The New York Knicks own the ninth selection in the 2018 NBA Draft which takes place on June 21. Sports Illustrated’s most recent mock draft has them taking Forward Mikal Bridges out of Villanova with that selection. The Knicks have made some picks that have helped change the franchise’s history such as Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier, and Willis Reed. None of those picks have been all that recent though. Which players selected by the Knicks since 1990 have been their best (and worst) choices?

Here are a few things to know about these lists. The player must have been drafted by the team and not acquired in a draft-day trade like Nate Robinson.

To be on the best selections list, they must have played at least three full seasons with the team (apologies to Danilo Gallinari and Trevor Ariza). To be on the worst selections list, they must have actually played for the team. Players such as Donnell Harvey, Dahntay Jones, and John Thomas did not have productive careers, but they were also traded by New York before playing for them. The one exception is the guy who is number one because he never even played in the NBA. Also, only first-round picks were considered.

Best selections

  • 5. Tim Hardaway Jr. (2013 - 24th pick)

After spending his first two seasons with New York, Hardaway Jr. rejoined the team as a free agent last offseason. He was a First Team All-Rookie member in 2013-14 and averaged 17.5 points this season.

  • 4. Charlie Ward (1994 - 26th pick)

Ward was the starting point guard for a Knicks team that made the NBA Finals in 1999. He played in 580 games with New York and is seventh in franchise history with 2,451 assists.

  • 3. Wilson Chandler (2007 - 23rd pick)

Chandler was a key component for the Knicks for about 3.5 seasons until he was traded to the Denver Nuggets in a deal that netted New York Carmelo Anthony.

He averaged 14 points and 5.2 rebounds in 233 games as a member of the Knicks.

  • 2. David Lee (2005 - 30th pick)

A late first round pick, Lee made the All-Star team in the 2009-10 season which was his last with New York. Three of his five years with the Knicks he averaged double-figures in rebounding and shot 55.7 percent from the field during his tenure with the club.

  • 1. Kristaps Porzingis (2015 - fourth pick)

Porzingis gives current Knicks fans hope despite tearing his ACL last season which is expected to keep him out at least until December. He was named an All-Star last season and was second in the league with 2.4 blocks per game.

Other notables: Hubert Davis (1992 - 20th pick) and Iman Shumpert (2011 - 17th pick).

Worst selections

  • 5. Mardy Collins (2006 - 29th pick)

Collins played in 107 games with the Knicks and shot just 35.7 percent from the field with a scoring average of 3.7. He last played in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2009-10 season.

  • 4. Jerrod Mustaf (1990 - 17th pick)

Mustaf lasted only four seasons in the league and just one with the Knicks.

He averaged 4.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in his rookie season with New York.

  • 3. Jordan Hill (2009 - eighth pick)

Who went one pick before Hill? Stephen Curry (DeMar DeRozan was taken with the pick after Hill). Hill played just 24 games with the Knicks before being traded. He last appeared in seven games for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2016-17 season.

  • 2. Mike Sweetney (2003 - ninth pick)

The 2003 draft is known as one of the best of all-time as it featured LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade just to name a few. Then there was Sweetney, who played just four seasons (two with New York, two with the Chicago Bulls) with career averages of 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.

  • 1. Frederic Weis (1999 - 15th pick)

The obvious choice for not just worst draft choice since 1990, but likely the worst draft choice in franchise history. Weis never played in the NBA and is most known for being posterized by Vince Carter.

Other notables: Renaldo Balkman (2006 - 20th pick).
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