The New York Knicks are looking to turn things around by having a huge offseason this summer. Part of Phil Jackson's plan for a quick rebuild is to land a high lottery pick in the 2015 NBA draft, but Hall of Famer Spencer Haywood believes neither Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor nor Kentucky freshman Karl-Anthony Towns - both of whom are expected to be the first two picks off the board - would give the Knicks the kind of quick fix fans are hoping for.
New York (15-62) is the league's worst team. The Knicks are headed for the NBA lottery, where names like Okafor, Towns and D'Angelo Russell await the teams that win the highest picks. The 2015 draft, along with the New York's roughly $21 million to spend in free agency, have some Knicks fans anticipating a quick turnaround between this season and the next. When it comes to the draft, though, Haywood believes fans should temper their expectations - even if the Knicks were to land Okafor or Towns.
Haywood, the first college basketball player to leave school early for the pros, believes fans shouldn't expect a rookie nowadays to make an immediate impact on the team. Why? Because they haven't played enough basketball.
"I know it sounds strange coming from me, but in my heart, and I said it (Monday) night to (fellow HOF inductees) Jo Jo White, Dikembe Mutomo and even John Calipari, my ruling is being used wrong,'' the ex-Knick told the New York Post by phone Monday . "These guys need two years before they come in. They're not ready. Their bodies are not ready. They're soft. There's not enough experience for the one-and-done guys. Forty college games is not going to get them ready for the NBA.
"Even after my (court ruling that paved the way for college players to declare after one season), Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, (Isaiah) Thomas and the original person - me - stayed two, three years."
Haywood won an Olympic gold medal in 1968 with Team USA at the age of 19. Even then, he still decided to play a second season at the collegiate level before declaring for the pros.
As for the 2015 draft, Haywood did offer his two-cents.
"If Phil wanted more offense for the program, he'll take Okafor,'' he said. "He'll be the post presence in the triangle, which Phil ran with Shaq (O'Neal). He'll fit that bill. If he wants defense, he'll go with Towns. I think Towns could be the best of the two in the long run.''
Jackson told the Knicks' season-ticket holders last week he preferred defensive-minded big men, which suggests he would choose Towns over Okafor if given the chance.
"Defender,'' Jackson answered 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.''
While Okafor is a more polished offensive weapon, Towns is the superior defender and is widely believed to have more upside than his Duke counterpart.
Jackson's two biggest needs are a center and a point guard, in that order. If New York doesn't land a big man in the draft, he'll reportedly look at soon-to-be free agents Marc Gasol and Greg Monroe. Jackson is also reportedly interested in Brook Lopez, who's expected to opt out of his contract after the season.
Other free-agent targets reportedly include Rajon Rondo, Kevin Love, Goran Dragic, Reggie Jackson and Tobias Harris.
