The Philadelphia 76ers have secured their top 3 choices for the 2015 NBA Draft. They will select either Jahlil Okafor, Karl-Anthony Towns, or D’Angelo Russell. They currently own the 3rd pick in the NBA draft and they know who they want. The New York Knicks unfortunately have the 4th pick in the draft, despite wanting to get into the top 3. The Knicks have been looking to trade their 4th overall pick for some players or something to work with, because for the Knicks 4th overall just won’t cut it.
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post:
According to a league source, the Sixers, who pick third, still have a firm Big 3 of Karl-Anthony Towns, Russell and Okafor and won’t let any of the trio slip to Phil Jackson. Despite their young, marquee depth up front, the Sixers would take Okafor even if it’s to collect an asset to trade later. Speculation that Russell is trying to avoid being picked by the moribund Sixers escalated when he canceled workouts with them this weekend. There also were rumblings that perhaps the Lakers, after working Russell out, had given the Ohio State combo guard a guarantee at No. 2. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported he was just “real sick’’ and a Sixers workout could be rescheduled. Russell has told reporters he also has agreed to work out for the Knicks.
The New York Knicks could possibly trade up to get these players, but the likely-hood of that happening is slim to none. They would have to offer up a huge amount of cash considerations, lottery rights, and players in order to get a top 3 player. It seems as if the only way that the Knicks can land KAT, Okafor or Russell is to hope that another player slips into the top 3. Kristaps Porzingis has been a name of a rising stock in the draft. If the Lakers or Wolves decide to go with Kristaps, the Sixers plans are foiled and the Knicks can draft one of their top players on the board. Another day in Knicks-mania.
