NBA Rumors: North Carolina Standout 'Extensively Scouted’ By New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are likely to select early in the 2020 NBA Rookie Draft given their dismal showing during the unfinished season. And while basketball action is on a break, the Knicks are reportedly doing their homework already as they are said to have "extensively scouted" North Carolina's Cole Anthony for a possible pick.

Ian Begley of SNY cited an anonymous NCAA source who confirmed: "New York has done their homework on Cole."

But assuming the Knicks have already pictured a handful of scenarios concerning their lottery pick, Bagley pointed out that placing the 19-year-old guard under strict scrutiny does not equate to New York ultimately selecting him on draft night.

"The Knicks doing extensive homework on a player isn't necessarily a sign that they are going to pick that player," Begley wrote. "They are probably doing extensive scouting on several players to prepare for different draft scenarios in advance of the NBA Lottery."

Begley's calculation based on the current NBA standings has the Knicks holding a less than 10% chance of landing the No. 1 pick and about a 36% chance of landing a top-four prospect while still having the possibility of going all the way down to the last lottery selection.

That said, scouting Cole could be just one of the many other studies the Knicks have done or are about to do, especially under new leadership which appears to be aggressive in shaping the franchise to become a contender it once used to be.

After all, Cole does not seem to be the talent who will immediately provide the answers to the Knicks’ woes, most particularly on the offensive end of the court.

Although averaging 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game as a Tar Heel last season, the son of former Knick Greg Anthony has struggled shooting the ball with just 38% from the field, 35% from beyond the three-point territory, and 75% from the charity stripe. Added to it is the fact that he is coming off a knee injury late last year, which forced him to go under the knife before returning in February.