New York Knicks: Attainable Shooting Guards In 2016 NBA Draft

The New York Knicks are reportedly interested in trading into the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft. Which shooting guards are realistically attainable?

The New York Knicks have a void at shooting guard. Whether or not Arron Afflalo accepts his $8 million player option for the 2016-17 season, New York needs to shore up a position that was far too erratic to be considered a strength in 2015-16.

New York is reportedly utilizing the 2016 NBA Draft as means of potentially finding such a player.

The question is, whom should the Knicks be targeting?

There are a number of realistically attainable prospects scoured across the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft. There are also a trio of players worth moving into the late first round to acquire.

The crop of shooting guards isn’t flush with elite talent, but there’s certainly enough to find a developable player.

Some noteworthy names who were excluded from this list are Wichita State Shockers sharpshooter Ron Baker and Syracuse Orange playmaker Michael Gbinije. Both are options, but the back-end depth of this class at the 2 is too strong for them to crack the list.

The following 10 shooting guards could be groomed as either starters or the long-term sixth man.

Next: Athleticism Shooting

Malik Beasley, Florida State Seminoles

Age: 19 (11/26/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4.5″, 190 pounds, 6’7″
Slash Line: .471/.387/.813
Season Averages: 29.8 MPG, 15.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.6 3PM

If any player is worth trading into the late first round for, one could make a very strong case that it’s Malik Beasley. The Florida State Seminoles star had a very strong freshman season, and has a rare combination of tools as an intriguing athlete and an excellent shot.

Beasley has the potential to essentially be a more athletic J.J. Redick, which makes him an excellent fit for the Triangle Offense.

Beasley is more of a straight-line finisher than a crafty dribble-penetrator, but that’s a skill the New York Knicks can put to use. The Triangle Offense is predicated on ball movement, and the constant rush of screens set by Robin Lopez and Kristaps Porzingis inevitably open lanes.

To have a shooting guard who’s athletic enough to hit the opening and finish above the rim would be a welcome addition.

Even if he fails to improve his handles, Beasley already has an NBA-caliber skill: his shooting. He’s dangerous both off the bounce and in catch-and-shoot situations, and seems to have a good understanding of how to get himself open.

For what it’s worth, Beasley became the first ACC freshman perimeter player to average at least 15.0 points on a true shooting percentage of .580 or better since Kyrie Irving.

Next: 3-and-D Value

Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia Cavaliers

Age: 23 (12/11/1992)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’5.5″, 223 pounds,
Slash Line: .457/.391/.897
Season Averages: 34.1 MPG, 18.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 2.0 3PM

Malcolm Brogdon shares a great deal with a younger Arron Afflalo. He’s a very good 3-point shooter who can create midrange shooting opportunities, defend at a high level, and work both on and off-ball.

If the New York Knicks do a better job of tapping into Brogdon’s defensive potential than Afflalo’s previous teams were able to, he could develop All-Defense level tendencies.

When it comes to defensive-minded players, creating positive habits is of the utmost importance. Brogdon is already a committed defender, but many prospects have been before him—up until their first few games of being dominated by a star-caliber scorer.

Brogdon seems to have a great head on his shoulders, but the need for development remains.

Brogdon has a prototypical build for a shooting guard at 6’6″ and 223 pounds with a 6’11” wingspan. He does a very good job of drawing contact, has better handles than he’s given credit for, and has the potential to be a 40 percent 3-point shooter.

With the proper coaching, the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year could be a true 3-and-D weapon for the Knicks.

Next: International Intrigue

Isaia Cordinier, Denain

Age: 19 (11/28/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4.75″, 177 pounds, 6’8″
Slash Line: .470/.411/.779
Season Averages: 23.4 MPG, 10.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 0.7 ORPG, 2.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.3 3PM

If you don’t believe the New York Knicks are keeping an eye on international prospects, you likely haven’t been paying attention. New York found Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez in Spain’s Liga ACB, and could soon turn its attention to France.

One of the fastest rising prospects in the 2016 NBA Draft, Isaia Cordinier could be available for New York to take at the end of the first or beginning of the second round.

Cordinier is an athletic 6’5″ shooting guard with a 6’8″ wingspan and an exquisite jump shot. Some fear that a recent rise in 3-point field goal percentage could be a mirage, but he’s improved both his form and shot selection.

For the Knicks, adding an athletic off-guard who can create in transition and space the floor would be an ideal turn of events.

The true appeal with Cordinier is that he’s a competitive player who works hard on both ends. There’s no guaranteeing that his defensive consistency will translate, but it’s promising that he already tries as hard as he does.

Projecting international players is never easy, but Cordinier could be a nice shooting guard in the NBA.

Next: Championship Glory

Josh Hart, Villanova Wildcats

Age: 21 (3/6/1995)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’5.5″, 204 pounds, 6’8.5″
Slash Line: .513/.357/.752
Season Averages: 31.4 MPG, 15.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.4 3PM

The Villanova Wildcats won the 2016 national championship, which has inevitably boosted Josh Hart’s draft stock. He wasn’t entirely on the radar before, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he shouldn’t be now.

Hart plays a unique game from the 2, and his skill set would fit the Triangle Offense well.

The 6’6″ shooting guard is regarded by many as a player whose statistics were limited by the system he played in. He’s remarkably versatile as a quality 3-point shooter who does an excellent job of pounding smaller defenders inside and operating from the elbow.

That may not be the role of the average modern NBA shooting guard, but it’s one that has a history of working well in the Triangle Offense.

Hart clearly isn’t Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan, but he does have a relatively similar skill set to Arron Afflalo. Afflalo wasn’t a breakout star, but he did have a quality year with efficient production in 2015-16.

If the New York Knicks can pull anything close to Afflalo’s value out of a second-round draft pick, it would need to call that a win.

Next: Injury Concerns

Caris LeVert, Michigan Wolverines

Age: 21 (8/25/1994)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’7″, 191 pounds, 6’10”
Slash Line: .506/.446/.794
Season Averages: 30.9 MPG, 16.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.9 3PM

If Caris LeVert had a clean bill of health, he’d be a lottery pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He’s one of the elite shooting guard prospects in this draft class, with a rare combination of physical measurements, defensive upside, and offensive versatility.

If the New York Knicks have an opportunity to land LeVert in the second round, it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to gamble on his star ceiling.

The foundation for LeVert’s draft stock is his devastating jump shot. He can pull up and shoot over a vast majority of shooting guards due to his size at 6’7″ with a 6’10” wingspan, and moves well without the ball to create catch-and-shoot opportunities.

Even if LeVert is unable to rediscover anything else that makes him special, his jumper could still earn him a quality career.

When healthy, LeVert has shown the ability to facilitate, take opponents off the bounce, and defend at a high level. He had two games with at least 10 assists in 2015-16, for whatever that’s worth, and consistently improved his isolation playmaking during his career at Michigan.

LeVert is a massive gamble due to his injury history, but in the second round, it’s go big or go home.

Next: The Next Shump?

Patrick McCaw, UNLV Rebels

Age: 20 (10/5/1995)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6.75″, 181 pounds, 6’10”
Slash Line: .465/.366/.774
Season Averages: 33.7 MPG, 14.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.5 SPG, 2.1 3PM

Patrick McCaw has the overall profile of a full-time starter in the NBA. He’s one of the top defensive prospects at his position, has marvelous physical gifts, is a very good shooter, and displays great value in transition.

For the New York Knicks, McCaw joins Malik Beasley as one of two players who’d be very much worth the risk of trading into the first round for.

McCaw is quite thin, but he has an excellent frame for a shooting guard at 6’7″ with a 6’10” wingspan. Coupled with his 38.0-inch max vertical leap and above-average speed and agility, he’s certainly athletic enough to play at the next level.

Filling out his body with muscle and overall weight will be important, but McCaw has the potential to be what Iman Shumpert was to New York with a superior shooting touch.

McCaw overwhelms opponents as a defender, playing the passing lanes and recording strip steals in an effortless manner. He breaks out in transition well, and finishes above the rim with relative ease.

McCaw is rapidly moving up draft boards, but if he’s available in the mid-to-late first round, New York should explore trading in to acquire him.

Next: Explosive and Rangy

Sheldon McClellan, Miami Hurricanes

Age: 23 (12/21/1992)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6.25″, 198 pounds, 6’7″
Slash Line: .504/.406/.838
Season Averages: 32.9 MPG, 16.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.6 3PM

The Miami Hurricanes turned heads throughout the 2015-16 season, and Sheldon McClellan was at the heart of that development. He provided strong and efficient production as he complemented his elite athleticism with a lethal jump shot.

Both off the bounce and off the catch, McClellan can make teams pay from beyond the arc.

McClellan hit 56 3-point field goals on 40.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He did so in 35 games, with his average of 1.6 3-point field goals made per contest translating to 131 over an 82-game season.

That isn’t an elite mark, but McClellan’s explosiveness is the perfect complement.

McClellan recorded a 41.5-inch max vertical leap, which was the third-highest by any prospect in this draft class. He was also No. 2 in the lane agility drill and displayed above-average speed in the open court, thus implying that he could be a central asset in transition.

McClellan could be the Shannon Brown of New York’s Triangle Offense.

Next: Compelling Potential

Malachi Richardson, Syracuse Orange

Age: 20 (1/5/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6.25″, 200 pounds, 7’0″
Slash Line: .369/.353/.720
Season Averages: 34.4 MPG, 13.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.1 3PM

Malachi Richardson broke out during the 2016 NCAA Tournament. He was overwhelmingly inconsistent during a vast majority of his other appearances, but has elite physical tools for an NBA shooting guard.

The good news: having signed with an agent, Richardson, who attended the same school as New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, has now officially entered the 2016 NBA Draft.

The bad news: Richardson signing with an agent likely means he’s received first-round interest.

Richardson is one of the better 3-point shooters in this draft class, He was inefficient in his ability to finish against length, and generally failed to excel against opponents of similar builds and athleticism.

True as that may be, Richardson’s jump shot is NBA-caliber, and his upside is as significant as anyone in this draft class.

At 6’6″ and 200 pounds with a 7’0″ wingspan, Richardson has the prototypical build for a shooting guard. With a 38.0-inch vertical and NBA-caliber agility, Richardson has the tools to be a force.

If Richardson does manage to slip into the second round, he’s the type of player whom the Knicks should gamble on.

Next: The Next J.R.?

Wayne Selden Jr., Kansas Jayhawks

Age: 21 (9/30/1994)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’5.75″, 232 pounds, 6’10.5″
Slash Line: .474/.392/.612
Season Averages: 29.8 MPG, 13.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.9 3PM

Kansas Jayhawks shooting guard Wayne Selden Jr. is one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft class. He’s an explosive athlete with a powerful build and a tremendous jump shot.

Selden Jr. is also one of the more erratic players in this draft class, which births his upside comparison: J.R. Smith.

Smith isn’t the dream comparison, but in the second round, landing a potential sixth man would be a marvelous turn of events. Keep in mind, the New York Knicks won 54 games when Smith won Sixth Man of the Year in 2012-13.

Selden Jr. has potential to one day do the same.

Selden Jr. has limitless 3-point range and a fearlessness that scouts look for in a scorer. His NBA-ready build at 6’6″ and 232 pounds with a 6’11” wingspan is a strength, as well, which suggests he could contribute sooner than later.

If the Knicks have a chance to select Selden in the middle of the second round, it’d be wise to do so.

Next: Local Prospect

Isaiah Whitehead, Seton Hall Pirates

Age: 21 (3/8/1995)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4.5″, 210 pounds, 6’8.75″
Slash Line: .379/.365/.760
Season Averages: 32.3 MPG, 18.2 PPG, 5.1 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 2.4 3PM

One of the more surprising entrants into the 2016 NBA Draft was Seton Hall Pirates shooting guard Isaiah Whitehead. Whitehead had the numbers to be a collegiate star, but didn’t quite surface on most teams’ radar.

Whitehead is firmly in the second round discussion now, however, and would be a very interesting investment for the New York Knicks.

Whitehead is an intriguing offensive player who excels as both a facilitator and 3-point shooter. He struggles to finish against length, and needs to improve his consistency in creating off the bounce, but is nothing if not a playmaker.

The task for the Knicks would be finding him a role that limits his inefficiency.

Whitehead makes plays defensively, which suggests he’s merely a superior commitment away from being a high-quality on-ball defender. All in all, Whitehead has a lot of Lance Stephenson in him—both the good and the bad.

More knicks: Top Attainable Point Guards In 2016 NBA Draft

With a second-round selection likely the extent of what New York can acquire in the 2016 NBA Draft, Whitehead’s upside may be worth exploring.