NBA Draft 2015: April Mock Draft -- New York Knicks select Jahlil Okafor

With the second pick of the 2015 NBA Draft . . . the New York Knicks select Jahlil Okafor from the Duke University. This also makes tons of sense. Back in the 1984 NBA Draft the Knicks used their #1 on the center who just won the National Championship, back then it was Patrick Ewing from Georgetown. This time around they have the #2 pick and they get Duke's championship bigman Okafor. He's a great rebounder, and playing next to Carmelo Anthony means there are a lot of rebounds to be had. He also is a smooth offensive player with an okay stroke, and a soft touch around the basket. I'm not saying he's the next Patrick Ewing. But with the Knicks you never know how a high draft pick is going to develop. What we do know is that this Knicks team could be a completely blank slate. The only players returning next season are Carmelo, point guard Jose Calderon, and wings Tim Hardaway Jr., and Cleanthony Early. They need a big. And after the abortion they had in the paint last season (Andrea Bargnani, Jason Smith, Cole Aldrich, Quincy Acy, and guys they paid to leave like Samuel Dalembert, Louis Amundson, and Amar'e Stoudemire) a guy like Jahlil would be a huge step in the right direction. Is he a franchise savior, like Ewing? I don't know. But with the #2 pick in the draft and a huge hole in the paint you just have to take this guy if he falls in your lap.