Knicks unlikely to trade up for Mo Bamba -- or anyone else in Draft

The Knicks have the No. 9 pick Thursday night

6/21/2018, 1:15 PM

Adam Zagoria

Jan 22, 2018; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Mohamed Bamba (4) reacts against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorns won 73-57. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports / Brendan Maloney

Head coach David Fizdale met Wednesday with Harlem native Mohamed Bamba, but the Knicks are unlikely to trade up to get the 7-foot shot-blocking sensation, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Multiple reports indicated Memphis is looking to trade the No. 4 pick. Bamba is currently projected to go No. 5 to Dallas, per ESPN.com.

"I was told late [Wednesday] night [the Knicks] have not yet asked Bamba's people to get his medical information," Wojnarowski said Thursday morning on ESPN's 'Get Up!' "That's a steep price to move up that high in the draft to No. 4. You're going to have to give up a lot. You're probably going to have to give up a future first [-round pick]. You're going to be digging into his medicals right now. They did talk to him yesterday and that goes on the week of."

He added: "I think [the Knicks] are very comfortable at 9, whether it's going to be [Kevin] Knox, Mikal Bridges from Villanova. They feel like they can get the player they want without mortgaging something forward. I think it's more likely the Knicks stay where they are."

Both Knox and Bridges spoke glowingly on Wednesay of potentially playing for the Knicks, while 6-10 Michael Porter Jr. also said he met with the Knicks in Chicago and they discussed possibly trading up to get him. Wojnarowski indicates that now seems unlikely.

Bamba, who starred for the New York-based PSA Cardinals AAU program, spent one year at Texas, averaging 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks.

"I truly feel as if you can plug me into the league right now, I would be one of the best shot-blockers," Bamba said Wednesday. "I feel as if I'm going to have the most impact from Day 1 [of any rookie] with any organization that I'm with."

That organization doesn't appear to be the Knicks, although he said at the NBA Draft Combine he would love to play in his hometown.

"It'd be pretty cool to either play for or against the Knicks," Bamba said. "I've never played in the Garden. I think it will be a funny feeling playing in the Garden. I've always wanted them to win, wanted them to be a contender."