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Knicks Trade Rumors: Pros, Cons Of Pursuing Emmanuel Mudiay

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings (3) guards Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) in the fourth quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 127-114. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings (3) guards Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) in the fourth quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 127-114. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 8, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) controls the ballagainst the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 8, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) controls the ballagainst the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Con: Deep 2017 Draft Class

Trading for a young point guard with a world of potential is enticing, but it isn’t entirely necessary. The 2017 NBA Draft is flush with gifted point guard prospects whom the New York Knicks could acquire without having to give anything up.

It would make sense to ask for Emmanuel Mudiay if the Denver Nuggets were willing to be the third team in a Carmelo Anthony trade, but only if not much else would have to go.

The general consensus is that there are five point guards who are surefire lottery picks in 2017. Those players are Lonzo Ball of UCLA, De’Aaron Fox of Kentucky, Markelle Fultz of Washington, Frank Ntilikina of Germany, and Dennis Smith Jr. of North Carolina State.

One could even argue that projected Top 10 pick Malik Monk of Kentucky can run point in an era where score-first players can be found playing point guard around the NBA.

Isaiah Briscoe of Kentucky, Jawun Evans of Oklahoma State, and Andrew Jones of Texas are also garnering first-round hype. Briscoe and Jones have the size that Phil Jackson covets at point guard, and Evans looks the part of a playmaker.

Thus, while it may seem as though the Knicks need to trade for a young point guard, there are an abundance of quality options to be found in the 2017 NBA Draft.

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