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New York Knicks: Non-lottery point guards to consider in 2017 NBA Draft

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 4, 2017; Stillwater, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) drives to the basket as Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) defends during the first half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Stillwater, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) drives to the basket as Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) defends during the first half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
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March 16, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Kadeem Allen (5) controls the ball against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks during the first half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
March 16, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Kadeem Allen (5) controls the ball against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks during the first half of the first round of the NCAA tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Kadeem Allen, Arizona Wildcats

Projection: Late Second Round
Upside Comparison: Patrick Beverley
Age: 24 (1/15/1993)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’2.25″, 192 pounds, 6’9.25″
2016-17 Slash Line: .453/.427/.741
2016-17 Season Averages: 30.0 MPG, 9.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.9 3PM

The New York Knicks should be able to select Arizona Wildcats point guard Kadeem Allen at No. 44 or No. 58 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. It’s also possible that Phil Jackson will have an opportunity to sign Allen as an undrafted free agent.

In either scenario, selecting Allen would mean taking a chance on a player with the potential to be a genuine lockdown defender in the NBA.

Allen stands at 6’2″ with a 6’9″ wingspan and a muscular 192-pound frame. He’s physically comparable to Houston Rockets point guard Patrick Beverley, and he has the same level of tenacity on the defensive end of the floor.

Allen may not become the star that some want the Knicks to find at the point guard position, but he’d go a long way towards addressing the need for improved perimeter defense.

Offensively, the comparison to Beverley remains. Allen is a capable 3-point shooter who can work without the ball, which fits the system. He’s not exactly a facilitator, but he can be a complementary distributor.

In the triangle offense, which generally promotes team ball movement over individual creation, Allen could excel alongside the player whom New York selects at No. 8 overall.

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