The 2018 NCAA Tournament field has been cut to four. Which 2018 NBA Draft targets should the New York Knicks watch in the Final Four?
The 2018 NCAA Tournament field has been cut from 68 teams to the Final Four. Along the way, the New York Knicks and 29 other franchises have been provided with a platform for 2018 NBA Draft evaluation unlike any other in recent memory.
With an unprecedented slate of upsets and a vast number of coveted prospects going down early, the deep sleepers have come to the forefront.
The Knicks are currently on pace to have the ninth-best lottery odds in the 2018 NBA Draft. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the Knicks will pick at No. 9 overall, but it’s a growing possibility that many are beginning to accept and expect.
With the arrival of the Final Four has come an opportunity to evaluate which prospects are capable of shining under the bright lights of expectation.
In some instances, the players whom the Knicks will be evaluating are firmly on the 2018 NBA Draft radar. In others, they’re sleepers who have begun to rise up boards due to skill sets or physical tools that are beginning to gain recognition.
The question is: Who are the top 2018 NBA Draft prospects in the Final Four and whom should the New York Knicks be watching for?
Projection: Top 10
Age: 21 (8/30/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’7″, 210 pounds, 7’2″
Slash Line: .512/.436/.848
Season Averages: 32.1 MPG, 17.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 2.6 3PM
Mikal Bridges will be the No. 1 prospect for the New York Knicks to consider come the 2018 NBA Draft. There’s a growing possibility that he won’t be available at No. 9 overall, but if he is, Bridges will be near the top of the list of preferred prospects.
An exceptional on-ball defender with a massive wingspan, an elite three-point shot, and the ability to create for himself and others, Bridges is a star on the rise.
Standing at 6’7″ with a 7’2″ wingspan, it stands to reason that Bridges can comfortably guard every position from 2 to stretch 4. How his body fills out will go a long way towards determining his versatility, but he has the size, length, and athleticism to play the part.
Bridges has even proven capable of defending smaller guards who run point, and switching on to small-ball centers with reasonable success.
Offensively, Bridges has an outstanding jump shot and a quick release that he isn’t afraid to set off. He’s improved tremendously in isolation, with the developing ability to attack a set defense and finish ambidextrously at the rim.
Bridges has garnered comparisons to San Antonio Spurs superstar Kawhi Leonard as a late bloomer with the drive for greatness. That’s all you need to know.
Projection: Early Second Round
Age: 21 (8/31/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’2″, 190 pounds, 6’3″
Slash Line: .527/.414/.811
Season Averages: 31.8 MPG, 19.2 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.1 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 2.2 3PM
The Villanova Wildcats have four of the 10 prospects on this list of players to watch in the Final Four. The leader of the squad is First Team All-American Jalen Brunson, who has emerged as arguably the best point guard at the collegiate level.
With a Round 2 grade and the potential to develop into a quality starter in the NBA, Brunson is a player whom the New York Knicks should watch closely.
Brunson is the modern point guard in a nutshell. He’s a capable distributor who has no trouble deferring to his teammates, but his first instinct is to either attack the basket or pull up for a jump shot when the defense gives him even a sliver of space.
Brunson certainly has the skill level to justify such a decision, as he’s developed into one of the most explosive and efficient shooters in the country.
For the Knicks, Brunson represents an opportunity to bring an elevated skill level to the point guard position. The current crop of players generally get by on size—sans Trey Burke—whereas Brunson can play and excel both on and off the ball.
Brunson is a solid team defender, and if he improves his individual effort on that end of the floor, he could lead the second unit for years to come.
Projection: Second Round/Undrafted
Age: 21 (1/31/1997)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’5″, 205 pounds, 6’5″
Slash Line: .470/.385/.710
Season Averages: 29.1 MPG, 12.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.0 3PM
A third consecutive player from the Villanova Wildcats—but blame alphabetical order, not me. Donte DiVincenzo is projected as more of a 2019 NBA Draft prospect, but he’s rising up boards and could soon surface in the Round 2 discussion.
A sharpshooting wing with a solid handle and combo guard potential, DiVincenzo could be an ideal addition for the New York Knicks come June.
For a New York Knicks team that ranks dead last in three-point field goals made per game, sharpshooters will inevitably appeal. DiVincenzo has a lackluster wingspan, but he’s a 6’5″ marksman who could certainly help address that flaw.
With a quick and compact release that should translate well to the next level, DiVincenzo is the proper polish away from being one of the better scorers in the country.
DiVincenzo seems to be a year away from playing NBA-caliber basketball, but pure shooters will always have value. The fact that he’s improved his handle and is developing the ability to set his teammates up should solidify his draft stock once his game is complete.
DiVincenzo has a late second-round grade as is, but if he comes back for another season, he could be in the late lottery discussion in 2019.
Projection: Late First Round
Age: 23 (2/22/1995)
Height & Weight: 6’2″ & 185 pounds
Slash Line: .396/.403/.830
Season Averages: 37.8 MPG, 17.2 PPG, 7.3 APG, 4.1 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 2.8 3PM
The Kansas Jayhawks have a simple ideology that’s been abided by for quite some time. When the game is on the line and someone needs to step up with a big shot, the ball should find senior point guard and clutch maestro Devonte’ Graham.
If the New York Knicks are looking for a backup point guard who can impact the game as a crafty scorer and facilitator, then Graham could be an ideal target.
Graham is somewhat undersized, but he plays hard and contributes in virtually every phase of the game. He’s one of the best three-point shooters in this draft class, with 292 career three-point field goals made on 40.8 percent shooting to support his claim.
He’s also a skilled facilitator who can operate via the pick and roll, push the pace in transition, or feed the post while maintaining a respectable assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.63.
Furthermore, Graham is adept at working without the ball to get himself open for scoring opportunities. He can attack a closeout or go around a screen to drive the lane, and is capable of finishing with finesse once he enters the paint.
Graham is on the late first round bubble, but if he falls to the Knicks in the second round, it stands to reason that he’ll at least be considered as an option.
Projection: Second Round
Age: 21 (11/15/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6″, 200 pounds, 6’9″
Slash Line: .496/.320/.574
Season Averages: 29.9 MPG, 13.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.6 BPG, 0.6 SPG, 0.8 3PM
Emerging from the ashes of a shattered region of the bracket, Michigan Wolverines shooting guard Charles Matthews has emerged as a viable 2018 NBA Draft prospect. Some will question how legitimate his emergence truly is, but the working theory is that he’s entered Round 2.
If the New York Knicks are looking for an athletic wing who can potentially defend multiple positions, then adding Matthews in the second round could be an answer.
Matthews is still developing his skill set, but what makes him an appealing prospect is that he has prototypical measurements and elite athleticism. His 6’6″ frame and 6’9″ wingspan should help him thrive at the next level, and his explosive leaping ability is nothing short of compelling.
For a Knicks team that sorely lacks athleticism along the wings, Matthews’ physical traits alone could make him a reward target in Round 2.
As far as his skill set is concerned, what currently works for Matthews is his slashing ability and overall transition value. Whether he’s taking it to the rack himself or unselfishly setting his teammates up, he can do it all in the open floor.
If the Knicks help Matthews develop a reliable jump shot, he could potentially emerge as one of the bigger steals of the 2018 NBA Draft.
Projection: Second Round
Age: 20 (6/10/1997)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’8″, 205 pounds, 6’5″
Slash Line: .438/.447/.800
Season Averages: 34.7 MPG, 14.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 3.0 3PM
Kansas Jayhawks shooting guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk has been on the NBA Draft radar since his freshman season. He hasn’t quite lived up to the hype, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he can’t be a quality player at the next level.
A 6’8″ sharpshooter with the ability to create for his teammates, Mykhailiuk has the skill level to be a quality contributor to the New York Knicks.
Mykhailiuk’s primary appeal to the Knicks is the fact that his greatest strength is the team’s greatest weakness. He’s an outstanding three-point shooter who has converted 114 shots from beyond the arc on 44.7 percent shooting in 2017-18.
It’s the third consecutive season during which Mykhailiuk has shot at least 40 percent from three-point range, which establishes the legitimacy of his shot.
Beyond his jumper, Mykhailiuk has an underrated ability to thrive as a distributor on offense, He won’t drive the lane at will, but he has excellent court vision for an off guard and should be able to set his teammates up in the NBA.
A 6’5″ wingspan makes him one of the more physically surprising players on the board, but he has a pair of legitimate NBA skills in his shot and his vision.
Projection: Second Round
Age: 21 (2/21/1997)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4″, 190 pounds, 6’6″
Slash Line: .464/.415/.832
Season Averages: 31.4 MPG, 14.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.2 3PM
Few players have done more to help their 2018 NBA Draft stock during March Madness than Kansas Jayhawks shooting guard Malik Newman. A redshirt sophomore who was once a coveted high school recruit, Newman is beginning to reemerge on the first round bubble.
In the event that Newman slides to the New York Knicks in the second round, general manager Scott Perry should at least consider the Lou Williams potential here.
Newman is a player whom I’ve been listing as an option for the Knicks since his freshman season with the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Now playing for a college basketball powerhouse, Newman has proven that he’s more comfortable in the spotlight.
A dominant force during both the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament thus far, Newman is playing his way into the NBA by showcasing his pro-level skills.
Rather than spending his redshirt year in 2016-17 being upset about the rule that kept him off the court, Newman got to work. He’s become one of the better shooters in the country, which includes his ability to pull up in isolation from long distance and midrange alike.
Newman is an undersized shooting guard, but the Knicks need an anchor for the second unit and he can provide a heavy dose of instant offense.
Projection: Second Round/Undrafted
Age: 20 (7/21/1997)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’9.5″, 245 pounds, 7’2″
Slash Line: .482/.446/.691
Season Averages: 28.1 MPG, 10.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.2 ORPG, 0.8 APG, 1.5 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 1.6 3PM
The fourth and final member of the Villanova Wildcats who surfaces on this list is redshirt freshman Omari Spellman. A nearly 6’10” big man with a long wingspan and a modern offensive game, Spellman has intriguing NBA potential.
Spellman is at least one year away from being an NBA-caliber backup, but his ceiling is that of a strategy-busting starter in a small-ball set.
Any time a near 6’10” player is shooting well over 40 percent from beyond the arc, NBA general managers will pay attention. Spellman still has some excess weight to lose and an identity to develop on offense, but he certainly fits the stretch big bill.
With 62 three-point field goals made on 44.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc, Villanova’s bruising big man has quite the finesse aspect to his game.
With a long wingspan and the flashed ability to protect the rim, Spellman could develop into a quality defender at the next level. He’ll need to tone his body and improve his quickness, but he’s already working well within the scheme.
At the very least, the New York Knicks could help Spellman become a quality backup with two-way value on a team-friendly contract.
Projection: Second Round/Undrafted
Age: 21 (1/12/1997)
Height & Weight: 6’5″ & 175 pounds
Slash Line: .487/.378/.673
Season Averages: 33.1 MPG, 12.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.6 3PM
The Kansas Jayhawks have a laundry list of quality wings who have the raw potential to play in the NBA. Lagerald Vick certainly qualifies as an athletic perimeter player with 3-and-D potential that a team like the New York Knicks would likely covet.
Vick has debatable 2018 NBA Draft stock, but he’s still one of the most intriguing perimeter players who will appear in the Final Four.
Vick has converted at least 37.0 percent of his three-point field goals in each of his three seasons at the collegiate level. That supports the belief that the 6’5″ shooting guard can at least provide help to a team that needs shooting and size at the 2-spot.
Considering Vick’s efficiency and volume have both improved since 2016-17, it stands to reason that he’s only scratching the surface of what he can accomplish.
What rounds Vick’s potential into form is the fact that he’s a high-quality athlete who has flashed intriguing defensive upside. He rebounds well for his position, and while he doesn’t dominate the passing lanes, he does a solid job of containing scorers.
The Knicks are in dire need of developable 3-and-D wings, which makes Vick a quality option in the second round. For his development, however, another season at Kansas may be in order.
Projection: Second Round
Age: 20 (4/26/1997)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’11”, 245 pounds, 7’0″
Slash Line: .524/.396/.696
Season Averages: 27.3 MPG, 14.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.4 ORPG, 0.9 SPG, 1.6 3PM
Moritz Wagner is the Michigan Wolverines player who’s most likely to be selected in the 2018 NBA Draft. He’s a strong center with an offensive game that fits the modern era and the type of competitive spirit that will appeal to old school coaches.
The New York Knicks are approaching a period of transition at the center position, which makes Wagner a solid option in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft.
Wagner is a stretch big who has adequate size and length for a center. He may not dominate many games, but he’s a near 7’0″ big who’s shooting close to 40 percent from 3, and has the motor and tenacity to play inside.
For the Knicks, pairing Kristaps Porzingis with another big man who can shoot at a high level would create quite the conundrum for opposing defenses.
What makes it possible for Wagner to be an NBA player is that he’s more than just a 6’11” shooter. He ranks No. 50 in the country in defensive rebound percentage, which implies that he could fill a necessary role for the Knicks at center.
With both Enes Kanter and Kyle O’Quinn headed to free agency, Wagner could be a significant acquisition for New York in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft.
Must Read: Top 10 2018 NBA Draft targets as of the Final Four
The question is: Which of these 2018 NBA Draft prospects and potential New York Knicks targets will help their respective teams reach the 2018 National Championship Game?