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 /

5 of 5

Oct 5, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Isiah Thomas a NBA Hall of Famer watches as the Toronto Raptors host the Sacramento Kings during the first half at Rogers Arena. The Toronto Raptors won 99-94. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

2007 – 23rd overall

Wilson Chandler – SF – DePaul

Chandler is actually a solid player, and a very nice pick that late in the draft. Still, New York found a way to make sure this worked out for everyone but itself. After watching Chandler develop into a good wing, they dealt him as part of the Carmelo Anthony deal. We can see how well that has worked out.

2008 – 6th overall

Danilo Gallinari – SF – Olimpia Milano

See above. What a mess.

2009 – 8th overall

Jordan Hill – PF – Arizona

Hill came into the league with plenty of doubters, and he made sure to prove every one of them correct. Hill never did a thing for the Knicks before being moved to the Houston Rockets after 24 games in his rookie season. Hill now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, but won’t the second they get good.

2011 – 17th overall

Iman Shumpert – SG – Georgia Tech

Keeping up with their recent trend, the Knicks actually found some solid talent at the back end of the draft but made sure to deal it away like it is radioactive waste. New York also has this great trend over the past decade of somehow picking toward the bottom of the first round despite being one of the five worst teams every year. It’s all about the management, folks.

2013 -24th overall

Tim Hardaway Jr. – PG – Michigan

Hardaway has actually made it through two seasons with New York, so he’s already better than half the bums we outlined in this piece. The son of former NBA great Tim Hardaway has averaged 10.2 and 11.5 points per game in his first two campaigns, respectively. While Hardaway isn’t an elite talent by any stretch, he at least belongs in an NBA rotation.

If you are not a Knicks fan, you are probably very thankful. If you are, I’m sorry.

Home/NBA Draft