Knicks NBA Draft guide: Prospects for New York to consider with all three picks

2026 NBA
Draft
LIVE
Updates12m ago
Mock DraftTop 75 Prospects How To WatchGiannis Traded To HeatLive TrackerOddsAnalysisKnicks NBA Draft guide: Prospects for New York to consider with all three picks

Koa Peat of the Arizona Wildcats is just one of the prospects the New York Knicks might take interest in at the NBA Draft. Michael Reaves / Getty Images
By James L. Edwards IIIJune 22, 2026 Updated June 23, 2026 11:31 am EDTThe Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NBA Draft, including the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
Has an NBA Draft ever felt as inconsequential for New York?
For years, the annual event was treated like the Super Bowl around these parts, given the Knicks’ struggles as a franchise for most of this century. But now, New York is an NBA champion for the first time in 53 years, and a savior is no longer needed.
Still though, there is business to attend to, and the Knicks have three picks (Nos. 24, 31 and 55) in this week’s draft. New York could use another ballhandler, preferably one with some size. It might need to plan for a life without Mitchell Robinson, who is an upcoming free agent. More shooting has never hurt anybody.
Here are three prospects that New York might consider with each pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.
Pick No. 24
Koa Peat, Forward, Arizona: There is a real chance the 6-foot-7 Peat won’t be there when the Knicks are on the clock, but New York clearly has a good enough roster as is — so maybe it packages two picks to move up and get a player it really likes. Peat is intriguing for a few reasons, most notably his size, 6-foot-11 wingspan and ability to handle the ball. As our Sam Vecenie recently broke down, Peat can string together multiple moves with the ball in his hands and has good footwork. The Knicks could use a big wing with natural ballhandling chops. Peat also has winning intangibles and positional versatility. The jump shot is a concern, but New York has the time and resources to work with him on that facet of his game.
Bennett Stirtz, Guard, Iowa: He’s 6-foot-2, but Stirtz can be a lead guard at the next level and can play alongside a ball-dominant guard because of his elite shooting. Over his last two collegiate seasons, Stirtz knocked down 37.2 percent of his 3s on 5.8 attempts per game. The shooting plus his high IQ would be beneficial for a Knicks team that plays in a read-and-react offense. Stirtz has to shake some doubters defensively because of his lack of strength and foot speed to prove he can be a starter in the NBA. There are also questions regarding his ability to create separation as a ballhandler at the next level. The shooting and decision-making, though, make Stirtz a good bet to, at the very least, be a rotation player in the NBA.
Chris Cenac Jr., Big, Houston: Cenac, 19, won’t be ready to seriously contribute for a few seasons, assuming his development goes well, but his upside might be worth a gamble at the end of the first round. The 6-foot-10 big is a fluid athlete and good rebounder. The shooting mechanics are promising, too. Cenac has a chance to be a versatile, two-way big man if he lands in the right program and has a good work ethic. The defensive stuff is a little more concerning, but Cenac is young and has tremendous size. He wasn’t a great rim protector at the college level and his motor, at times, was a little concerning from two scouts I talked to. Vecenie believes there’s a world where he ends up settling in as a power forward at the next level as opposed to a center.
BYU’s Richie Saunders could be a potential fallback if the Knicks lose Landry Shamet this summer. (Scott Wachter / Getty Images)Pick No. 31
Richie Saunders, Wing, BYU: Knee issues aside, Saunders could be a good replacement in the event the Knicks lose Landry Shamet in free agency this summer. He’s 24 years old, but he’s a really good shooter who has played a lot of basketball over his four-year college career. At best, as a rookie, Saunders will be a catch-and-shoot weapon who can survive defensively. That’s not a bad profile to add for a Knicks team with more than enough players who need the ball in their hands.
Isaiah Evans, Wing, Duke: Evans can really, really shoot the ball, both stationary and off the move. That’s about it, though. He needs to get stronger to regularly contribute in the NBA. He doesn’t pass well. He’s not a great defender. However, if he’s able to shoot at an elite level in the NBA and be good enough defensively, that’s a rotation piece all NBA teams look for. Evans has worked out for the Knicks, per league sources.
Allen Graves, Forward, Santa Clara: It’s never a bad idea to get smart, good-processing players into your building. Whichever team drafts Graves will be getting that. The 19-year-old forward has a good feel for the game on both ends and makes reads that are advanced for his age. He somewhat reminds me of Kyle Anderson, but his game isn’t as sore on the eyes when watching. The 6-foot-7 Graves likely will profile as a power forward at the next level. He’s not the most athletic and doesn’t have great foot speed, so there will be concerns about how he defends at the next level, but I like to gamble on players who are smart and have a good motor. They often figure out how to stick around and have an impact in some way. Graves won’t be NBA-ready right away, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he had some good G League performances in his rookie season.
Pick No. 55
Quick hitter: I wouldn’t be surprised if the Knicks don’t make a selection at No. 55, given that it has two picks earlier in the night and end-of-bench players under contract who need development. If they do, my guess is that player will go straight to the G League.
Here are some names to consider based on Vecenie’s big board:
- Lamar Wilkerson, Guard, Indiana: Elite shooter, but bad defensively
- Jaden Henley, Wing, Grand Canyon: Big ballhandler who can pass and get downhill, but has short arms and is a gambler defensively
- Dillon Mitchell, Wing, St. John’s: Really good passer and a menace defensively, but might be the worst shooter in the draft
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'

Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'