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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 forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket against South Carolina Gamecocks forward Maik Kotsar (21) 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 forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket against South Carolina Gamecocks forward Maik Kotsar (21) 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 /

6. Orlando Magic: Jayson Tatum, Duke Blue Devils

Position: Small Forward
Age: 19 (3/3/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’8″, 204 pounds, 6’11”
2016-17 Slash Line: .452/.342/.849
2016-17 Season Averages: 33.3 MPG, 16.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 1.4 3PM

The Orlando Magic received long-awaited flashes of brilliance from Elfrid Payton during the 2016-17 NBA regular season. The question is: did Payton show enough for the Magic to pass up on the opportunity to select a point guard at No. 6 in the 2017 NBA Draft?

There are certainly options here, but the bigger concern than finding a point guard is identifying a true franchise player—something Jayson Tatum has the potential to be.

Orlando has its interior secured with Aaron Gordon at power forward, and Bismack Biyombo and Nikola Vucevic fighting for precedence at center. All three players have value, but Orlando needs a player whom it can trust to score at a high level while still defending with respectable intensity.

With Evan Fournier establishing himself as an offensive-minded player with little regard for defense, Tatum would be trusted to embrace his potential on defense.

Standing at just over 6’8” with a 6’11” wingspan, Tatum has a frame that could fill out and permit high-level defensive execution. Offensively, his game seems to have been molded after New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony in that he lives from midrange and does a bit of everything as a scorer.

If surrounded with the ideal pieces, Tatum has the tools to live in the 22-to-26 points per game range as a high-level scorer on a defensive-minded Orlando team.

As for defense, Gordon’s versatility could enable Tatum to switch onto 4—a position he’s better equipped to defend.

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