Prospects the Knicks Should Have Their Eye On with Their Lottery Pick
If these players are available, they should be drafted to the team
The NBA Draft Lottery ended this past Tuesday and the New York Knicks will have the 9th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. While a lot of fans may see this as something of a disappointment since they will not be able to draft higher, it’s actually fine considering it’s still within the top ten and they can still get an impactful player that could help the team for the foreseeable future.
General Manager Scott Perry has reiterated several times that the Knicks will pick the best player available in the draft regardless of position. Steve Mills, the President of Basketball Operations, made a not-so secret statement during the Knicks’ season end press conference that the organization is looking for an ideal wing player to naturally play the small forward role but could also guard multiple positions.
This is a surprisingly deep draft class filled with prospects who can provide an ample amount of support for any team that drafts them. Considering the Knicks are need in need of a stretch wing and a stretch big (thanks to the Willy Hernangomez trade), they should have plenty of options as to who to draft when their number is called. However, most fans are torn as to who they should draft assuming the player they want is available. I am often asked the question as to who I think the Knicks should draft and I’ve said it varies but their best bet is an athletic wing who can guard multiple positions. I decided to put together a list of players who should be on the organization’s radar come June.
Here’s a hierarchy list of players that could be available as the 9th overall pick and who the Knicks should draft if available. Keep in mind that this list is based on numerous scouting reports who believe these players MIGHT be available around the time the Knicks have their pick and could easily be off the board by then.
1.) Mikal Bridges — SF, Villanova University/Junior
Height: 6'7" | Weight: 210 | Age: 21
Stats: 18.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 43% 3FG
Let’s not beat around the bush here: Mikal Bridges is arguably the most NBA-ready prospect out of all the lottery picks. Although he’s a junior redshirt, he’s had two championship experiences in the college basketball setting and has come up big in huge moments during his tenure at Villanova University.
He fits the bill as a true small forward that can guard multiple positions (exactly what Steve Mills is looking for). Listed at 6’7" with a 7’2" wingspan, he has the length to be an excellent two way player. He possess above average vertical ability, excellent high release point combined with length extension that allows him to shoot over the top of guards and wings. He is also an unselfish player, makes smart reads and reacts quickly on the defensive end, and has improved as someone who can create his own shots and function in pick-and-roll, post up smaller perimeter players and get to his spots to shoot in isolation.
However, he still lacks the heavy frame and strength that would otherwise make him lethal (not surprising since he’s only 21). Speaking of his age, because he’s an older player his upside is perceived as limited so there’s only so much for him to improve upon in the league. He’s also not one you might want to use as a primary scoring option since that’s not his forte.
In time, he’ll need to gain muscle and function in a Klay Thompson-like role where he’s fed the ball and serves as a secondary or third scoring option. If he’s available, the Knicks should draft him immediately.
2.) Trae Young — PG, Oklahoma State University/Freshman
Height: 6'2" | Weight: 180 | Age: 19
Stats: 27.4 PPG, 8.8 APG, 36.1% 3FG
The Knicks backcourt currently has four point guards on the roster. Although it’s too soon to give up on Frank Ntilikina, last year’s lottery pick and one time designated point guard of the future, it doesn’t hurt to have additional help on the point guard line.
Trae Young is the type of playmaking point guard the Knicks have been desperately searching for since Mark Jackson (Stephon Marbury doesn’t count since he wasn’t drafted by the team). He is a young (pun intended), “walking bucket” who can score off the dribble, consistently hit his free throws, has a quick release, can shoot from deep, thrives in pick and roll scenarios (which is a must-have skill, especially if he’s playing alongside Kristaps Porzingis), has strong handles, and excellent court vision. He’s no doubt the best point guard in this draft.
The flipside is that he’s small for his position, is a serious liability on defense, has a habit of gambling on plays that lead to costly turnovers, and is not explosive. He initially drew Steph Curry comparisons due to his scoring touch but that might be premature due to the fact that it might work well in a college setting but not in an NBA setting and he has a lot to improve on before he can become a big time threat. However, assuming Mikal Bridges is off the board and Young is available, it’s hard to believe the Knicks would pass on him.
3.) Wendell Carter — PF/C, Duke University/Freshman
Height: 6'10" | Weight: 260 | Age: 19
Stats: 13.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.1 BPG
The Willy Hernangomez trade just added another need on Scott Perry’s list of bringing in young talent to the Garden. They now need a center who can not only play alongside Porzingis but also can serve as the team’s rim protector and stretch big who can shoot from distance. If the players above ar e not available, Carter should be someone the Knicks should take with their pick.
Carter has largely been outshined by his peer and fellow Duke mate, Marvin Bagley III. Although he doesn’t exactly have the scorer’s touch that his running mate does, he’s an adequate big man who can do a lot at such a young age. Carter possess a strong, powerful frame and has an NBA-ready body that goes long ways. He’s highly coordinated and very agile, has a solid outside shot that is constantly growing and extremely beneficial in the “pace and space” era of basketball, sets good screens, and has a great awareness as to where he needs to be when playing defense,and having a 7'3" wingspan helps his role as a solid rim protector.
He can have difficulty guarding quicker players despite his fancy footwork and still needs to work on having a quicker release with his outside shot. Plus, he has trouble passing out of double teams (not unlike Porzingis) and is something he needs to improve upon when he enters the league. He also has trouble finishing and is not a dynamic leaper.
Still, he can be extremely beneficial as a secondary big man to play alongside Porzingis and help construct a strong defensive frontcourt if developed correctly.
4.) Miles Bridges — SF/PF, Michigan State University/Sophomore
Height: 6'7" | Weight: 225 | Age: 20
Stats: 17.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 36.4% 3FG
The other Bridges (no relation to Mikal) is an interesting prospect that has his name mentioned a lot around NBA circles who believe the Knicks could draft him before the other Bridges assuming he’s available. Miles shocked the basketball world when he decided to forgo his chance of being part of last year’s lottery draft class and elected to stay another year in school. No one knew what the reason was that made him decide to go but this decision didn’t do much to evolve his game but he didn’t exactly lose much of a step either.
He’s still an extremely athletic combo forward. He’s arguably the most explosive player in this draft class. Although he’s shown hesitancy at times, he’s a monster on the offensive force when told to act more aggressive. He’s shown to have high energy, solid shooter off the dribble, can be an adequate playmker, and can hit from long range. Plus, he can hold his own defensively and wouldn’t necessarily have that much trouble on switches.
However, there are still question marks in terms of how good he really is offensively. He seemed to thrive more as a power forward than a small forward. This would make him something of a tweener, a player who may thrive in another role than the one he traditionally plays in. This isn’t a bad thing but it could make things troubling since that would mean he would only be able to guard two positions (small forward and power forward) instead of several. Plus, he has an average wingspan, which doesn’t help on larger, quicker athletes. He also doesn’t seem to possess an elite first step off the dribble, doesn’t have a post game, has a habit of relying on jumpers instead of driving to the basket, can be a bit streaky on offense, and can be too careless with the ball at times which showcases a lack of solid handle and is turnover prone.
A lot of these can be corrected since he’s only 20 and has upside. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if he’s drafted but much like every other player, the Knicks would have to proceed with caution. The good news is that it seems he’s aware of these issues and is committed to correcting them. He stated he lost 20lbs in an effort to show that he’s willing to embrace positionless basketball and do whatever it takes to improve his game. That’s a good sign, especially if he wants to have a long, thriving NBA career. The Knicks could take a gamble on him but it’d be a worthy gamble.
5.) Michael Porter Jr. — SF, University of Missouri/Freshman
Height: 6'10" | Weight: 215 | Age: 19
Stats (2016 U18 FIBA Americas): 15.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.4 APG
Michael Porter Jr. is the living draft representation of high risk, high reward. He’s by far the most efficient scorer in this draft class. He’s a solid scorer off the dribble, solid rebounder, excellent playmaker, can score in transition, has an incredibly high basketball IQ, has an excellent shooting form, and can easily score from distance as well as utilize the midrange jump shot. This makes him a lethal scorer and someone the Knicks could desperately use as a secondary playmaker next to Porzingis.
He’s also not lacking in confidence.
Unfortunately, his defining skills are both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you’d get a great scorer on your team. On the other hand, you’d also get a dominant baller who could fall into the trappings of a selfish scorer. These are some of the bad habits that Porter Jr. has displayed. It also doesn’t help that he’s a terrible defender despite his 7'0" wingspan. He also can be streaky shooter at times and can be prone to make questionable shot selections. He’s also not that strong and that lanky frame makes him incapable of drawing contact for fouls despite being a solid free throw shooter and could get bullied easily by bigger players in the league.
Of course, the big elephant in the room is his recent back surgery that could be a problem going forward in his career. While he’s no doubt an excellent NBA prospect, that type of injury has been known to linger on and could become problematic. Not many teams might want to gamble on him and he could fall into the Knicks lap. While his skills are intriguing, he’s a high risk player to draft. It comes down to his medical report. If it shows that he can handle the competitive nature of the league, he could be a worthy addition to the team.
6.) Collin Sexton — PG, University of Alabama/Freshman
Height: 6'2" | Weight: 190 | Age: 19
Stats: 19.2 PPG, 3.6 APG, 33.6% 3FG
Sexton is another player constantly linked to the Knicks since most scouts and analysts are having serious doubts about Ntilikina’s progression as a point guard due to a mixed rookie season. The topic of Ntilikina’s growth as a player has been touched before so it’s not necessary to touch upon it again. However, it wouldn’t hurt for the Knicks to draft another defensive minded point guard on the roster and Sexton fits the bill.
The difference between him and Ntilikina is that Sexton is a far more aggressive point guard when comes to driving to the basket. He’s quick and athletic enough to blow past defenders to score, can finish at the rim, possesses solid court vision, and plays hard on both ends of the floor. He’s also a solid rebounder and excels at scoring in transition. He would definitely take the scoring pressure off of Ntilikina without losing the defensive presence of the team.
However, there is a downside to Sexton’s game. His aggressive personality can do more harm than good. He can try to play hero ball way too many times and often forget that he has teammates who could be open to score the basket. That can be detrimental to a team’s success when a player has a single-minded goal of trying to do way too much (see Russell Westbrook). He also doesn’t have a consistent jumper and can commit careless turnovers. He also doesn’t show much versatility in scoring which could make him predictable and easy to defend against opposing teams.
He’s not bad a player to draft but he’s another player who should be approached with caution if the Knicks plan to make him a part of the roster.
7.) Mohamed Bamba — C, University of Texas at Austin/Freshman
Height: 7'0" | Weight: 225 | Age: 19
Stats: 12.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.7 BPG
Here’s another young center that could possibly do well as a elite rim protector while playing alongside Porzingis. Mohamed Bamba has been known for his height and presence as a young defender in the post. He grabs rebounds left and right, can finish around the rim, and has shown flashes as having a three point shot — making him a future stretch big that can play on both sides of the floor. It also helps that he’s a gifted athlete and has a great feel for the game. He’s also a native New Yorker (he’s from Harlem) and would love to return home to play for the hometown crowd.
Plus, he has one hell of a wingspan: a whooping 7'10"!
However, he still needs to gain weight and build strength. Despite his shot blocking abilities, he still struggles to box out for rebounds. He also has to work on his shooting mechanics, and can be too passive on offense even when he has an opportunity to score. He also struggles to score in transition and has a habit of gambling on defense.
Much like Carter, the Knicks could be getting a steal if they draft Bamba and the Rudy Gobert comparisons are good enough reasons to consider bringing him back home to the Garden.
8.) Kevin Knox — SF, University of Kentucky/Freshman
Height: 6'9" | Weight: 215 | Age: 18
Stats: 15.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 34.1% 3FG
Knox is one of the youngest players in the draft class and has tremendous upside with a lot of potential. He fits the bill as what the Knicks are looking for in terms of a wing player. He’s an excellent scorer off the dribble, can finish at the rim, can score in the low post, and is a decent playmaker. He’s also shown to have an ability to grow into an excellent scoring combo forward. Plus, he has a good frame listed at 6'9" and has good size that gives him potential to be a really good defensive player in time.
It is important to keep in mind that Knox is still extremely young. He hasn’t even turned 19 yet and still has room to improve in terms of being a complete NBA player. If you haven’t learned anything about Ntilikina is that NY sports fans are impatient and aren’t going to be patient with Knox. He will need time to get accustomed to playing in the pros.
He also can be streaky as a shooter. He also needs to build strength and can get bullied easily despite having the height of a legit NBA forward. He also lapses on defense and doesn’t have a strong handle which leads to turnovers.
The Knicks could draft and focus on his development where he can be a vital playmaker down the road. However, it will take a while for him to grow and it doesn’t sound like head coach David Fizdale is interested in working with a project who isn’t ready to play in the league from the jump. We’ll see what the front office does but it wouldn’t hurt to take a chance on Knox.
Any of the mentioned players are excellent prospects to consider to draft. Each of them possess strengths and weaknesses that could be improved upon over time. There’s no guarantee that any of these prospects could work out well in the long run but the scouts and the front office will have to do their homework on every single potential lottery pick and select the best player available. Regardless of who they choose, the Knicks are at least showing that they are taking this seriously.
*additional credit to Sports Illustrated, NBA Scouting Live, NBA Scouting Report, The Stepien
