New York Knicks: Attainable Point Guards In 2016 NBA Draft

The New York Knicks are reportedly interesting in trading into the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft. Which point guards should New York be targeting?

The New York Knicks don’t have a first or second-round selection in the 2016 NBA Draft. Thus, it may come to the surprise of the masses that the focus has suddenly turned to what the Knicks can and should do on June 23.

This isn’t just meaningless banter; according to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, the Knicks intend to trade into the second round of the 2016.

That’d continue a trend under Phil Jackson‘s reign.

New York was in a similar position in 2014, possessing no first or second-round draft picks. Jackson managed to trade into the second round, acquiring Cleanthony Early with the No. 34 overall selection, and landing Thanasis Antetokounmpo at No. 51.

In 2015, the Knicks complemented the selection of Kristaps Porzingis by acquiring Jerian Grant at No. 19 overall and Willy Hernangomez at No. 35.

Thus, it stands to reason that Jackson could do what Begley reported and trade into the second round. That theory was supported by New York sending Kurt Rambis, Steve Mills, and other front office members to the 2016 NBA Draft Combine.

With a need for help at point guard, the question beckons: which floor generals could New York be targeting in the second round?

Next: Cat-Like Quickness

Anthony Barber, North Carolina State Wolfpack

Age: 21 (7/25/1994)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’2.75″, 173 pounds, 6’5.5″
Slash Line: .434/.361/.865
Season Averages: 38.7 MPG, 23.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.5 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.3 3PM

As it pertains to scoring point guards, there aren’t many better than North Carolina State Wolfpack star Anthony Barber. Known as, “Cat Barber,” to the masses, his nickname is derived from his quickness.

The New York Knicks need to do a better job of creating penetration, and Barber would certainly help in that regard.

Barber stands at just under 6’3″ with a near 6’6″ wingspan and the quickness to be a much better defender than he was at North Carolina State. With the proper coaching, he could become one of the better on-ball defenders and ball hawks in the NBA.

When all else fails, Barber can provide significant value offensively.

Barber has improved his jump shot to the point of being a quality complement to his other skills. He thrives as a transition playmaker, can get to the rim and finish in traffic, and has great potential as a drive-and-dish player.

Barber’s NBA potential is debatable, but strictly talking upside, he’s one of the most intriguing prospects at his position.

Next: Underrated Freshman

Tyler Dorsey, Oregon Ducks

Age: 20 (2/14/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4.25″, 180 pounds, 6’3.5″
Slash Line: .441/.406/.712
Season Averages: 30.1 MPG, 13.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.9 3PM

As a freshman, Oregon Ducks point guard Tyler Dorsey showed a great deal of potential offensively. He was the No. 3 scorer on an Oregon team that reached the Elite Eight, and flashed elite potential as a shooter.

This is more of an upside selection than one with an immediate reward, but Dorsey could be of value.

As a freshman, Dorsey made 67 3-point field goals on a mark of 40.6 percent from beyond the arc. It was a very impressive showing from a player who, as a freshman point guard, wasn’t expected to provide an efficient impact.

Thus, it stands to reason that Dorsey could thrive in the off-ball capacity that a Triangle Offense point guard must be able to.

Dorsey’s wingspan is shorter than his height, which is as abnormal as it seems. Fortunately, he has tremendous size at 6’4.25″, which gives him an advantage over the average NBA point guard.

Dorsey is testing the waters on his draft stock, but if he’s available at the back end of the second round, he could be worth investing in.

Next: Physically Imposing

A.J. English, Iona Gaels

Age: 21 (3/29/1995)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’3″, 182 pounds, 6’10”
Slash Line: .433/.370/.836
Season Averages: 35.9 MPG, 22.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, 5.0 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 3.4 3PM

One of the most underrated prospects in the 2016 NBA Draft is Iona Gaels point guard A.J. English. He’s coming from a small school, but English has the elite physical gifts and two-way versatility to excel at the next level.

English should rise up draft boards in the coming weeks, but as a second-round prospect, the New York Knicks should keep a close eye on him.

English is a 6’3″ point guard with an unfathomable 6’10” wingspan—a comparable physical profile to potential lottery pick Wade Baldwin IV. English puts those skills to use by playing the passing lanes and aggressively crashing the boards.

English isn’t a great athlete, but his physical gifts help him make up for that absence of ideal explosiveness.

English is also one of the best shooters at his position. He made 284 3-point field goals over the past three seasons, converting at a clip of 37.1 percent, and averaging 2.5 3-point field goals made in 2013-14, 3.1 in 2014-15, and 3.4 in 2015-16.

Between his impressive physical profile and range as a shooter, English could be an ideal addition to the Triangle Offense.

Next: Explosive

Kahlil Felder, Oakland Golden Grizzlies

Age: 21 (3/29/1995)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 5’9.5″, 177 pounds, 6’2.5″
Slash Line: .440/.355/.848
Season Averages: 36.7 MPG, 24.4 PPG, 9.3 APG, 4.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 2.2 3PM

One look at Kay Felder‘s stat line will tell the story of a player who dominated the collegiate scene. He was both efficient and productive, providing the Oakland Golden Grizzlies with an unbelievably well-rounded impact.

He measured at under 5’10”, but Felder certainly made some fans by recording a 44-inch max vertical leap—one of the highest marks in NBA Draft Combine history.

Put him on the radar.

Felder’s size is a concern, and there’s no way around that. Nate Robinson was successful in a New York Knicks jersey, and Isaiah Thomas is an All-Star for the Boston Celtics, but there’s no way to project a player overcoming such a severe size disadvantage.

The fact that Felder played outside of the major conferences doesn’t do him any favors.

The reality is, Felder is one of the most explosive prospects in NBA Draft history. He’s also the complete package from a skills perspective, with the court vision, timing in the passing lanes, and range on his jump shot to find success at the next level.

Drafting Felder would be risky, but in the second round, a calculated risk is inevitable.

Next: Triangle Skill Set

Yogi Ferrell, Indiana Hoosiers

Age: 23 (5/9/1993)
Height & Weight: 6’0″ & 178 pounds
Slash Line: .458/.420/.829
Season Averages: 34.7 MPG, 17.3 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 2.3 3PM

Despite being ranked lower than the other listed point guards on a vast majority of big boards, Yogi Ferrell is the No. 1 option for the New York Knicks. He doesn’t bring the defensive upside or athleticism one might desire, but he’s the ideal fit in Round 2.

Ferrell is a lights-out shooter, a gifted facilitator, and a big-game performer—something every team needs coming off the bench.

Ferrell may or may not pan out in the NBA, but he’s the type of player who plays important spot minutes for a contender. He approaches the game in a fearless manner, yet manages to maintain his efficiency and keep his teammates levelheaded.

Love or hate Phil Jackson, he knows what it takes to build a locker room that can overcome turbulence, and Ferrell is the type of future leader to make that happen.

Over the past three seasons, Ferrell’s made 249 3-point field goals on 41.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He’s converted better than 40 percent of his attempts in three consecutive seasons, and posted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.24 as a senior.

He may not have the highest ceiling, but Ferrell is a special type of competitor who can thrive in the Triangle Offense.

Next: Clutch Gene

Marcus Paige, North Carolina Tar Heels

Age: 22 (9/11/1993)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’1.75″, 164 pounds, 6’6.25″
Slash Line: .398/.356/.774
Season Averages: 31.6 MPG, 12.6 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.5 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 2.2 3PM

The North Carolina Tar Heels reached the 2016 National Championship Game. The starting point guard for that team was also the go-to player during clutch situations: 22-year-old floor general Marcus Paige.

There are some doubts surrounding how he’ll fare in the NBA, but Paige has the tools to be a solid contributor in the Triangle Offense.

Paige made his name at North Carolina as a clutch shooter who thrived in big games. His game-tying 3 against the Villanova Wildcats in the National Championship Game was a shining example of that.

At the 2016 NBA Draft Combine, Paige opened eyes to the fact that he’s more than just a clutch shooter; he’s a tantalizing athlete, as well.

Paige is quite thin, but he’s also quite explosive—something that was proven when he recorded a 39.5-inch max vertical leap. He stands at just under 6’2″ with a 6’6″ wingspan, which is excellent length for a point guard.

The jury is out on Paige’s NBA potential, but he’s worth working out and interviewing.

Next: Defensive Ace

Gary Payton II, Oregon State Beavers

Age: 23 (12/1/1992)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’3″, 184 pounds, 6’8″
Slash Line: .486/.314/.642
Season Averages: 34.3 MPG, 16.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 5.0 APG, 2.5 SPG, 0.7 3PM

The New York Knicks may have an opportunity to land the best defensive point guard in this draft class. Gary Payton II doesn’t have the offensive skill set of a Triangle Offense point guard, but his defensive upside is supreme.

To write him off as an option would be to do the team a great injustice.

Payton II, the son of NBA legend Gary Payton, won the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year award in both 2015 and 2016. This past season, he averaged 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals to complement his 16.0 points and 5.0 assists, which is a fair indication of his value.

It’s also a product of a physical profile that’s comparable to the very best the NBA has to offer.

Payton II stands at 6’3″ with a 6’8″ wingspan, which is beyond ideal for an NBA point guard. He has a body fat percentage below 4.0—the only player in this draft class who can say that—and ripped off a 38.5-inch vertical leap.

Payton II is a freak athlete and an elite defensive prospect who, at the very least, can be a defensive asset for the Knicks.

Next: Speed and Swagger

Melo Trimble, Maryland Terrapins

Age: 21 (2/2/1995)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’2.5″, 192 pounds, 6’2″
Slash Line: .410/.315/.868
Season Averages: 32.8 MPG, 14.8 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 1.6 3PM

Maryland Terrapins point guard Melo Trimble carved out one of the more successful two-year careers of any point guard on this list. He helped rejuvenate Maryland basketball, and established himself as a lethal dribble-penetrator.

Barring an unforeseen turn of events, Trimble should come off of the board in the early second round and have a quality NBA career.

Trimble isn’t an explosive athlete, but he’s very quick, and excels at creating penetration. He averaged upwards of five free throw attempts in both of his seasons at Maryland, and shot upwards of 40 percent from 3-point range as a freshman.

At the 2016 NBA Draft Combine, Trimble established that he has pro-caliber athleticism.

Trimble recorded a 35.5-inch max vertical leap, which isn’t elite, but is solid. More importantly, he cracked the Top 10 in the lane agility drill, shuttle run, and three quarter sprint.

For those unfamiliar, those three drills test a player’s speed and lateral quickness, and Trimble rated as one of the 10 best prospects in all three.

More knicks: Which prospects have the Knicks already met with?

Trimble needs to solidify his jump shot, but he’s a very solid point guard prospect whom the New York Knicks should keep an eye on.