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New York Knicks: 5 reasons to love the trade for Doug McDermott

By Maxwell Ogden

TORONTO, ONTARIO - March 16: Doug McDermott #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks to pass the ball against the Toronto Raptors on March 16, 2017 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - March 16: Doug McDermott #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks to pass the ball against the Toronto Raptors on March 16, 2017 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 2: Doug McDermott #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder goes to the basket against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 2, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 2: Doug McDermott #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder goes to the basket against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 2, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Fitting The Timeline

The New York Knicks have firmly committed to a long-term youth movement. That push is being built around 19-year-old Frank Ntilikina, 22-year-old Kristaps Porzingis, 23-year-old Willy Hernangomez, 24-year-old Ron Baker, and 25-year-olds Tim Hardaway Jr. and Enes Kanter.

At 25 years of age, Doug McDermott perfectly fits the timeline that New York is building along—and he does so while playing a position of need.

McDermott will have a chance to emerge as the small forward of the Knicks’ future. Baker, Hardaway Jr., and Ntilikina are guards, and Hernangomez, Kanter, and Porzingis are all big men who will split time between the 4 and the 5.

McDermott has a chance to be the player who pulls away from the competition at the 3, where he projects to be effective in a motion offense.

Due to his youth and relative inexperience, it would be fair to argue that McDermott has untapped potential. Jeff Hornacek will explore just how far that upside reaches during a 2017-18 season that will be something of a proving ground for the 25-year-old wing.

New York is looking to develop something long-term, and that’s a perfect situation for a player who hasn’t yet tapped into his true capabilities.

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