New York Knicks only 2018 NBA Mock Draft: Final Four Edition

Alternative Options: Perimeter Players

In the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks will have two options. Either the front office can address the need to add an athletic big to the current interior rotation or it can further solidify the perimeter with a quality lead guard or wing.

Both options are appealing, which brings us to the first set of alternative options: The perimeter players.

The Penn State Nittany Lions are appearing in the NIT Final because of star guard Tony Carr. The sophomore has put Penn State on his back throughout the 2017-18 season, leading the offense as both a scorer and a 6’3″ facilitator who boasts a 6’8″ wingspan.

Whether Carr plays as a true point guard or more of a combo 2 at the next level, he could help lead the Knicks’ second.

Jevon Carter is the perfect backup point guard for the New York Knicks. He may not be the scorer that Trey Burke has proven to be, but he’s a defensive pest and a skilled distributor who has legitimate NBA range on his jump shot.

Carter may not become the best scorer in this draft class, but he can be a high-level facilitator, defender, and three-point shooter who helps establish a healthier culture.

If the Knicks are drafting for potential, then Hamidou Diallo should be near the top of the board. A New York City native, Diallo has prototypical size and length for an NBA shooting guard, as well as elite athleticism and an alluring measure of natural talent.

If the Knicks commit to helping Diallo develop on both ends of the floor—and, for that matter, a stronger frame——he could be a legitimate star in the long-term. No hyperbole.

Shake Milton is safely in the first round of my big board, but he’s a junior who missed significant time in 2017-18 due to an injury. Thus, it stands to reason that the Knicks could come across a 6’6″ point guard with a top-flight jump shot in Round 2.

If that proves to be the case, then New York would have no excuse for passing on the opportunity to pair Ntilikina with a physical doppelgänger who can shoot the lights.

Kris Wilkes would be an upside selection, but if the New York Knicks are looking for size, length, and athleticism, he has it all in spades. Wilkes is a 6’7″ shooting guard with a 6’11” wingspan, a solid jump shot, and impressive vision as a passer.

One could argue that this is redundant based on the addition of Mikal Bridges, but adding two 6’7″ wings with long wingspans and range on their respective jump shots would hardly be a poor idea.