Ja Morant
AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley

The New York Knicks have reportedly scheduled a meeting with Murray State guard and college basketball standout, Ja Morant. 

The New York Knicks suffered a big loss on the night of the NBA Draft Lottery. They received the No. 3 overall pick in this summer’s draft, which means they won’t get Zion Williamson out of Duke. That leaves the Knicks with either Murray State’s Ja Morant or Duke’s RJ Barrett. Of those two, whomever the Memphis Grizzlies pass on at No. 2 overall will probably end up in New York.

On Thursday, per Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks have taken another step in the draft process and have scheduled a meeting with Morant. The meeting is scheduled to take place in New York on Friday.

Due to the fact that Morant is recovering from surgery, he hasn’t worked out for the team. Morant previously met with the Grizzlies as well as the New Orleans Pelicans, who have the No. 1 overall pick.

It would be a big surprise if Williamson and Morant do not go No. 1 and 2 overall, respectively. Therefore, the Knicks will most likely be left with Barrett, unless they choose to use the No. 3 pick in a trade, potentially for Anthony Davis.

The Knicks, who could’ve turned the team around this offseason, has had some bad luck thus far. Not only did they fall to No. 3 in the draft, but free agent target Kevin Durant ruptured his Achilles Monday night. Dr. Alan Beyer, who’s an orthopedic surgeon and executive director of the Hoag Orthopedic Institute, told CBS Sports that it’s an 8-to-12 month recovery. Therefore, there’s a good chance Durant may miss all of next season.

The Knicks could still sign him, but that’s a big risk to spend all of that money on a superstar who won’t play for another year. Kyrie Irving is still in play, but there’s a good chance he may sign with the Brooklyn Nets.

The draft will take place on June 20 with free agency beginning shortly thereafter on June 30.

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Ryan Honey is a staff writer and host of the Wide Right Podcast.