New York Knicks fans are still on a high following their NBA Finals victory and subsequent championship parade last week. However, back-to-back titles are not out of the question.
The Knicks can up those chances Tuesday night in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, where they hold the 24th overall pick. They also have the 31st and 55th picks in the second round and have been rumored to be candidates for teams wanting to trade into the first round.
With the NBA Draft season comes mock drafts. The Knicks have been projected to take players across all positions, much of which stem from center Mitchell Robinson’s impending free agency and the need for another big.
Here’s who various mock drafts have the Knicks taking in the first round Tuesday:
ESPN: Tarris Reed Jr., center, UConn
Tarris Reed Jr. split four years at Michigan and UConn, but his best season came this past campaign to lead the Huskies to the national championship game. Reed averaged career-highs with 14.7 points and 9.0 rebounds, including three double-doubles and a 27-rebound game in the NCAA Tournament.
Yahoo Sports: Koa Peat, forward, Arizona
In his lone season with Arizona, Koa Peat put up 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists, helping Arizona to the Final Four. His draft stock slipped after being a projected lottery pick in the preseason, but his 6-foot-7 height and 6-foot-11 wingspan could still be a benefit for the Knicks.
The Athletic: Koa Peat, forward, Arizona
Koa Peat is commonly predicted to go off the board around this range and is clearly one of the Knicks’ most common targets. He does need to improve his shooting, but his size and overall athleticism give him upside.
Bleacher Report: Meleek Thomas, guard, Arkansas
Similar to Peat, Meleek Thomas was one-and-done at Arkansas after having a solid freshman season with the Razorbacks. He averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists and scored double figures in all of Arkansas’ March Madness games despite working alongside projected lottery pick Darius Acuff Jr.
CBS Sports: Henri Veesaar, center, North Carolina
If the Knicks select UNC center Henri Veesaar, they would have another potential replacement for Mitchell Robinson. Veesaar played his first two years at Arizona before jumping to the Tar Heels, where he had his most productive year — 17.0 points and 8.7 boards on average while shooting over 60% from the field.
SB Nation: Chris Cenac Jr., forward, Houston
Chris Cenac Jr. is mostly projected to be taken somewhere from the mid-teens to early 20s in the first round, so the Knicks getting him here would be a steal. Cenac is viewed as more of a raw prospect, scoring 9.5 points and snagging 7.9 rebounds as a freshman with Houston.
The Ringer: Karim Lopez, forward, New Zealand
Karim Lopez, the only international prospect on this list, played for the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL this past season and averaged 11.9 points in 31 games. Lopez’s best traits are his physicality and range, standing 6-foot-9 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Knicks mock draft, 6 players to watch in 2026 NBA Draft
About the Author
