiveness should not scare away the Knicks as he is set to be an early first-round pick.
There is a decent chance he is off the board before the Knicks are even able to select. If Griffin remains available, he would be a nice low-risk high-reward selection. His style of play will fit better in the NBA than it did in college and there is a chance he turns out to be a steal.
TyTy Washington- Kentucky G
The Knicks have already found success taking an overlooked Kentucky guard and have a chance to repeat history. A duo of Immanuel Quickley and TyTy Washington would hold an exciting future and complement each other well. Washington stands 6’3” and is capable of playing either guard position. He excels as a scorer and makes some impressive reads when coming off screens. He set a Kentucky record this season by tallying 17 assists in the matchup with Georgia.
The 20-year-old battled an ankle injury throughout the season so there may be more than he was able to show. There is also some concern as he underperformed in the tougher matchups Kentucky faced this season. He lacks elite acceleration or athleticism but is crafty in his attack. He plays a winning brand of basketball and is careful with the ball in his hand. While he is a little lacking in size and his release is a bit of a concern, Washington has an impressive floater game and uses his body well around the basket. In total, he averaged 12.5 points, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in his sole season in college. TyTy Washington likely needs a proper pairing to bring out the best in him, but Immanuel Quickly could be this exact guy.
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