New York Knicks: Final Pre-Lottery 2017 NBA Mock Draft

Alternative Options

If Justin Jackson is off the board at No. 45 overall, then the New York Knicks will have a long list of alternative options. Between international prospects and a wealth of players with NCAA Tournament experience, the Knicks will need to draft with precision.

Of the players who will realistically be available at No. 45 overall, however, the most appealing athletes will be Kostja Mushidi and Josh Hart.

Mushidi is an international force of nature who has earned intriguing marks from scouts and analysts. He’s a 6’5” shooting guard with dynamic athleticism and an improving ability to create penetration and finish at the rim, both in traffic and in uncontested scenarios.

Mushidi also has a solid outside shot that may not yet be an elite strength, but has the potential to become exactly that if he continues to put the work in.

Hart is older than Mushidi, but he also has more experience and a skill set that the Knicks would benefit from adding to the rotation. He’s comparable to Courtney Lee in the sense that he’s a strong shooter, quality penetrator, respectable post player, and high-level on-ball defender who can keep his man in front of him—as well as a quietly explosive athlete.

If Justin Jackson isn’t available at No. 45 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, then both Hart and Mushidi would be intriguing options.