Knicks Rumors: Five reasons to select Edmond Sumner in 2017 NBA Draft

1. Defensive Potential

As previously alluded to, Edmond Sumner is a near 6’6″ point guard with a 6’9″ wingspan and explosive athleticism. He’s taller than Tony Allen and Dwyane Wade, and has an identical standing reach at 8’6.5″.

This is in no way comparing Sumner to Allen or Wade, but instead acknowledging just how much of an advantage his physical profile gives him at the point guard position.

In 2016-17, Sumner began to realize just how dominant he can be on the defensive end of the floor. In 22 games and nearly 700 minutes played, Sumner physically overwhelmed opponents en route to averages of 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks per 40 minutes.

This admittedly comes with an inconsistent level of effort and tenacity on defense, but that should provide further insight into just how effective he could become.

If the New York Knicks can convince Sumner to buy in on a nightly basis, the potential exists for the Xavier star to become an All-Defensive Team mainstay. For the Knicks, finding a player who can lock opposing guards down should be a top priority.

Even if he struggles on the offensive end of the floor, pairing Sumner with Kristaps Porzingis on defense could fortify New York’s low-high balance.