The 2024 NBA Draft is here, and the New York Knicks have some fascinating decisions to make.
The Knicks own the 24th, 25th, and 38th picks in the draft. It's been reported the Knicks are exploring trade scenarios with their picks, but after the blockbuster trade for Mikal Bridges on Tuesday, the Knicks might want to keep those picks to get young, cheap talent while they can.
This might especially be true if, as SNY's Ian Begley and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski report, the Knicks are unlikely to be able to re-sign Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency.
If the Knicks cannot figure out the salary cap mechanics to keep Hartenstein, they may want to target a center in the draft. That's where Kel'el Ware comes in.
The 20-year-old center out of Indiana is one of the most intriguing players in what's considered a weak draft. Ware has great athleticism, shot-blocking skills, and can shoot three-pointers (42.5% from three his sophomore year). There are concerns about his motor, toughness, and ability to create his own shot.
His skill set could potentially make him a great fit for the Knicks, who haven't had a floor-spacing big man under Tom Thibodeau. That Ware can still protect the rim makes him close to an ideal modern NBA big man.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo project the Knicks to land Ware with the 24th pick in their latest mock draft.
Givony writes, "With Hartenstein out, the best available center on the board, Ware, likely becomes a lot more attractive to the Knicks, especially with the mobile 7-footer's ability to to stretch the floor and protect the rim."
Mock drafts vary wildly over where Ware will land. Indeed, The Athletic's Sam Vecenie said NBA teams themselves are "all over the map" about Ware — some teams reportedly love his skills and have been impressed by his workouts while others have been unimpressed.
Vecenie has Ware going to the Boston Celtics with the 30th pick, the last pick in the first round.
Other draft experts think Ware has a much higher draft ceiling. The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor projects Ware to go to the Sacramento Kings with the 13th pick.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman has Ware going to the Toronto Raptors with the 19th pick.
Kyle Irving of The Sporting News has Ware getting drafted 23rd to the Milwaukee Bucks — one pick before the Knicks, though he notes it would be a "steal" for the Bucks.
There's always some degree of variety in mock drafts, but rarely is one player simultaneously projected as a lottery pick and the last pick of the first round.
The Knicks did work out Ware. If he is available by the time they pick, he figures to be in the mix for them.
Of course, the Knicks are a bit of an unknown in this year's draft. They could trade up in the draft. They could trade out of it for future assets to try to recoup some of the picks they gave up for Bridges.
If Ware is available when the Knicks pick, he's an intriguing prospect who could fill an immediate need. It's just unclear if Ware has any chance to fall to the Knicks.
