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New York Knicks: Top 5 2018 NBA Draft options entering All-Star Break

By Maxwell Ogden

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 10: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats looks on dunking the ball against the Butler Bulldogs at the Wells Fargo Center on February 10, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 10: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats looks on dunking the ball against the Butler Bulldogs at the Wells Fargo Center on February 10, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 06: Kevin Knox #5 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers during the game at Rupp Arena on February 6, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – FEBRUARY 06: Kevin Knox #5 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers during the game at Rupp Arena on February 6, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Upside Comparison: Josh Smith
Age: 18 (8/11/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’9″, 215 pounds, 7’0″
Slash Line: .454/.353/.752
Season Averages: 32.9 MPG, 15.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.6 3PM

The Kentucky Wildcats have consistently churned out NBA-caliber prospects since John Calipari took over as head coach in 2009. Kentucky’s 2018 crop of talent is less glamorous, but there’s still a prospect with star potential: Kevin Knox.

A positionally versatile forward with intriguing two-way potential, Knox could fill one of two significant voids in the frontcourt for the New York Knicks.

Knox has a big and wide frame, with shoulders that should fill out as his NBA career progresses. He has the size and length to play either small forward or power forward, and should be able to defend both positions—regardless of where he lines up offensively.

For the Knicks, Knox could be the versatile defender who helps pick up stretch bigs—a strength that would enable Kristaps Porzingis to spend more time as a rim protector.

Offensively, Knox is a force of nature in the open court, displaying the craftiness to finish in traffic and the power to play through contact. He needs to polish his game in the half court, but he’s more than capable of taking his man off the bounce or hitting a spot up three.

Coupled with a rare ability to help facilitate the offense from one of the two forward positions, Knox is a candidate to rise up draft boards come the NCAA Tournament.

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