The New York Knicks fell short in Tuesday night's 2019 NBA draft lottery. They missed on the first overall pick and instead will select third overall this June.
Heading into the draft lottery, the Knicks had a 14 percent chance of landing one of the three picks, similar to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns. Eventually, none of the three teams landed where they were expected to be.
Tuesday night marks the beginning of the Knicks' master plan of turning their fortunes around. With collegiate star Zion Williamson being off the table when they're on the clock this June, they are still expected to get one of the best players in the draft and go after Duke's R.J. Barrett or Murray State's Ja Morant.
There's a strong belief within the league that the Knicks might explore trading the pick, especially if they land Kevin Durant and/or Kyrie Irving in free agency.
If the Knicks fail to land a superstar, of course, their best option is to keep the pick and focus on rebuilding. They already have young, talented players: Dennis Smith Jr., Mitchell Robinson, and Kevin Knox, and adding Barrett or Morant will definitely make them better. They could even compete for a playoff spot next season.
The next couple of months will be crucial for the Knicks, and their success in the offseason will depend on how well they will execute their plans and how good their decisions will be. It's hard to imagine them being in the same state as they are now, considering the plethora of options they have.
Best-case scenario? They will be a championship contender.
Worst-case scenario? They will barely make the playoffs.
Either way, next season could bring new hope for New York and its fans.
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