New York Knicks president Phil Jackson may have tipped his hat to which center - Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor or Kentucky freshman Karl-Anthony Towns - he likes more in the upcoming 2015 NBA draft. According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Jackson seemingly indicated his preference when making a comment about Dallas Mavericks center and former Knick Tyson Chandler.
Okafor is the consensus No. 1 pick of the draft, with most experts projecting Towns to go second or third. There are differences between Okafor and Towns, with the former being a more polished scorer and NBA-ready, and the latter lacking in offense but being a far better defender with greater all-around upside.
For even the casual viewer, the biggest distinction between the two players is defense. So when Jackson, who's seen both freshman play this season, made a comment about wanting a Chandler-type of player, he may have inadvertently tipped his hat.
"Defender,'' Jackson told season-ticket holders when asked if he prefers a big man who can score or one who can defend, via The Post. "That's a good starting point - a guy like Tyson Chandler and the defensive passion they have to have. So many screen and rolls, so many 3-point shooters, a player of size has to cover and protect the basket but also step out defensively and do defensive work on the extreme part of the floor. It's very important for that player to have defensive capabilities.''
Jackson, who admitted he traded Chandler in June because of the aging veteran's expiring contract, also said he already know which player he would draft if New York were to get the top pick.
While Towns is clearly a better defender than Okafor, a longtime friend of Jackson indicated earlier in the week Towns didn't have the wide, low-post kind of body the triangle offense requires of its centers.
Drafting a point guard - such as D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay - and adding a center through free agency is also another possibility, given Jackson's need for a 1-guard as well. If Jackson were to go that route, the top soon-to-be free agent big men are Marc Gasol and Greg Monroe.
