Wisconsin big man Frank Kaminsky worked out for the Knicks last week, and the Knicks were reportedly impressed. Of course, most Draft experts assumed that to take Kaminsky, New York would look to move down, possibly picking up an asset in the process and selecting Kaminsky later in the first round. Since, you know, taking him at No, 4 would seem insane. But according to a report from Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, the Knicks have at least discussed the option of simply taking Kaminsky with the fourth overall pick.
In the event that the Knicks can’t find a team willing to trade up for No. 4, do you think they’d actually pull the trigger and take Kaminsky over the likes of Mudiay, Winslow, Cauley-Stein and Porzingis?
Here’s more from Deveney:
The Knicks had the Wisconsin big man in for dinner and a workout late last week and came away impressed. While there has been speculation that the Knicks would like to trade down in order to take Kaminsky, they haven’t found a willing partner for a deal.
Kaminsky would not have gone to New York unless the interest from the Knicks was real. And he was assured that it was, that the team would not waste his time or theirs unless there was a chance he would wind up with the Knicks.
That’s why one of the topics of discussion at the Knicks meeting was bucking conventional wisdom, passing on guards D’Angelo Russell and/or Emmanuel Mudiay and taking Kaminsky — whose versatility makes him a natural fit in the triangle offense — with the fourth overall pick, two league sources told Sporting News. If they do pass on the two guards expected to be on the board, the Knicks are also considering Willie Cauley-Stein and Justise Winslow with the No. 4 pick, though Cauley-Stein appears to be slipping.
Kaminsky spent Monday in Sacramento working out for the Kings, who are said to be unwilling to trade their pick.
