New York Knicks: Top 5 power forwards in 2018 NBA Draft as of early March

If the New York Knicks move Kristaps Porzingis to center once he returns from injury, finding a power forward at the 2018 NBA Draft could become a priority.

The 2017-18 NBA regular season essentially ended for the New York Knicks when Kristaps Porzingis tore the ACL in his left knee on Tuesday, Feb. 6. The Knicks immediately turned their focus to the offseason, when they’ll have a chance to draft a perimeter complement to Porzingis.

Due to the nature of Porzingis’ injury, however, it may be worth looking into the possibility of moving the 7’3″ phenom to center and drafting a power forward.

This may not be the most appealing of propositions, as Knicks fans have likely grown tired of having a surplus of big men on the roster. The reality of this delicate situation, however, is that New York needs to simplify the game for its franchise player.

That process will include finding an athletic big man who can defend stretch bigs while Porzingis plays as more of an interior-based rim protector.

Minimizing the time Porzingis spends running between the perimeter and the paint will lighten his workload and decrease the chances of re-injury. It stands to reason that the best opportunity for the Knicks to do so would come from acquiring a power forward with two-way potential of their own.

The question is: Who are the best power forwards in the 2018 NBA Draft and how might they fit with Kristaps Porzingis and the New York Knicks?