Knicks Land RJ Barrett Replacement in 2024 Mock Draft

With RJ Barrett gone and OG Anunoby a potential free agent, the New York Knicks could be in the market for a small forward come draft day.

Draft day has held a muted prescience on the New York Knicks' calendar in the last two years, as president Leon Rose and Co. have often used picks to build better trade packages.

As it stands, the Knicks hold two first-round picks in this summer's draft, as noted by a recent mock draft from Bleacher Report. With their regularly scheduled pick at 17th overall, prognosticators have New York taking Kansas guard/forward Kevin MuCullar Jr.

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"While teams may have a difficult time detecting upside with Kevin McCullar Jr., he could be a popular target outside the lottery based on his coveted passing and defense and improving slashing and shotmaking," Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report writes. "Staying around his current 37.7 three-point percentage and 85.2 free-throw percentage should help the senior to continue building scouts' confidence in his shot. Having one that's just threatening or average should be enough to play a supporting Swiss Army knife role."

Formerly of Texas Tech, McCullar Jr. transferred to Kansas after entering and withdrawing his name from 2023 draft consideration. Early returns are vindicating that decision. 

Knicks Drop in NBA Power Rankings; Rise Coming After OG Anunoby Trade?

With such high rates from the field, McCullar is averaging a career-high 20.4 a game, nearly double his final rate of 10.7 with the Red Raiders, even with Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson in the lineup. Entering Saturday play, Kansas is ranked second in the Associated Press' Top 25 as they host TCU in Lawrence (2 p.m. ET, CBS).

Though the Knicks have enjoyed OG Anunoby's arrival, he's set to hit free agency if he turns down a $19.9 million player option for the 2024-25 season. Anunoby replaced RJ Barrett in the starting five's small forward spot after last weekend's high-profile trade but there's no word on the future just yet. 

That, of course, assumes that the Knicks will opt to carry all of their first-round choices come the summer. New York currently holds six first-round picks with varying layers of protection over the next two drafts and few, if any, assume that all of them will be used.