The 2015 NBA Draft Lottery: Team Odds and Likely Scenarios

New York Knicks

Record: 17-65
Chance of #1 Pick: 19.9%

The Knicks need any type of talent they can get on their team. Outside of Carmelo Anthony, the roster is made up of underwhelming players.

Only two players on their roster have positive nERD scores, which is our primary basketball metric that measures efficiency. nERD indicates how many wins above or below .500 a player would add to an otherwise average roster if that player was a starter. Alexey Shved finished the season with a nERD of 1.1, and Cole Aldrich managed a nERD of 0.4.

With the second overall pick likely in the future, the Knicks would have their choice of whoever falls between Karl Anthony-Towns and Jahlil Okafor.

Though both these players are great talents, the Knicks would likely be best served with the potentially more NBA ready player in Okafor. Okafor would provide an immediate presence in the post for the Knicks. New York's 13.3 field goals made per game within five feet of the basket ranked last in the NBA, and their field goal percentage from that range (54.3%) topped only Philadelphia's (53.8%).

With Carmelo Anthony turning 31 this summer, time is running short for the Knicks' cornerstone, so it makes sense for the Knicks to go with the player more likely to contribute right away.