New York holds the No. 24 pick — its own first-round selection — and Bleacher Report projects the Knicks to select KK Mega’s Luigi Suigo, a nearly 7-foot-3 center with perimeter skills that have drawn comparisons to an Italian version of Victor Wembanyama — an ambitious comp, but one grounded in measurable physical dimensions and emerging skill.

New York holds only the one pick here. The Knicks have been aggressive with their draft capital in recent seasons, trading picks for established contributors, but the No. 24 pick arrived through organic draft positioning. Given the franchise’s current state — competitive enough to contend but short on bankable big men — this pick must be used precisely.

Suigo is an international center with physical dimensions that border on comical: barefoot at nearly 7-foot-3 with a 9-foot-6 standing reach. He doesn’t fit neatly into the traditional center mold — he shoots threes with legitimate mechanics, makes reads off the ball like a seasoned post passer, and has shown a willingness to step out to the perimeter and contest rather than dropping back and protecting the paint conservatively. That skill set is why Buckley notes that Suigo “isn’t universally locked into first-round mocks” — his offensive game needs more self-creation — but also why teams investing in his physical upside are willing to be patient through the developmental process.

The Knicks’ center situation has been a persistent organizational challenge. Mitchell Robinson has battled injuries, and the team lacks a reliable backup at the position. Suigo’s physical profile — that length, standing reach, and mobile footwork for his size — gives New York a developmental project who, if his shooting consistency improves and his on-ball confidence grows, could be a devastating rim protector and perimeter-shooting center combination within three seasons.

The player immediately after Suigo at No. 24 is Henri Veesaar, who goes to Los Angeles at No. 25. Veesaar is a more conventional prospect — a 7-footer who pounds the glass, finishes at the rim efficiently, and makes sound decisions — but his ceiling may be lower. New York reaches for the higher-upside option.

Outlet	Projected Player
Bleacher Report	Luigi Suigo
CBS Sports	Tarris Reed Jr.
Tankathon	Allen Graves

CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein projects Tarris Reed Jr. to New York at No. 24 in his most recent mock — a different big-man type, but one whose measurables Finkelstein values in the same slot. Tankathon’s model projects Allen Graves to the Knicks at pick 24. The international scouting community has watched Suigo closely, and his measurements alone ensure he will be taken somewhere in the first round. Whether it lands at 24 or slightly earlier or later depends on how much front offices trust the skill over the length, and New York’s track record with international projects gives them a reasonable platform to make this bet.

Knicks fans have learned to be patient with big-man development — years of working with Kristaps Porzingis and Robinson taught the organization and fanbase that elite-length centers require time. Suigo represents a similar investment, though with a more modern skill set. His ability to operate on the perimeter while protecting the rim — his ability to be a credible threat on both ends without limiting lineup options — makes him worth the wait.

For a franchise that has historically struggled to develop franchise-level big men from scratch, Suigo at No. 24 represents a smart gamble on physical dimensions that don’t require development — they’re already there. The skills can be cultivated. The 9-foot-6 standing reach cannot be taught. New York takes the ceiling, and at this point in the draft, that’s the correct instinct.