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New York Knicks: OG Anunoby Should Be On The 2017 NBA Draft Radar

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 17, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward OG Anunoby (3) shoots the ball while Butler Bulldogs forward Andrew Chrabascz (45) defends in the first half of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward OG Anunoby (3) shoots the ball while Butler Bulldogs forward Andrew Chrabascz (45) defends in the first half of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 18, 2017; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Tony Carr (10) shoots the ball as Indiana Hoosiers forward OG Anunoby (3) defends during the first half at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2017; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Tony Carr (10) shoots the ball as Indiana Hoosiers forward OG Anunoby (3) defends during the first half at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Defensive Potential

Like most players on the collegiate level, OG Anunoby needs to defend with a stronger sense of consistency. He can get caught ball-watching and doesn’t impose his will on the defensive end of the floor on an entirely consistent basis.

The tools are in place for genuinely elite on-ball and help-side defense, however, the New York Knicks have a glaring void that such a player could fill.

At just under 6’8″ and 232 pounds with a 7’3″ wingspan and a near 9’0″ standing reach, Anunoby is built like a Defensive Player of the Year. His physical profile is almost identical to Kawhi Leonard’s, and his flashes of brilliance have been reminiscent of the All-NBA First Team honoree.

There’s no telling if Anunoby will ever get to that level on defense, but with the physical tools in place, the rest will be on the coaching staff and front office.

The best-case scenario here is that the Knicks would acquire a lockdown defender who could be attached to the opposition’s best scorer on a nightly basis. His injury recovery will dictate those terms, but optimism persists.

The Knicks need a perimeter player who will simply show up on defense, and Anunoby has the tools to take that to the next level.

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