If the New York Knicks do indeed get the no.1 pick in the lottery, I'm still undecided to show they should pick between Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor.
But if they do draft one of the two, will Okafor or Towns make an impact right away?
That answer is no. It's gonna take a while t'll for Okafor and Towns to fit in the NBA; especially as a center. Not taking anything away from Towns and Okafor, they're gonna be big scorers for years in this league.
Although when you look at player like Frank Kaminsky, a 6'11 scorer, who can shoot from anywhere; even from from three point, and most importantly whose been playing in college for four years, I think the Knicks should have a long discussion about Kaminsky.
The Knicks are looking to win right away. They didn't bring in a 69-year-old Phil Jackson to run the Knicks so they could build a championship for 2025. Jackson is here for the 2015 and 2016 offseason. Knicks are trying to attract big free agents who big money.
And if they can get a young, pro player for free like Kaminsky, then (let's say) sign Goran Dragic and between DeAndre Jordan/Marc Gasol/LeMarcus Aldridge, with Carmelo Anthony, they would be pretty nasty to stop.
If the Knicks feel like they won't be able to sign one of the centers in this coming NBA free agency class, then I say go after Towns or Okafor. But when you look at the way Kaminsky played against Oakfor in the Championship game, the way he neutralized him defensively, Kaminsky can play center. He is 6'11.
If you don't think (Phil) Jackson loves Kaminsky, then you're lost. Kaminsky fits the triangle PERFECTLY. After that championship I know he must've put Kaminsky on his top list. Or maybe changed his mind about drafting Towns or Okafor.
Personally, I wanted Towns or Okafor. But after thinking about how long it'll take for Okafor and Towns to settle, being as young as they are, then looking at what Kaminsky did to Kentucky and how he played against Okafer, I changed my view. I begin to notice that Towns and Okafor are in teams and Kaminsky is the player on a team.
The thing about Kaminsky you have to really take in consideration is, he can be the Knicks star player for years to come. When (Carmelo) Anthony's contract is over, Kaminsky is gonna still be young and can takeover the team. With Town or Okafor, they need a team around them to be good.
That's the difference between Towns/Okafor and Kaminsky. In Duke, Okafor had lot of supporting cast around him and Towns had a bevy of big men behind him, or in the court with him - ala Willie Cauley-Stein. Kaminsky had players around him, but he stood out. He was everywhere; he wasn't just in one position. He played center and guard.
Kaminsky with Carmelo - Melo won't have to do much. That's how much of a young, proven, polished star he is. And it's not like Kaminsky is coming to a team that has young, unproven players, or a Knick team where he's asked to be the star -- he'd be coming to a team that has one of greatest scorers this league has ever seen.
And you know what, if the Knicks can sign Dragic this offseason, that's probably all they need to be good. With Melo, Kaminsky and Dragic, that's a 5th seed team. That could be the Knicks' triangle, right there.
