The New York Knicks are in the market for a small forward. Who are the top five options in the 2018 NBA Draft as of All-Star Weekend?
The New York Knicks were one of the most active teams in the NBA leading up to the 2018 NBA trade deadline. New York executed two trades, considered others, and reached out to teams about promising players who could have facilitated the rebuild.
Throughout the process, one thing became clear: The Knicks are in the market for a small forward who can help anchor the future of the organization.
One could debate if this is still a priority, as New York appears to be open to the possibility of Emmanuel Mudiay playing point guard and Frank Ntilikina operating at the 2. Under those circumstances, Tim Hardaway Jr. would continue to play out of position as a small forward.
Possible as that may be, it’s far too early to put Mudiay’s name down as the point guard of the future—and just as premature to write Ntilikina’s name in pen as the long-term option at the 2-spot.
Knowing that to be true, the Knicks should be keeping their options open along the perimeter. There are two 21-and-under point guards on the roster already, and Hardaway is signed to a lucrative contract that will keep him in New York until at least 2020.
The question is: Who are the top small forwards in the 2018 NBA Draft and how might they fit with the New York Knicks?