The New York Knicks have three picks in the 2024 NBA Draft. They are the 24th and 25th overall in the first round and the 38th pick in the second round. Reports are that it is unlikely that the team will make all three selections and will look to trade one or more.
If they do decide to keep them, New York has made plenty of solid selections outside of the lottery. Here are seven players they have taken since 2000 who weren’t lottery picks but have had/are having good careers in the league. Will another name (or two, or three) be added to this list of Knicks draft picks due to the 2024 NBA Draft?
Knicks Have Had Plenty Of Success With Non-Lottery Draft Picks
Trevor Ariza (43rd overall – 2004)
The six-foot-eight Trevor Ariza had a lengthy 18-year NBA career that ended in the 2021-22 season. Unfortunately for the Knicks, only the first 1.5 of those years was with New York. He was traded to the Magic in a deal that brought Steve Francis to the Knicks. Ariza was also the starting small forward on the Los Angeles Lakers 2009 championship team.
David Lee (30th overall – 2005)
David Lee was one of the better rebounders during his time with New York and developed into a scorer as well. He had three seasons with the Knicks where he averaged a double-double. He was named an All-Star in 2010 (and again with the Golden State Warriors in 2013). The six-foot-nine forward won a championship with Golden State in 2015.
Wilson Chandler (23rd overall – 2007)
Wilson Chandler was a regular starter for the Knicks before he was dealt in his fourth season in a blockbuster trade that brought Carmelo Anthony to New York. Chandler averaged 14.0 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Knicks. He would go on to play 12 seasons in the NBA.
Landry Fields (39th overall – 2010)
No, Landry Fields did not have a lengthy playing career. He played just two seasons with the Knicks and five altogether. It was still impressive that as a second round pick, he was on the All-Rookie First Team and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2010-11. He started 143 games for New York in his two seasons.
Iman Shumpert (17th overall – 2011)
Iman Shumpert was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Knicks in his fourth season. Prior to that, he was in the Knicks starting lineup 162 times (also started all 13 of his playoff appearances with the team). In 2016, he was part of the Cleveland team that won the franchise’s first NBA championship.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (24th overall – 2013)
Tim Hardaway Jr. actually had two separate tenures with the Knicks. After playing his first two seasons with them, he rejoined the team for the 2017-18 season. In 2019, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he has remained since. He averaged 13.8 points in his 254 regular season games with New York.
Mitchell Robinson (36th overall – 2018)
Mitchell Robinson is currently the longest-tenured Knicks player with six seasons with the team. He set a new NBA single-season record shooting 74.2% from the field in 2019-20. Robinson has been one of the game’s better offensive rebounders, and he ranks second in team history with 602 blocks.
