New York Knicks: Deep Draft Class Should Raise Trade Scenarios

Caleb Swanigan

Position: Power Forward
Age: 20 (4/18/1997)
Height: 6’8.5″
Weight: 246 pounds
Wingspan: 7’3″
Playing Style Comparison: Paul Millsap
Worth A Trade: Definitely

Caleb Swanigan is a very underrated prospect, given his striking production in the Big Ten. Like OG Anunoby, Swanigan has shown tremendous upside as a two-way player in the NBA. He also has an assortment of offensive moves in his repertoire.

It’s a credit to his I.Q. that he has polished offensive fundamentals at the young age of 20. He’s been likened towards NBA Hall of Famer Karl Malone, due to his physique and style of play.

PROS

• Swanigan can be utilized as a low-post, high-post, and perimeter threat as a stretch forward. Given his soft touch as a perimeter shooter. Swanigan projects to transition well as a face-up forward on the NBA level. He projects to be an all-around player who can fill a multitude of positions on the offensive end of the floor. He’s agile, which is rare for his size, and can be a matchup killer. Think the skillset of Paul Millsap for comparable measurables.

• Swanigan’s massive girth is an advantage for a 20-year-old transitioning to the NBA. It’s a defining attribute of his. His physical gifts have led him to becoming a double-double monster on the collegiate level.

• Comparable to his offensive prowess, Swanigan can be a potential defensive disruptor for anyone that matches up with him on the low-post. He has the agility to be a more than serviceable perimeter defender for a big man, as well.

• Swanigan is not ball-dominant on the offensive end. He’s an I.Q player. That assures immediate progress for any team that takes him. He can pass, dribble, and has creative fundamentals that are rare for most under-21 prospects who come out of the draft.

CONS

• Swanigan is an undersized big man who will require more work ethic to sustain his workload as defender and rebounder. His production came easy on the collegiate level, and it’s almost a certainty that he won’t produce at that same level in the NBA. How will Swanigan respond to this test?

• Similar to Jahlil Okafor coming out of college. There are still question marks about Swanigan’s defensive pedigree. His defensive consistency doesn’t show unless encouraged. He seems to defer to his offensive game over his defensive game. This could be because of the team’s lack of depth without serviceable rim protectors, rebounders, and scoring anchors. Swanigan has shown to posses good defensive footwork for a man his size. Nonetheless, there will be more asked of him on the NBA level of competition.

Worth a Trade?

Caleb Swanigan is a projected second-round draft pick who’s ranked No. 34 by DraftExpress and No. 32 by Chad Ford of ESPN Insider. In turn, the Knicks could potentially trade fellow big man Kyle O’Quinn to acquire the necessary pick to take Swanigan.

With Willy Hernangomez and Kristaps Porzingis already under contract, the Knicks may not go for this, but Swanigan has special potential.