NBA Draft Rumors: New York Knicks after Tyler Ennis, P.J. Hairston & Patric Young

Apr 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Florida Gators center Patric Young (4) reacts in the second half against the Connecticut Huskies during the semifinals of the Final Four in the 2014 NCAA Mens Division I Championship tournament at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Knicks are desperately trying to trade into the first round.

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However, with next to no money to buy a pick and no assets to acquire one, that is going to be quite difficult.

The Knicks are said to covet a couple of guards – former Syracuse Orange point guard Tyler Ennis and former North Carolina Tar Heels and Texas Legends’ swingman P.J. Hairston.

According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, the Knicks, specifically president Phil Jackson, aren’t just after Ennis and Hairston, but also value former Florida Gators’ big man Patric Young.

"Jackson, entering his first draft as Knicks president, doesn’t have a draft pick in either round but is looking to buy or trade for at least one — possibly late in the first round.According to a source, Young, who averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds as a senior, worked out for Jackson this month and impressed. The 6-foot-10, 245-pounder is considered an early second-round pick but his stock appears to be rising. An ESPN.com mock draft had him at No. 30.Jackson is also very hot on North Carolina shooting guard P.J. Hairston, projected as a late first-rounder. Jackson has interest, too, in Syracuse point guard Tyler Ennis late in the first round. Ennis wouldn’t work out for the Knicks; some see him as a late lottery pick."

Ennis put up 12.9 points, 5.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 41.1% from the field, 35.3% from beyond the arc and 76.5% from the charity stripe. He measured in at 6’2.5 and 182 lbs. with a wingspan of 6’7.25. He is ranked by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express as the 12th-best prospect in the draft.

Hairston measured in at 6’5.25 and 229 pounds with a wing span of 6’9. He averaged 21.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 32.3 minutes per game in 26 appearances for the Texas Legends of the D-League this season. Hairston shot 45.3% from the field, 35.8% from three and 87.0% from the free throw line. He is ranked as the 24th-best prospect.

Young, who already worked out for the Knicks, put up 11.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 54.1% from the field and 59.6% from the charity stripe. He is ranked as the 40th-best prospect in the draft.

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