2016 NBA Draft: Sleepers The Knicks Should Consider

Guerschon Yabusele, Rouen

Position: Power Forward
Age: 20 (12/17/1995)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’7, 275 pounds, 7’1.75″
Slash Line: .539/.426/.765
Season Averages: 28.7 MPG, 11.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.6 ORPG, 1.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.8 3PM

Guerschon Yabusele is a deep sleeper who’s only recently surfaced on most analysts’ NBA Draft boards, if he has at all. He’s a physically intriguing player, however, with the skill set to potentially become an impact player in the Association.

International scouts compare Yabusele to Draymond Green, and offensively, it’s not very hard to see why.

Yabusele is 6’7″ without shoes, but he makes up for that with a near 7’2″ wingspan and a massive 275-pound frame that he likes to throw around. That size—and what seems like unnecessary weight—would be a significant hindrance to a vast majority of players.

Yabusele, however, is an impressive athlete who moves fluidly in the open court and can play above the rim with an explosive leap in space.

Yabusele has legitimate 3-point range and is a very skilled passer and ball-handler for a player his size. He clearly needs polishing, and he’ll likely be asked to improve his conditioning, but he’s already an NBA-caliber athlete and raw talent.

If the New York Knicks were to acquire Yabusele on draft night, Jeff Hornacek could mold him into the long-term starting power forward alongside Kristaps Porzingis at center.

must read: Who should the New York Knicks target on the trade market?

The Knicks aren’t going to land one of the top stars in the 2016 NBA Draft, but these sleepers would be ideal targets.