Why Knicks Should Draft Duke Star
The New York Knicks are a little more than two weeks away from the 2024 NBA Draft, and they have a pair of first-round picks to work with.
As they hold the Nos. 24 & 25 picks, the Knicks could look to trade one to move up or take the best player available with the selection. That player could be Duke center Kyle Filipowski.
"New York is loaded with Duke fans and Filipowski could be an instant favorite. The sturdy 6-11 center may not be an elite rim protector nor a consistent 3-pointer shooter, but he has good footwork and plays hard. The Knicks had a solid run into the second round of the playoffs and Filipowski could be another piece to help push them deeper," AP News writes.
The Knicks' center rotation could be in flux as Isaiah Hartenstein and Precious Achiuwa face free agency this summer. Considering the draft happens before free agency, the Knicks may need to find a center in the draft in case they aren't able to keep one or both.
Filipowski proved in his two years at Duke that he can be a contributor in the NBA. He averaged 15.8 points and 8.6 rebounds during his tenure with the Blue Devils, strong numbers at one of the best collegiate programs in the country.
It remains to be seen if Filipowski's success will translate to the pros, but he is certainly worth a flier for whichever team takes him.
Given the parity in this draft, it's hard to tell if Filipowski will even be on the board when the Knicks are on the clock. He could go anywhere from the late lottery to the mid-20's where New York is picking. However, if the Knicks feel very strongly about him, they could probably package one or both of their picks to move up in the middle of the first round to take Filipowski and turn him into New York's backup center early on in his career.
He may not play a lot early, but he's a depth piece that could pay dividends down the line for the Knicks in the coming years.
JEREMY BRENER
Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.