The Pelicans could still have a hand in the Knicks’ future.
Following the Anthony Davis trade with the Lakers, New Orleans holds the fourth pick in Thursday’s draft and is exploring all sorts of options.
According to an NBA source, New Orleans has explored moving back to gain more assets and also had internal talks about moving up to the second pick to take Memphis’ selection and draft RJ Barrett to team with his Duke compadre Zion Williamson. Barrett and Williamson are best friends.
That trade-up maneuver, however unlikely, would allow Murray State’s Ja Morant to fall to the Knicks at No. 3. The Knicks had Morant higher on their board than Barrett at the Chicago combine, but that also was before Morant recently underwent knee surgery.
According to an NBA executive who has spoken to the Knicks, president Steve Mills is locked in at keeping the third pick and delighted to take either Morant or Barrett, the 6-foot-7 Duke lefty swingman. While the Knicks were open to moving back after the lottery for a whopping offer, they are now comfortable staying put.
Barrett had a solid workout with the Knicks on June 10 and hit it off with coach David Fizdale in their latest meetings. The Knicks are impressed he wants to be in New York — as he has refused to work out for the Grizzlies.
“The Knicks have a good problem to have — Pick 3 in a three-man draft,” the NBA executive said. “They just have to wait and see.”
The Pelicans are still bathing in the glow of fleecing the Lakers out of six young assets — including three first-round picks — in exchange for Davis.
The Post reported Monday the Knicks never made a formal offer to New Orleans in the latest round of talks when GM David Griffin put Davis back on the block two weeks ago. The Knicks viewed the number of assets needed to be competitive as too severe for a player who is a free agent in 2020.
Although Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, had said the Knicks were a place he’d re-sign long-term, the Knicks knew there were no guarantees. In fact, recent history shows the potential fickleness as Kyrie Irving reportedly is intent on leaving Boston nine months after guaranteeing he’d re-sign.
Why the Knicks backed off their Anthony Davis pursuit
Knicks shooting guard Damyean Dotson, who had major shoulder surgery last month, made an appearance on MSG 150 Monday night and acknowledged the Knicks are still going to be young next season.
Even if they sign Kevin Durant, he is out for next season and there’s no clear indication of another max star coming. Dotson ended the season as starting shooting guard, though he could be supplanted if they draft Barrett with the third pick.
“Most importantly, it’s a young team this year — Kev [Kevin Knox], Allonzo [Trier], Mitchell [Robinson],’’ Dotson said, according to excerpts supplied by MSG Network. “Everybody will just get better this summer and work hard and focus on the small things that we need to do to get better, our defensive strategies, having better focus on defense. A lot of our games came down to defensive mistakes. It’s just getting better with our chemistry, coming together, getting smarter, IQ getting better, and guys keep learning.
“And for me, most importantly just get healthy of course. Also, I want to be a better defender, less defensive mistakes and just continue to get stronger, and my shot more consistent. There’s a lot I could go on but the most important one is getting healthy.”
https://nypost.com/2019/06/17/pelicans-new-draft-plan-could-allow-ja-morant-to-fall-to-knicks/
6/18/2019 10:10 AM