Ian Begley, SNY.tv | Twitter |
Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver met with the Knicks on Wednesday morning in Chicago, one of ten prospects to talk to New York's management/coaches at the NBA Draft Combine.
Most people who are paid to analyze the NBA Draft see Culver as outside of this year's top three prospects.
When asked about making teams in the top three who might pass on him regret the decision, Culver smiled.
"In a way, for sure, that's just what I think about myself, I'm a confident guy," Culver, a 6-6 guard who excelled on both ends of the floor, said, per NBC Chicago.
The Knicks have the No. 3 pick. If they keep the pick, no one expects them to pass on R.J. Barrett or Ja Morant, who reportedly will be selected by Memphis at No. 2.
But there is intrigue with Culver.
Per SNY sources, some members of the Knicks front office are still enamored with the 20-year-old. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that New York would select Culver with the third pick. And it's unknown if the high opinion of Culver is shared by a majority or minority of Knicks decision makers.
But the Knicks will certainly take and make calls about possibly trading up and down the draft in the coming days and weeks. And Culver, currently projected as the sixth pick in ESPN's mock draft, would certainly be a candidate for New York if the club traded back in the draft.
The Big 12 Player of the Year had this to say when asked about playing in New York on Wednesday: "It would be unbelievable, they have a lot of great talent out there. Just being able to go in and try to make an impact with that team, it would be great."
Culver averaged 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and excelled on defense last year with Texas Tech, which reached the NCAA Championship game. Knicks president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry attended one of Culver's NCAA Tournament games in late March, per the New York Post.
The Knicks also met with Barrett and Cam Reddish in Chicago.
MORANT HAD 'GREAT' MEETING WITH KNICKS
Morant said his meeting on Wednesday with the Knicks went well. "It was a great meeting, we got to talk and I learned a lot about them and they learned a lot about me," the guard from Murray State said, per NBC Chicago. ESPN reported on Wednesday that Memphis had zeroed in on selecting Morant with the second pick in the draft. Morant, as you'd expect, said Memphis hadn't told him about its decision to draft him with the No. 2 pick.