New York Knicks: Steve Mills is optimistic heading in to the 2019 NBA Draft
The New York Knicks are positioned to select third in next month’s NBA Draft and team president Steve Mills is excited with his options.
The days after last week’s NBA Draft Lottery have given the New York Knicks brass time to assess their options with the number three overall pick. As fans and prognosticators around the country continue to weigh in on the team’s fate after not securing the top pick it appears team president Steve Mills isn’t concerned by the drop as the fans are.
Mills alongside many other NBA executives set up camp in Chicago for the annual NBA Draft Combine surveying all the young talent competing for an opportunity to be selected next month. His job this time around will be extra strenuous. The Knicks have assets to possibly trade in a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans for disgruntled All-Star forward Anthony Davis. There have been many possible packages discussed by media outlets hoping to get an idea of what the Knicks are actually planning as the start of free agency is right around the corner.
In between scouting and interviewing players in Chicago, Mills spoke with reporters regarding the confidence he has in the third pick possibilities, as well as the team’s overall plan this offseason.
"“We’re excited about where we are, We know we’ll get a good player at 3. So it’s something we’re excited about and look forward to. We’re here to evaluate the players that are here and we’ll keep moving along in our process.”“We want to build this team the right way, We’ve always said we’re going to continue to work hard during the draft process. We believe we’re a team that can draft well and this is all part of our plan and growing our team.”"
The Knicks were also on the unpopular side of the NBA Draft Lottery in 2015 dropping to fourth overall. Mills was on the panel that night giving a very disappointed facial expression as the Knicks envelope was opened, ironically enough the pick turned out to be future all-star Kristaps Porzingis.
This year, the Knicks also sport a second-round pick in the draft at number 55 overall. The hope is they can continue to find luck late in the draft similar to the past selections like Daymean Dotson and Mitchell Robinson or even undrafted talent like Alonzo Trier last season.
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New York will be pursuing the obvious names of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in free agency but understand the importance of their first move on draft night. Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry have plenty to talk about in the coming weeks that may ultimately determine the franchise’s fate moving forward.