New York Knicks: 5 Reasons To Select Luke Kennard In 2017 NBA Draft

1. Upside Comparisons

The two most accurate upside comparisons for Luke Kennard are Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick and New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek. They’re comparable players from a stylistic perspective, with a difference in the level of execution separating them.

In either instance, the Knicks would be getting a moldable 20-year-old sharpshooter who’s entering the NBA at the perfect time.

Before he was a coach, Hornacek was an All-Star in 1992, reached two Conference Finals with Cotton Fitzsimmons’ Phoenix Suns, and made two NBA Finals with Jerry Sloan’s Utah Jazz. He not only excelled as a sharpshooter, but facilitated, attacked off the bounce, and defended at high levels.

Kennard’s defensive consistency will be a point of contention, but his ability to space the floor, facilitate, and get to the free throw line is comparable to Hornacek’s game.

The safer comparison is Redick, who has evolved from an off-ball shooter into a well-rounded offensive player. He’s known as one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA, but he’s also an improved ball-handler who can get to his spots and occasionally distribute.

In either case, the Knicks would be getting a shooting guard who could provide immediate and sustainable value to the team’s offensive execution.

One simply can’t help but be intrigued by the idea of Hornacek helping develop a player so similar to himself.

Must Read: Full 2017 NBA Mock Draft with upside comparisons

It would require a trade for a second first-round selection in the 2017 NBA Draft, but the New York Knicks should give serious consideration to acquiring Luke Kennard.