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2018 NBA Draft: 3-and-D wings to know before March Madness

By Maxwell Ogden

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 16: Jacob Evans #1 of the Cincinnati Bearcats plays defense on an inbound during a NCAA basketball game against the UCF Knights at the CFE Arena on January 16, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 16: Jacob Evans #1 of the Cincinnati Bearcats plays defense on an inbound during a NCAA basketball game against the UCF Knights at the CFE Arena on January 16, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 18: Vince Edwards #12 of the Purdue Boilermakers attempts a shot over Nazareth Mitrou-Long #15 of the Iowa State Cyclones in the second half during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 18, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 18: Vince Edwards #12 of the Purdue Boilermakers attempts a shot over Nazareth Mitrou-Long #15 of the Iowa State Cyclones in the second half during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 18, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Projection: Round 2
Age: 21 (4/5/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’8″, 225 pounds, 7’0″
Slash Line: .475/.404/.842
Season Averages: 31.6 MPG, 14.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.5 3PM

The Purdue Boilermakers have been one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2017-18 college basketball season. Many players have earned praise for that success, but the best NBA prospect on the roster is hybrid forward Vince Edwards.

While Edwards may not get the steals or blocks that some look for from a defender, he has two-way potential that the New York Knicks could tap into.

Edwards is an efficient three-point shooter who’s converting better than 40 percent of his three-point field goals for a third consecutive season. Beyond his shooting, Edwards is an excellent rebounder and a capable facilitator who can handle the ball and create for others.

With the ability to play both with and without the ball in his hands, Edwards has the potential to be a more versatile version of a 3-and-D wing.

On the defensive end of the floor, Edwards has the ability to defend both forward positions at a high level. He’s somewhat comparable to Taurean Prince in that regard, who has carved out a decent role for himself early in his Atlanta Hawks career.

With the Knicks, Edwards would have the potential to fill the Lance Thomas role, but with superior contributions on the offensive end of the floor and a better presence as a rebounding.

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