Knicks potential 2023 NBA Draft plan: Which players would fit?

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, left, defends New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in New York. The Knicks won 92-81. (AP Photo/John Munson)

The NBA Draft is just over 24 hours away and, as of right now, the New York Knicks do not have a pick in the draft. 

However, that could all change. 

The Knicks traded their own first-round pick to the Trail Blazers for Josh Hart, and none of the picks from the Mavericks, Wizards, or Pistons were conveyed in 2023 due to protections. However, earlier in the offseason, we covered the ways that New York could move back into the draft rather than sit it out for the second year in a row. 

One of the scenarios we said was most likely was that the Knicks would look to trade Obi Toppin for a first-round pick: “To me, this is the most likely option. Toppin is buried in his version of the Knicks with Julius Randle in town. If the Knicks don’t want to extend Toppin then this is the time to trade him.”

On Tuesday, Steve Popper of Newsday reported that both the Knicks and Toppin felt like the forward needed a fresh start somewhere else, making it seem like there is a strong chance the Dayton product will be shipped out before the start of Thursday nights draft, likely to allow the Knicks to move into the first round. 

Immediately, many people have gone back to connecting the dots with the Indiana Pacers, who were close to a deal for Toppin at the NBA trade deadline. The Pacers have three first-round picks in the 2023 NBA Draft – No. 7, No. 26, and No. 29 – so the Knicks could send Toppin to Indiana for either pick 26 or pick 29. 

If New York does trade into the end of the first round, who are some players that could be a fit?

The Knicks need perimeter defense and floor spacing. If they move Toppin to acquire this pick then Josh Hart will be the only bench wing for New York, and he’s only 6’5,” so the Knicks’ ideal target…