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New York Knicks: Is Donovan Mitchell An Option In 2017 NBA Draft?

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 17, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and forward Deng Adel (22) celebrate against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks during the second half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) and forward Deng Adel (22) celebrate against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks during the second half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 9, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives against Duke Blue Devils forward Amile Jefferson (21) during the first half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sportsat Barclays Center.
Mar 9, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives against Duke Blue Devils forward Amile Jefferson (21) during the first half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sportsat Barclays Center. /

5. Athleticism

Donovan Mitchell has shot up draft boards on the strength of his explosive athleticism and physical profile. He measured at just 6’1.25″ without shoes and 6’3″ with shoes, but Mitchell could be an Eric Gordon type of shooting guard.

With the length, speed, and explosiveness to hold his own at shooting guard, Mitchell is an athlete worth giving legitimate consideration to.

Mitchell’s undersized stature is outweighed by his solid 211-pound frame and 6’10” wingspan. He also has a 40.5″ max vertical leap and ran the three quarter sprint—a measure of a player’s end-to-end speed—in 3.01 seconds.

Not only was that the fastest mark of any player in this draft class, but it was faster than the marks recorded by Derrick Rose (3.05) and John Wall (3.14).

With identical speed and a similar build to a pre-injury Gordon, Mitchell can be that same type of player for the New York Knicks. That may not check the boxes that Phil Jackson normally requires from a shooting guard, but it creates intriguing versatility.

If Mitchell is able to facilitate at an even respectable level, he could be the point guard for the Knicks in the triangle offense.

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