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New York Knicks Rumors: Knicks Prefer One Prospect Over The Others In 2015 NBA Draft?

By Kenneth Teape

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New York Knicks Rumors: Are Knicks Targeting Karl-Anthony Towns In 2015 NBA Draft?

With the NBA Playoffs into the second round, the New York Knicks have been sitting at home like the rest of us fans building a plan for this offseason. The first action will be when the NBA has it’s lottery on May 19th. At that time, we will finally see where the Knicks will be selecting. Today we got a little insight into what the Knicks may be planning once the NBA Draft rolls around, and it begins and starts with a Kentucky big-man.

Heading into the draft process there has been heated debate about who the top prospect is; Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns or Duke center Jahlil Okafor. Both are looked as potential franchise cornerstones in the middle, with Towns being the better defender while Okafor scores as skillfully in the post as any young big man that has come out of college in some time. Monday we got a little preview as to who the Knicks could potentially be preferring, and it would be Towns from Kentucky.

According to the New York Post, the Knicks prefer Towns to Okafor in the 2015 NBA Draft. The reason for that preference can be taken out of things that President Phil Jackson has said in the past. His preference for a defensive-minded player over an offensive minded one would place Towns above Okafor. Would that place Willie Cauley-Stein, a Towns teammate in college, over Okafor as well, since he is widely regarded as the best defensive big man in the draft, sort of in the mold of Tyson Chandler? That is unknown, but if the Knicks are put into a situation where Cauley-Stein could be picked, they came away losers on lottery night as they likely dropped out of the top-four.

But if the Knicks do get the top pick, they will definitely have Towns in their cross-hairs. The Knicks have a 19.9 percent chance of landing the top pick, and have glaring needs all over the roster with center being arguably the biggest. Knicks fans have to be excited when listening to Towns talk, as he said that if the opportunity was there to play for the Knicks, it is something he would definitely love to do.

Towns was a Knicks fan when growing up, being from Metuchen, New Jersey. He said that he was unable to afford the NBA League Pass, so he watched the local teams and with the Knicks always being on MSG that is who he gravitated towards. The Post said that he even still has a Knicks hat in his bedroom at home. He also spoke very highly of the Knicks and Jackson, which is exactly the kind of attitude you want from a player potentially becoming the next face of your franchise.

“It’s his presence,” Towns said when discussing Jackson with The New York Post. “What he means to me, his presence is just amazing. What was so awesome as a coach, he made every player better and put them in the best position to succeed. He’s just so smart and intelligent and has so much experience. He knows how to win. At the end of the day, what every player wants to do is win. If I have the opportunity to ever play for the Knicks, that’s what I would love to do.”

Music to the ears of anyone who is a fan of the Knicks or involved with the organization in any capacity.To play and succeed in New York it takes a certain kind of player and person, Going to Kentucky and having that kind of pressure throughout his college career, albeit for only one season, will help immensley as the bright lights of Madison Square Garden shouldn’t be as bright to him as it is for many rookies and young players.

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Obviously the NBA is a different game than college, but Towns is as prepared for the expectations that follow an NBA player as anyone. He not only is a talented basketball player, but he is a smart and humble individual. He had excellent academics in high school and continued that in Kentucky, where he will be finishing up a 16-credit semester this week with finals.

While expectations will have to be reeled in at first, since this is a 19-year old kid after all, the Knicks would have to be happy getting someone with the combination of talent, smarts and willingness to play in New York and Madison Square Garden that Towns seems to possess.

Next: Who Is The Best PG All-Time For The Knicks?

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