The Knicks don’t have much ammunition in the 2025 NBA Draft – just the 50th overall pick they received from Memphis by way of Boston and then Oklahoma City. Their own second-round pick was forfeited for tampering in the signing of Jalen Brunson.
Still, in the NBA’s new space race for depth and cost-effective production under the apron rules, finding a diamond in the rough is massive, and New York will be doing their diligence to maximize this pick. Here are some possible targets to watch out for.
It’s worth noting these names are projected anywhere from late in the first round to going undrafted. However, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman reported he’d bet the Knicks move up to earlier in the second round, so they may have swings at more of these players than anticipated.
According to HoopsHype.com’s workout tracker, there are six publicly known prospects to have worked out for the Knicks thus far. They are Mohamed Diawara, Dylan Cardwell, Jonathan Pierre, Chucky Hepburn, NorchadOmier, and Clifford Omoruyi.
Diawara is a 6-foot-8 forward hailing from France who measures with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and 9-foot-2 standing reach. He’s 20 years old with solid attacking, ball handling and shooting out of the corners, with lots of defensive upside.
Cardwell is a massive 6-foot-11, 255-pound center who played five years at Auburn and can bring added depth to the interior. He’s a bouncy and capable defender, rebounder and finisher that could serve as another Jericho Sims-type flier.
Pierre is an older prospect, 22 years old by way of Belmont, a 6-foot-9 dynamic forward that can shoot and put the ball on the floor. His defense and connectivity are also pluses, but he looks to be more of an undrafted signing than a pick.
Hepburn is a four-year, 6-foot-2 guard who led Louisville to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He’s a capable playmaker and scorer, and if his deep ball comes around could be a steal at the one spot.
Omier is a 6-foot-7 forward who doesn’t check the boxes you want from a build or athleticism standpoint, but brings high IQ play on both sides of the ball. He’s already active and aware defensively and has the touch to extend his range on offense, which gives him some upside.
Omoruyi is a gifted athlete at the center position, boasting strong measurements but stealing the show on the eye test. His skills are a bit raw, but getting to develop his way into a rotation spot may be worth a swing.
The Athletic’s James Edwards compiled a list of five potential targets: Koby Brea, Micah Peavy, Dink Pate, Jamir Watkins, and Kobe Sanders. Brea is a five-year college veteran coming off one year at Kentucky and can shoot the lights out from deep at 6’6”.
Peavy is heralded as one of the class’s top perimeter defenders with a growing offensive repertoire on the wing. Pate is another wing, lengthy with guard tools on the wing, but is on the rawer side and would likely be a long-term development project.
Watkins is an athletic swingman who can create and defend, with some questions around his jump shot keeping him in the Knicks’ range. Sanders is crazy intriguing as a 6’9” point guard with defensive upside, if he somehow falls into New York’s lap.
ClutchPoints’ Kris Pursiainen also reported the Knicks have interest in Arkansas wing Adou Thiero. The 6-foot-8 wing is an athletic and defensive specimen in line with some of the other prospects they lined up.
Whatever the Knicks move, their lack of future picks and the heightened emphasis on depth and salary constraints across the league mean they can’t pass on another opportunity to take advantage of the Draft. Expect them to do so this year.
The Knicks don’t have much ammunition in the 2025 NBA Draft – just the 50th overall pick they received from Memphis by way of Boston and then Oklahoma City. Their own second-round pick was forfeited for tampering in the signing of Jalen Brunson.
Still, in the NBA’s new space race for depth and cost-effective production under the apron rules, finding a diamond in the rough is massive, and New York will be doing their diligence to maximize this pick. Here are some possible targets to watch out for.
It’s worth noting these names are projected anywhere from late in the first round to going undrafted. However, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman reported he’d bet the Knicks move up to earlier in the second round, so they may have swings at more of these players than anticipated.
According to HoopsHype.com’s workout tracker, there are six publicly known prospects to have worked out for the Knicks thus far. They are Mohamed Diawara, Dylan Cardwell, Jonathan Pierre, Chucky Hepburn, NorchadOmier, and Clifford Omoruyi.
Diawara is a 6-foot-8 forward hailing from France who measures with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and 9-foot-2 standing reach. He’s 20 years old with solid attacking, ball handling and shooting out of the corners, with lots of defensive upside.
Cardwell is a massive 6-foot-11, 255-pound center who played five years at Auburn and can bring added depth to the interior. He’s a bouncy and capable defender, rebounder and finisher that could serve as another Jericho Sims-type flier.
Pierre is an older prospect, 22 years old by way of Belmont, a 6-foot-9 dynamic forward that can shoot and put the ball on the floor. His defense and connectivity are also pluses, but he looks to be more of an undrafted signing than a pick.
Hepburn is a four-year, 6-foot-2 guard who led Louisville to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He’s a capable playmaker and scorer, and if his deep ball comes around could be a steal at the one spot.
Omier is a 6-foot-7 forward who doesn’t check the boxes you want from a build or athleticism standpoint, but brings high IQ play on both sides of the ball. He’s already active and aware defensively and has the touch to extend his range on offense, which gives him some upside.
Omoruyi is a gifted athlete at the center position, boasting strong measurements but stealing the show on the eye test. His skills are a bit raw, but getting to develop his way into a rotation spot may be worth a swing.
The Athletic’s James Edwards compiled a list of five potential targets: Koby Brea, Micah Peavy, Dink Pate, Jamir Watkins, and Kobe Sanders. Brea is a five-year college veteran coming off one year at Kentucky and can shoot the lights out from deep at 6’6”.
Peavy is heralded as one of the class’s top perimeter defenders with a growing offensive repertoire on the wing. Pate is another wing, lengthy with guard tools on the wing, but is on the rawer side and would likely be a long-term development project.
Watkins is an athletic swingman who can create and defend, with some questions around his jump shot keeping him in the Knicks’ range. Sanders is crazy intriguing as a 6’9” point guard with defensive upside, if he somehow falls into New York’s lap.
ClutchPoints’ Kris Pursiainen also reported the Knicks have interest in Arkansas wing Adou Thiero. The 6-foot-8 wing is an athletic and defensive specimen in line with some of the other prospects they lined up.
Whatever the Knicks move, their lack of future picks and the heightened emphasis on depth and salary constraints across the league mean they can’t pass on another opportunity to take advantage of the Draft. Expect them to do so this year.
