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New York Knicks: Full 2017 NBA Mock Draft With Upside Comparisons

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 21, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) drives to the basket as Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Brandon Childress (0) defends during the second half at PNC Arena. The Demon Deacons won 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) drives to the basket as Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Brandon Childress (0) defends during the second half at PNC Arena. The Demon Deacons won 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 17, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) dribbles against Cal Poly Mustangs forward Aleks Abrams (1) in the first period at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) dribbles against Cal Poly Mustangs forward Aleks Abrams (1) in the first period at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

26. Portland Trail Blazers: Ivan Rabb, California Golden Bears

Ultimate Upside Comparison: Chris Bosh
Safe Upside Comparison: Joe Smith
Position: Power Forward
Age: 20 (2/4/1997)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’10”, 220 pounds, 7’1.5″
2016-17 Slash Line: .484/.400/.663
2016-17 Season Averages: 32.6 MPG, 14.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.0 ORPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 BPG, 0.7 SPG

The Portland Trail Blazers traded for Jusuf Nurkic, but the need for interior depth is as severe as ever before. Portland can find a power forward worth investing in at No. 26 overall in California Golden Bears power forward Ivan Rabb.

Rabb is one of the Top 20 players on my personal big board, but the more likely scenario is that he’ll be drafted in this range of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Rabb’s ultimate upside comparison is Chris Bosh, to whom he compares better than some give him credit for. His wingspan is shorter than Bosh’s, but he has the fundamental polish and basketball IQ to develop into the unselfish role of a third star on a championship team.

Rabb improved by a significant measure between 2015-16 and 2016-17, and that can be chalked up to the same type of intangibles that helped make Bosh great.

The safer comparison here would be Joe Smith, who played 16 years in the NBA. Rabb will need to continue to improve on both ends of the floor, but he has the offensive versatility and defensive toughness to become a solid contributor.

Rabb uses the glass well and crashes it even better, and that will have him on the radar of quite a few teams entering the 2017 NBA Draft—including the New York Knicks.

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