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2017 NBA Mock Draft: New York Knicks and the value of the point guard

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 7, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) controls the ball against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) controls the ball against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Luke Kennard (5) shoots the ball against South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell (0) during the first half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Luke Kennard (5) shoots the ball against South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell (0) during the first half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

16. Chicago Bulls: Luke Kennard, Duke Blue Devils

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 20 (6/24/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’5.5″, 196 pounds, 6’5.25″
2016-17 Slash Line: .489/.438/.856
2016-17 Season Averages: 35.5 MPG, 19.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.4 3PM

Some Chicago Bulls fans may frown at this, but Jimmy Butler desperately needs a teammate who can alleviate some pressure on offense. That player may be a shooter who can consistently space the floor or a shot creator who can attack in isolation, but either way, help is needed.

In Luke Kennard, Chicago would get a mix of those traits and potentially provide the spacing that it made no effort to create during the 2016-17 NBA regular season.

Chicago finished 2016-17 at No. 28 in 3-point field goals made per game and No. 24 in 3-point field goal percentage. Kennard, meanwhile, converted 88 3-point field goals on 43.8 percent shooting during his spectacular sophomore season with the Blue Devils.

Not only would Kennard fill a void as a legitimate marksman, but he’d be signed to a long-term contract at an easily affordable cost—an appealing truth under the current salary cap.

Beyond his lights-out shooting, Kennard is underrated in his ability to create. He works the pick and roll well as both a scorer and facilitator, and has solid enough handles to get to his spots from midrange and convert what’s becoming an automatic shot for him.

If he slides out of the lottery and is available slightly further down the board, the New York Knicks could give Kennard a look in a potential trade.

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