New York Knicks: A way too early 2018 NBA Mock Draft

The Arizona Wildcats have landed one of the most physically imposing big men in this recruiting class. A candidate to go No. 1 in the 2018 NBA Draft, DeAndre Ayton looks the part of the NBA’s next throwback force of nature at the center position.

Comparing favorably to a healthy Andrew Bynum, it’s fair to believe that Ayton can become a championship-caliber building block in the Association.

Ayton stands at 7’0″ and 243 pounds with a monstrous near 7’6″ wingspan and a 9’3″ standing reach. His body is still filling out and muscle is still being added to his frame, but he already has the type of measurements that few can rival.

Those gifts are put to no better use than when he’s crashing the boards, where he projects to be a legitimately unstoppable contributor.

Defensively, Ayton projects to be able to block shots anchor the low post with his powerful frame. Offensively, he has excellent hands on the dive, moves well without the ball, has some measure of proficiency in the post, and even has range on his improving jump shot.

The New York Knicks may not be in the market for a big man, but there are few prospects who project to be more worthy of a Top 5 pick than Ayton.