The New York Knicks fill two key positions that may lose bodies in their depth chart this summer in a recent 2024 NBA Mock Draft. Derek Parker of Fan Nation’s NBA Draft has the Knicks picking Weber State small forward Dillon Jones at No. 24 and Purdue center Zach Edey at No. 25 overall.
Knicks: Dillon Jones did what no other player in the NCAA accomplished in 2023-24
Jones showed remarkable growth in four years with the Wildcats. He increased his scoring average by roughly four points year-over-year. The 6-6 forward finished the 2023-24 campaign averaging 20.8 points on 48.9 percent shooting from the field.
Not only did he establish himself as a strong scorer, but he also proved himself to be well-rounded on both ends. The Big Sky Player of the Year put up 9.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists a night. He was the only player in the NCAA to post at least 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals last season.
Jones would be a great young prospect for the Knicks to develop in the event that OG Anunoby walks in free agency.
Knicks select 2x National Player of the Year as insurance for Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein
Right after him is Edey, who tore through the NCAA in 2023-24. The 7-foot-4 behemoth gave opposing front courts nightmares with averages of 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game on 62.3 percent shooting from the field and 71.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
The Canadian big man earned the praises of several NBA greats including Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal as he led the nation in scoring and won his second National Player of the Year award last season.
Edey could slide in from day one as a high-level contributor off of the Knicks’ bench. New York could lose breakout center Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency and have been rumored to be shopping starter Mitchell Robinson throughout the year. There’s room for the 22-year-old in the lineup and the pick makes much sense. He and Jones are two of the most NBA-ready prospects that are coming out of college this year. They’d fit right in under Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau and are low-risk, high-reward options late in the first round.