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New York Knicks: Deep Draft Class Should Raise Trade Scenarios

By El-Nazr McDowell

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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Feb 25, 2017; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Edrice Bam Adebayo (3) dunks the ball against the Florida Gators in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Florida 76-66. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Edrice Bam Adebayo (3) dunks the ball against the Florida Gators in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Florida 76-66. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

Bam Adebayo

Position: Center
Age: 19 (7/18/1997)
Height: 6’9.75″
Weight: 243 pounds
Wingspan: 7’2.75″
Playing Style Comparison: Dwight Howard
Worth a trade: No

Bam Adebayo is what you’d consider a “raw” and unpolished version of Dwight Howard. He is the least talked about among the three talented talented freshmen from of Kentucky. Despite this fact, Adebayo has seen plenty of action under the tutelage of coach John Calipari.

He’s one the rare commodities who transitions to the NBA like a traditional center. Adebayo was practically “a man amongst boys” in the NCAA landscape.

PROS

  • Adebayo naturally possess a game that is physical domineering on the low post. As it is physically taxing for opposing defenders; ultimately leading the opposition to fouls and double teams. That often served to the benefit of Adebayo himself, and his teammates.
  • Adebayo’s true center skillet, at age 19, is a rare commodity in today’s NBA market. Which is where is ultimate value lies.
  • Adebayo brings considerable competition to the NBA, matching up with players down in the low-post.

CONS

  • Like most true centers’ skillsets, Adebayo comes with a most fatal flaw: Free throws. The good news is that Adebayo is not a horrible free throw shooter. He has shown competence shooting free throws at a high volume. Nonetheless, he still doesn’t shoot free throws with consistency.
  • Adebayo is undersized in height for a player that possesses a true center skillset. There will be more asked of him on the NBA level. That puts the burden of the success and failure of his career on his overall work ethic. There are very few true centers that function as effectively as Tristian Thompson who are under 7’0″.
  • The Kentucky freshman is very a “raw” prospect coming into this year’s draft. Adebayo has an underdeveloped low-post game, is an inconsistent finisher around the rim, and still lacks fundamental coordination. Adebayo isn’t skilled enough to consider him anything else but a “center” in the NBA. He’s beyond a doubt a project who will take a lot of grooming for teams that want to fulfill his potential as a solid big man in this league.

Worth a Trade?

Adebayo should only be slated as a potential Knicks pick if he’s available after the eighth pick of the draft (which I’m not a fan of). Reason being: the Knicks are already molding a big man out of Kristaps Porzingis.

Though not the “true center” type, Porzingis has already shown a future where the Knicks could position him as perennial All-Star in the NBA. Adebayo just screams long-term maintenance that is undoubtedly unreasonable for a team that doesn’t have an established identity.

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