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New York Knicks: Attainable Small Forwards In 2016 NBA Draft

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 1, 2016; Greenville, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers forward Jaron Blossomgame (5) reacts after a three pointer against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The Cavaliers won 64-57. Mandatory Credit: Dawson Powers-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; Greenville, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers forward Jaron Blossomgame (5) reacts after a three pointer against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The Cavaliers won 64-57. Mandatory Credit: Dawson Powers-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 13, 2016; Greenville, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers forward Jaron Blossomgame (5) drives against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward James White (33) in the first half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dawson Powers-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; Greenville, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers forward Jaron Blossomgame (5) drives against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward James White (33) in the first half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dawson Powers-USA TODAY Sports /

Jaron Blossomgame, Clemson Tigers

Age: 22 (9/16/1993)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’7.25″, 214 pounds, 6’10”
Slash Line: .513/.446/.782
Season Averages: 34.2 MPG, 18.7  PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.3 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 1.5 3PM

Clemson Tigers star Jaron Blossomgame is one of the more versatile second-round prospects available. Pegged to come off the board in the middle of the second round, Blossomgame can be both a small forward and a stretch 4.

For Jeff Hornacek and the New York Knicks, there aren’t many prospects more fitting than Blossomgame.

Blossomgame is an explosive leaper, an outstanding shooter, and a strong defender—an eternally valuable combination of skills. He registered a 41.0-inch max vertical leap at the 2016 NBA Draft Combine, and displayed borderline elite end-to-end speed for a forward.

Those two athletic gifts imply that he’d feast in transition as an off-ball finisher who can provide a similar impact to what Derrick Williams did in 2015-16.

What makes Blossomgame so intriguing is that, at 6’7″ with a 6’10” wingspan, he’s an outstanding shooter and a capable shot-blocker. He’s not exactly Serge Ibaka, but if coached right, he can be a versatile 3-and-D asset.

It’s worth noting that Blossomgame was a poor shooter before this past season, but he was just as impressive with his jumper at the Combine as he was at Clemson.

New York needs to do its homework here, but Blossomgame could be the right pick.

Next: Positional Versatility

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