Who Will the Knicks Take with Their First Pick in the 2022 NBA Draft?

Jon Metler

Last Updated: June 17, 2022 3:23 AM EDT • 2 min 10 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 19: Jeremy Sochan #1 of the Baylor Bears shoots the ball as Armando Bacot #5 and Brady Manek #45 of the North Carolina Tar Heels defend in the first half of the game during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Dickies Arena on March 19, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by TOM PENNINGTON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The New York Knicks will have the 11th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft on June 23 and will hope to return to the playoffs next season. In this article, we examine the odds for the Knicks' first pick of the NBA draft with an eye on the best value bets.

DraftKings Sportsbook offers a special NBA draft market in which you can wager on who the Knicks will select with their first pick. In this case, the wording is crucial, as it indicates the team's first pick, not the 11th overall pick. PointsBet will void the wager if the Knicks trade the pick and pick from any other spot.

Could there be a scenario in which the Knicks pick for another team at No. 11? Obviously, the Knicks want to move on from forward Julius Randle, and there have been rumors of them trying to acquire Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, but what about a trade with the Sacramento Kings for prospect Jaden Ivey?

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Here's a look at the odds and our top betting picks for the Knicks' first selection in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Odds for the Knicks' First Draft Pick

(Odds via DraftKings)

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Who Will the Knicks Pick in the Draft?

Griffin, SF, Duke (+500)

The Knicks are expected to select Duke forward A.J. Griffin at this position according to several mock drafts, which is why he is the favorite in this market. It's easy to see why the Knicks would want to draft the Duke freshman who hit 44.7% of his 3-pointers this season, but at +500, I'm fading Griffin.

Given their higher odds, I believe there are considerably better options available in this market.

Recommendation: Fade

Ivey, G, Purdue (+800)

Purdue guard Jaden Ivey is a hard sell for me in this market for two reasons. First and foremost, I believe there is a very strong possibility that he will not be available at No. 4, which would result in the Knicks not trading up. In addition, this is not like the NFL, where the pick is traded and the new team makes the selection. In the NBA, the Kings would draft him and trade his rights to the Knicks, and then whoever the Knicks select at No. 11 would be acquired by the Kings.

A loophole would occur in which the Knicks would select the Kings' first player.

Recommendation: Sell

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Sochan, F, Baylor (+800)

The Kings have brought in Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan for a workout, which is an interesting development considering he is expected to go between Nos. 8 and 12 and the Kings have the No. 4 pick. In the event that the Knicks and Kings trade draft rights on the night of the draft, Sochan is the player the Knicks may select on behalf of the Kings.

Recommendation: Watchlist

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Agbaji, G, Kansas (+1200)

According to team defensive rating, the Knicks had the fourth best defense in the NBA during the 2020-2021 season, when they went 41-31 and made the playoffs.

Agbaji would provide the Knicks with a 3-and-D player who could step in and be a member of the rotation immediately. Like Griffin, Agbaji is an elite 3-point shooter. The difference is that we receive +1200 on this bet instead of +500.

Recommendation: Buy

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Where to Bet on the 2022 NBA Draft

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel Sportsbook Caesars Sportsbook DraftKings Sportsbook PointsBet BetMGM

SEE ALSO: All picks, odds, and sports betting news. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

2022 NBA Draft picks made on 6/16/2022 at 4:15 p.m. ET.

Written By:
Jon Metler

Jon Metler is a Sports Betting Analyst at SportsbookReview.com. Having played, coached, and officiated basketball, he immediately turned his attention to the NBA and College Basketball when he entered the sports betting space. Sports betting has been a part of his life for over 13 years, and he specializes in futures markets and player props, particularly in the NBA. In pursuit of value, he keeps a close eye on movements in the betting markets. He believes strongly in analytics and staying ahead of the curve; let the numbers do the talking. A graduate of the University of Windsor with a degree in Sports Studies, Jon enjoys spending time with his dogs when he isn't watching basketball.