New York Knicks: Looking back at a dumpster fire draft history

Mar 18, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan introduces New York Knicks new president of basketball operations Phil Jackson (not pictured) at a press conference at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports /

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March 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Washington Wizards forward Nene Hilario (42) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

1997 – 25th overall

John Thomas – C – Minnesota

Another Grunfeld special. Thomas only played in MSG as a visitor, lasting both in the NBA and internationally through the 2006 season. Thomas was a career reserve, bouncing from team-to-team. Again, you could literally trade for a boozed up fan in the third row and do better than this.

1998 – No pick

1999 – 15th overall

Frederic Weis – C – CSP Limoges (France)

Weis was supposed to be the replacement for Ewing. Instead, the Frenchman never played a single NBA game. Maybe it was something to do with Vince Carter. I’m going to leave the video below for you fine folks and slowly back away…

Hell, looks like a Knick to me.

2000 – 22nd overall

Donnell Harvey – SF – Florida

Awesome, another player who didn’t suit up once for New York. Harvey ended up making his NBA debut in 2000 with the Dallas Mavericks and lasted in the league until 2005. He was never a consistent starter or contributor, bouncing between five teams until he mercifully retired.

2001 – No pick

2002 – 7th overall

Nene’ Hilario – C – Vasco de Gama (Brazil)

With their first top-10 pick since 1986, the Knicks actually found a good player in Nene. General manager Scott Layden plucked Hilario and turned him into … Antonio McDyess. But it’s better than that. Layden decided it would be wise to trade Nene, Marcus Camby and Mark Jackson into McDyess and the 25th-overall pick, who became Frank Williams.

Amazingly, ESPN insider Chad Ford thought this was a great deal for the Knicks:

"Layden’s ability to pull off a draft-day miracle, just as we were ready to write off the Knicks for years to come, is just one move in a series of steps that will be played out the next month as the NBA silly season rears its head."

McDyess was coming off a knee injury that limited him to 10 games the year prior with the Denver Nuggets. Yet, Layden pushed through and landed him. Ultimately, McDyess played 18 games for the Knicks before moving on. Good times!

Next: 2003-2006 ... Isiah looms...

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