The New York Knicks are the favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals and still hold the No. 24 overall pick — the kind of luxury that comes with sweeping the 76ers in the second round. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley projects them to use it on UConn center Tarris Reed Jr., a 6-foot-11 interior force whose brute-force rebounding, shot-blocking instincts, and close-range finishing give the Knicks the Mitchell Robinson insurance they badly need heading into a summer of frontcourt uncertainty.

Robinson’s free agency is the defining storyline at this position. Whether he leaves or returns — and whether he’s healthy enough to be trusted with postseason minutes if he does — New York needs frontcourt depth that can absorb his role and his style of play without a significant step down. Reed is built for exactly that role. He is a throwback center who commands the paint: he vacuums rebounds, pins shots against the glass, and finishes with power around the basket. He has also shown feel for short-roll passes and solid footwork defending in space, which the Knicks’ motion offense absolutely requires from its big man.

Reed’s limitations are equally clear. He rarely shoots from the perimeter and wasn’t entirely comfortable defending on the outer edges of screens — both weaknesses that the Knicks’ opponents will exploit if he ever becomes a starter. But his Combine performance addressed at least one of those concerns: multiple scouts noted that Reed appeared more nimble moving his feet outside during workouts in Chicago, potentially the developmental key to unlocking his full potential at the next level.

The direct opportunity cost at No. 24 is the Lakers’ pick at No. 25: North Carolina junior Henri Veesaar, a 7-foot center with perimeter shooting touch, lob-finishing ability, and connective playmaking feel. Veesaar would have given the Knicks a stretch-five option rather than a traditional interior anchor — a different fit, but a plausible one given how the modern NBA values perimeter big men. Choosing Reed over Veesaar is a bet on defensive presence and rebounding over shooting range at this position.

CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein also projects Reed to the Knicks at No. 24, reinforcing the center-depth logic. Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor projects Jayden Quaintance to New York — the former Arizona State shot-blocker who has battled through catastrophic knee injuries but brings elite defensive explosiveness if healthy. CBS Sports’ Cameron Salerno sends Dailyn Swain to the Knicks, and Gary Parrish projects Allen Graves. Tankathon also projects Allen Graves to New York at this spot.

The split between Reed, Quaintance, Graves, and Swain reflects real organizational uncertainty about what the Knicks actually need most. Reed addresses frontcourt depth in a way that mirrors Robinson’s specific value. Quaintance offers a higher upside but a riskier health trajectory. Graves and Swain serve different needs entirely — Graves as a versatile forward, Swain as a wing attacker.

What Other Outlets Are Projecting

Outlet	Projected Player
Bleacher Report	Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn
CBS Sports	Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn (Finkelstein)
Tankathon	Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara
Yahoo Sports	Jayden Quaintance, PF/C, Kentucky

Reed at No. 24 is smart for New York because a contending team cannot afford to be a center injury away from a roster collapse. Reed’s brute-force interior style, championship-winning experience at UConn, and readymade understanding of how to function as a center’s center — rebounding every contested ball within reach, protecting the paint, and staying out of the way offensively when it matters — makes him the most reliable insurance policy available at this price. The Knicks don’t need a star here; they need a player who can anchor a defensive scheme without demanding offensive touches, and Reed does exactly that from the moment his name is called.