The 2018 NBA Draft is less than three months away. Who should Scott Perry and the New York Knicks be scouting as of the Final Four?
The next 10 years of New York Knicks basketball will directly influenced by the events of the 2018 NBA Draft. Kristaps Porzingis, Frank Ntilikina, and Tim Hardaway Jr. are franchise cornerstones, but there are question marks at two (three?) positions of need.
Thankfully for the Knicks, this draft class is shaping up to be one that has both depth and quality in the areas of uncertainty: Point guard, small forward, and center.
Ntilikina was drafted to fill the void at point guard, but he’s been at his best in an off-ball role during the 2017-18 campaign. That doesn’t mean that he won’t make a successful transition to the point guard position, but it at least raises a question.
With Hardaway a better fit at the 2 than the 3, and Trey Burke emerging as the potential answer at point guard, the situation becomes even cloudier.
Nevertheless, the time for optimism has arrived as the Knicks will have a chance to select a legitimate impact player. The goal will be to find an All-NBA mainstay to complement Porzingis, but even acquiring a starting-caliber player whose quality is never questioned would be a plus.
The question is: Who are the New York Knicks’ top 10 targets in the 2018 NBA Draft as of the Final Four of the 2018 NCAA Tournament?
Note: New York is on pace to have the ninth-best lottery odds in the 2018 NBA Draft. Thus, a number of coveted prospects will be left off this list due to the unlikelihood of their unavailability.
If you’re looking for a prospect who can defend multiple positions and shoot the lights out, then you’re looking for Mikal Bridges. If you’re looking for a prospect who isn’t afraid of the moment, then you’re looking for Mikal Bridges.
If you’re looking for a prospect who has displayed the potential to develop into the complete package as a scorer, then once again: You’re looking for Mikal Bridges.
Bridges has garnered comparisons to Kawhi Leonard for his potential as a two-way player. He’s a 6’7″ wing with a massive 7’2″ wingspan and NBA-caliber athleticism, as well as a defensive hound who has legitimately locked opponents down at the collegiate level.
Bridges is also an elite three-point shooter who has converted 99 three-point field goals on 43.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
If the New York Knicks were to select Bridges, the very least they’d receive is an Otto Porter Jr. type of player who can defend, shoot, and create at respectable levels. The upside is that he has the ability to finish ambidextrously and the handle to develop into a well-rounded scorer.
This would be a project if the Knicks were hoping to turn Bridges into a superstar, but the safety is his 3-and-D potential. Upside and safety is a rare combination.
The Michigan State Spartans have helped Miles Bridges make one of the more astonishing transitions in recent memory. Bridges arrived in East Lansing as a small-ball 4 with a 6’6″ frame and a 6’9″ wingspan that simply isn’t adequate for the position.
Over the course of his two seasons with head coach Tom Izzo, however, Bridges solidified his place as one of the best wings in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Bridges’ father encouraged him to return for his sophomore season, which paid off in a significant way. Bridges greatly improved his handle, became a far better shooter off the bounce, and even solidified his status as one of the more versatile defenders in college basketball.
For the New York Knicks, adding a positionally versatile defender would be an appealing enough haul to justify a first-round selection.
Bridges has the raw ability to create off the bounce and shoot with efficiency from both midrange and beyond the arc. He’s also an explosive leaper who can play above the rim and a quality post player who can utilize his raw power to bully opponents down low.
Throw in Bridges’ ability to create for his teammates and he could make the game significantly easier for both Frank Ntilikina and Kristaps Porzingis.
The Duke Blue Devils made an impressive run to the Elite Eight of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. One of the primary reasons for that success was the Al Horford of the team: Starting center and freshman phenom Wendell Carter Jr.
Carter doesn’t do anything at an elite level, but he has the tools to become one of the better players in the NBA with his unique versatility.
Carter is a solid rebounder on both ends of the floor, which creates immediate appeal for the New York Knicks. He’s also a skilled passer who can operate from the high post and help run the offense with accurate feeds to shooters and slashers alike.
Throw in Carter’s proficiency from the low post, his strong hands in the pick and roll, and his improving three-point range, and his offensive game fits with any team.
Defensively, Carter is a capable shot-blocker who could alleviate pressure from Kristaps Porzingis. Rather than forcing Porzingis to both defend stretch 4s and protect the paint, the Knicks would have a player to help in both regards.
Selecting a center isn’t the most appealing idea, but that’s the only reason why Carter is slotted as low as he is on this list. He’s easily a Top 10 overall prospect.
The New York Knicks have multiple point guards on the roster already, but that might as well mean they don’t have a point guard. There isn’t uncertainty or instability at the position because of a wealth of proven players who all deserve 30-plus minutes per game.
Instead, it’s a product of the Knicks not knowing if Trey Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay, or Frank Ntilikina will actually be the long-term answer at point guard.
Thus, the Knicks should give serious consideration to selecting Kentucky Wildcats star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the 2018 NBA Draft. He’s a 6’6″ floor general with the ability to take his man off the bounce at virtual will.
Gilgeous-Alexander will need to add significant muscle to his frame before he can play significant minutes in the NBA, but he has the skill to be a perennial All-Star.
Offensively, Gilgeous-Alexander is a crafty slasher with a respectable outside shot and above-average court vision as a facilitator. Defensively, he has the size and length to overwhelm opponents at all three perimeter positions.
With two oversized point guards who both have 7’0″ wingspans, the Knicks could create an incomparable backcourt of Gilgeous-Alexander and Ntilikina.
The Kentucky Wildcats have consistently produced prospects whom teams have been quick to select in the NBA Draft. If the New York Knicks are hoping to address the void at small forward, then the Kentucky well may be one worth reaching back into.
Kevin Knox is more of a hybrid forward than a true 3, but that versatility may actually appeal to the Knicks come the 2018 NBA Draft.
Knox is a powerful athlete with an ideal combination of size and length for either forward position at 6’9″ with a 7’0″ wingspan. That enables the freshman phenom to defend players at all three frontcourt positions, as well as switching against the pick and roll.
Offensively, that enables him to finish at the rim with both power and finesse—with the latter being a product of his well-rounded finishing ability.
It’s unclear if Knox has the handle to attack a set defense, but he can shoot the three-ball or attack a closeout. He’s also a force in transition, which could make him a perfect fit in the open court alongside shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr.
Even if Knox were to become more of a stretch 4 than a true 3, that could enable Kristaps Porzingis to make the move to center that many have been waiting for.
Few players did more to improve their draft stock during March Madness than Alabama Crimson Tide point guard Collin Sexton. A slashing point guard with a quality outside shot and the instincts to facilitate, Sexton carried Alabama to the Round of 32 of the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
There may be other point guards on the New York Knicks, but one could make a case that Sexton has a higher ceiling than any of the current options.
Sexton can attack a set defense, get into the paint, and finish with efficiency amongst the trees. He’s also a quality three-point shooter whose percentages should improve once he’s tasked less with creating in isolation and more with playing within the flow of a team.
If the Knicks are in the market for a player who can drive like Emmanuel Mudiay and score like Trey Burke, then Sexton could bridge the gap.
Defensively, Sexton has the length and athleticism to play the passing lanes and match up against players at both backcourt positions. He was coached well in that regard, as former NBA Coach of the Year Avery Johnson led the Crimson Tide in 2017-18.
If the Knicks were to select Sexton, fans should applaud the decision to add a player who has clear All-Star potential at a position of instability.
I’m higher on Zhaire Smith than most, but if the New York Knicks were to utilize a top-10 draft pick to select him, it would be a justified decision. His ceiling is that of an elite two-way player who can both lock players down at multiple positions and score at virtual will.
This would be a significant project that would require the coaching staff’s full attention, but Smith is a generational athlete who has the tools to fit that bill as a player.
Defensively, Smith shows flashes of Andre Roberson potential in the way he legitimately locks opponents down in isolation. He utilizes his size and length to contain slashers, as well as his athleticism and instincts to make plays in the passing lanes.
Moreover: Smith displays the Kawhi Leonard ability to literally rip the ball out of an opponent’s hands and turn it into two points the other way.
Offensively, Smith’s game is currently based on his explosive leaping ability and natural instincts as a player. His skill set is still unrefined, but he has the basketball IQ to identify when to shoot or facilitate, and the raw talent to excel in both regards.
I admit that this is a pure project that may not pay off, but Smith has the athletic gifts of Gerald Green and the natural instincts of a star.
If the coaching staff develops his skill set, he could be an all-around star.
The Miami Hurricanes play home to one of the most promising young players in the 2018 NBA Draft. Lonnie Walker IV has more untapped potential than just about anything else, but he has the tools to become one of the true stars of his class.
Walker is being pushed to hone his craft with another season at the collegiate level, but if he instead declares for the NBA Draft, he could be a steal.
Walker is an explosive athlete who has no trouble blowing by the first defender and finishing at the rim. Whether it’s a powerful throw-down above the cylinder or a finesse play such as an acrobatic layup or a crafty floater, he never ceases to impress.
It’s more raw talent than anything else at this stage, but Walker has all of the tools to develop into one of the better pure scorers in the NBA.
Defensively, Walker is an absolute terror when he’s locked in and focused. He can pressure the ball with his length and athleticism, and does an excellent job of fighting over screens when he puts his mind to doing so.
There are reasons for concern, but that’s the case for every freshman whom the New York Knicks will be evaluating this coming June.
New York Knicks fans are likely tired of seeing the organization invest heavily in players at the center position. The harsh reality, however, is that the Knicks desperately need an athletic big who can alleviate pressure from Kristaps Porzingis.
If the Knicks decide to address that flaw via the 2018 NBA Draft, then Texas A&M Aggies big man Robert Williams could be the answer.
Williams has garnered comparisons to Los Angeles Clippers center and All-NBA honoree DeAndre Jordan. It’s a somewhat lazy likening due to the fact that it’s based on their status as Texas A&M standouts, but it’s increasing in its appeal and fairness.
Much like Jordan, Williams is an explosive athlete with a massive wingspan and legitimately elite production as both a rebounder and a shot-blocker.
Williams finished the 2017-18 season ranked No. 23 in the country in block percentage and No. 26 in the nation in defensive rebound percentage. He’s nowhere near the offensive rebounder that Jordan has proven to be, but is value in those two areas can’t be overstated.
Throw in the fact that Williams can defend the perimeter, switch on the pick and roll, and shoot from midrange, and he could be a perfect fit alongside Porzingis.
The Oklahoma Sooners ran an offense that essentially consisted of rolling the ball out and asking Trae Young to create. Whether that meant attacking in isolation or setting his teammates up as a facilitator, Young was asked to do just about everything for the Sooners.
That enabled Young to display the vast array of his NBA-caliber skills, but it’s also led some to question if he can play in a true system.
Young is a spectacular three-point shooter whose range knows no limits and whose trigger is as quick as can be. He doesn’t hesitate to exploit switches along the perimeter, nor is he reluctant to let the ball fly when he’s tested by a defender.
What rounds Young’s game as a scorer into form is the fact that he’s capable of attacking closeouts or set defenders and making plays at the rim.
For as appealing as his scoring ability may be, what makes Young a player worth considering in the 2018 NBA Draft is his court vision. He’s easily the best facilitator in this class, with the ability to legitimately pass his teammates open and lead them to their spots with his eyes and passes.
If the New York Knicks decide that what’s needed is a point guard who can create for himself and others, then Young could be a younger alternative to Trey Burke—on a long-term deal.
Must Read: Five lineups to explore during the closing weeks of the 2017-18 season
The question is: Which of these prospects will the New York Knicks commit to investing in come the 2018 NBA Draft?