New York Knicks: Checking in on Top 5 2018 NBA Draft prospects

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DURHAM, NC – NOVEMBER 17: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils during their game against the Southern University Jaguars at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 17, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 78-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

The 2018 NBA Draft is flush with talent. How are the top five prospects performing early in 2017-18 and why should the New York Knicks be scouting them?

The New York Knicks are in the developing stages of a rebuild. With the likes of Tim Hardaway Jr., Frank Ntilikina, and Kristaps Porzingis locked up long-term, the Knicks are viewed by many as a franchise that’s just one player away.

The Knicks may actually be closer than projected, but if the former proves to be the case, then the 2018 NBA Draft could be the source of sustained success.

While the 2017 NBA Draft is generally viewed as transcendent, the 2018 class has special talent of its own. Between a deep crop of wings and an intriguing rush of dynamic big men, the Knicks will have a laundry list of options near the top of the board.

It’s incredibly early in the 2017-18 season, but the top players in the upcoming draft class have already begun to show flashes of their otherworldly potential.

Cupcake games or not, these early flashes have become an essential part of evaluating prospects. It helps with the formulation of early big boards, yes, but more important is the fact that it enables said players to gauge their progress.

The question is: How are the top prospects in the 2018 NBA Draft performing and why should the New York Knicks be studying them?

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