If given the chance, the New York Knicks will likely select Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor in the 2015 NBA draft, given the center's ability to instantly compete in the pros. Fortunately for Knicks fans, if the team doesn't land Okafor, team president Phil Jackson is still in contention - despite reports - to sign Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol in free agency.
New York sits at the bottom of the NBA standings with a league-worst 14-57 record. While going into the offseason with the league's worst record doesn't guarantee winning the draft lottery, the Knicks will at least have a good chance of coming away with the No. 1 pick. If they do, Jackson will almost certainly go with Okafor. Not just because he's the consensus first-overall pick, but because he's the most NBA ready - something ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reiterated Monday on ESPN Radio.
"Okafor is the more ready to play guy right now. He's the guy that'll help you sooner, faster," Shelburne said, according to LakersNation.com. "Like if Phil gets the number one pick, he's probably taking Okafor in New York because he can't wait around."
Shelburne was comparing Okafor with Kentucky freshman Karl-Anthony Towns, whom she said had more upside but wasn't as NBA-ready. If Jackson doesn't land Okafor, it's possible he may go for Ohio State freshman D'Angelo Russell, a two-way guard whose basketball IQ has scouts believing he would also be NBA ready.
Assuming Okafor is off the board before the Knicks' turn, Jackson has a shot at another center. Gasol has long been reported to be atop New York's wish list for free agency, but NBA insider Chris Sheridan said Gasol had already made up his mind about not signing with the Knicks as a free agent.
According to Gasol, though, that's not the case.
"I haven't ruled anything out because I haven't thought about anything so it would be (premature)," Gasol told reporters Monday, via ESPN. "The reports and stuff like that, I don't know where they come from because in my mind I haven't thought about it. I have no (idea) how they can go there. I don't know. ... We're in the final stretch of the regular season and we want to get in a good feeling for the playoffs so, trust me, I'm not worrying or thinking about those things yet."
While Gasol didn't rule out signing with the Knicks, he indicated - as many expected - the Grizzlies were the frontrunners to re-sign him.
