Deonte Burton, Iowa State Cyclones
Position: Small Forward
Age: 23 (1/31/1994)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4.75″, 266 pounds, 6’11.5″
2016-17 Slash Line: .456/.375/.675
2016-17 Season Averages: 29.5 MPG, 15.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.1 ORPG, 1.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 1.2 3PM
It was announced in advance that the New York Knicks would be hosting Iowa State Cyclones forward Deonte Burton for a workout. It was an intriguing report based on the success Burton experienced in college and the potential he has in the NBA.
Burton is comparable to a Jae Crowder or a P.J. Tucker, and that would be immense value to acquire in the second round.
Burton is undersized at 6’4.75″, but he has a powerful 266-pound frame and a near 7’0″ wingspan. He’s similar to Tucker in that regard, which is encouraging since Tucker has developed into one of the better defensive players in the NBA.
Offensively, Burton has a well-rounded game that includes the ability to play from the post, stroke it from midrange, convert from deep, and attack on the drive.
Burton’s combination of offensive versatility and defensive prowess birth the Crowder comparison. That’s intriguing when one considers the fact that Phil Jackson has a well-documented interest in acquiring Crowder.
If Burton is available at either No. 44 or No. 58 in the 2017 NBA Draft, then the Knicks will be hard-pressed to write him off.