The 2018 NCAA Tournament has officially reached the Final Four. What would the New York Knicks do if the 2018 NBA Draft were held today?
The New York Knicks are approaching an offseason that will go a long way towards determining the trajectory of the organization. With franchise player Kristaps Porzingis recovering from a torn ACL, the front office has been tasked with finding stability in an uncertain future.
With limited cap space and a potential top-10 selection at its disposal, New York will inevitably look to the 2018 NBA Draft for answers.
New York is currently on pace to possess one first-round draft pick and a second-round selection. That should provide general manager with the opportunity to select a franchise cornerstone and at least a quality reserve with long-term potential.
If the Knicks continue to draft as well as they did during the Phil Jackson era, however, the haul could be that of two starting-caliber contributors.
Regardless of what the return proves to be, there’s nothing more important for the Knicks than the 2018 NBA Draft. It’s the event that will net it cost-controlled talent and long-term potential that can be explored and developed.
The question is: With the Final Four upon us, what would the New York Knicks currently do with the current pair of 2018 NBA Draft picks?
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
This may be optimistic, but the optimism is based in some part on the opinions of experts around the community. Jonathan Givony of ESPN has Mikal Bridges ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the 2018 NBA Draft and Jonathan Wasserman of NBADraft.net has him at No. 12.
Thus, while I and many others may be of the belief that Bridges should be a top-five draft pick, the irrational fear of upperclassmen makes this a legitimate possibility for the New York Knicks.
Bridges is the rare player whose defensive prowess and potential are as compelling as what he can do on offense. He’s already a lockdown defender at the collegiate level, with the footwork and instincts to keep players at all three perimeter positions in front of him.
With a 7’2″ wingspan and a frame that should fill out with muscle and improved core strength, Bridges could realistically bring elite help defense against all five positions.
Offensively, Bridges is one of the best shooters in this draft class, as well as a vastly improved shot creator. He can get his own looks in isolation or distribute the ball to his teammates, and has displayed the ability to finish with both hands at the rim.
Bridges has been compared to Kawhi Leonard, and while that will require the Knicks to develop him into such a player, it’s as safe a project as any.
Alternative Options
In a perfect world, Villanova Wildcats star Mikal Bridges will be available for the New York Knicks to select. The possibility exists that he won’t be, however, which makes it entirely necessary for the organization to have multiple options.
Thankfully, there are alternative options worth considering.
A 6’6″ hybrid who has transformed from a severely undersized power forward into a legitimate perimeter star. Miles Bridges can shoot off the bounce, create for his teammates, or work the baseline with explosive leaping ability.
Defensively, he can pick up assignments at every position from 2 to 4. The Knicks are reportedly interested in selecting Bridges come June.
The Knicks have a number of quality point guards on the roster, but no one has separated from the pack. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could be the player who does as a slashing scorer with a respectable outside shot, above-average court vision, and defensive potential.
The Knicks could build something special with Gilgeous-Alexander and Frank Ntilikina—(combo?) guards who stand at 6’5″ or taller with matching 7’0″ wingspans.
A 6’9″ hybrid forward with a 7’0″ wingspan and explosive leaping ability, Kevin Knox is garnering Top 10 hype. He’s a solid three-point shooter who can attack a closeout, finish with power or finesse, and find a teammate when a shot isn’t available.
Some question Knox’s true position, but he can defend the 3 and the 4 spot at the next level. New York is reportedly high on Knox as a prospect.
One of the true stars of tournament season, Collin Sexton is a big-game player who played for a former NBA player and head coach in Avery Johnson at Alabama. With a solid 6’2″ frame and an elite first step, Sexton can attack a set defense and get his shot off from anywhere on the court.
If the Knicks decide that Frank Ntilikina would be better off as a combo guard, then Sexton could be the player who plays as the Eric Bledsoe to his Goran Dragic.
Easily the most polarizing prospect in the 2018 NBA Draft, Trae Young is a lights-out shooter with shot selection that could drive a coach insane. He hits shots that only Stephen Curry can convert, but he also comes up short on those attempts in key moments.
What makes Young a viable option for the Knicks: He is, without question, the best facilitator in this draft class.
Age: 19 (8/23/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’7″, 236 pounds, 7’3″
Slash Line: .519/.238/.606
Season Averages: 27.4 MPG, 10.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.8 BPG, 0.8 SPG
The New York Knicks have a desperate need for an athletic big man who can alleviate pressure from Kristaps Porzingis. New York hasn’t defined a role for Porzingis on defense, which has played a significant part in the injuries he’s endured.
Rather than having Porzingis defending stretch bigs and protecting the rim on the same possession, the Knicks can simplify the game via this selection.
PJ Washington is a 6’7″ power forward, but his 7’3″ wingspan, powerful frame, and explosive athleticism more than make up for the size deficiency. He plays bigger than he is, can switch against the pick and roll, and has even displayed potential as a shot-blocker.
Washington’s lackluster rebounding is somewhat concerning, but he has the potential to be somewhere between Taj Gibson and Lance Thomas on defense.
Offensively, Washington is a pick and roll terror who can blow through a defense, rise up, and easily play above the rim. He’s also displayed a developing midrange game and at least made the effort to embrace the three-point shot.
If the Knicks help Washington establish a more modern offensive game, he could be a player who helps extend and simplify Porzingis’ career.
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.
Alternative Options: Interior Players
While the perimeter options are compelling, the New York Knicks have a glaring need down low. There’s an abundance of depth at center, but Enes Kanter and Kyle O’Quinn are both headed to free agency, and the level of athleticism at the 4 and 5 spots is insufficient.
Thankfully, these players would either add athleticism or a necessary skill to the Knicks’ otherwise excellent interior.
Yes, the younger brother of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and former Westchester Knicks standout Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Kostas Antetokounmpo isn’t at all polished, but he’s the same type of prospect: High risk, high reward.
Antetokounmpo is a 6’10” hybrid forward with a 7’2″ wingspan, plus athleticism, gigantic hands, and a long stride. If the Knicks plan to invest in a project, this would be the one worth committing to.
Brandon McCoy has the physical tools to be a legitimate star in the NBA at 6’11” with a near 7’2″ wingspan and a wide frame. He was a dominant rebounder when he put his mind to it in college, and even showed signs of progress as a shot-blocker.
If the Knicks believe that they can help McCoy thrive at center and utilize Kristaps Porzingis at power forward on a full-time basis, then McCoy should be the pick.
I’m not quite as high on Chimezie Metu as others in the New York Knicks community, but I can certainly see the appeal. He doesn’t have an individual skill to sink one’s teeth into, but he’s an athletic big who can do a bit of everything.
That includes improving range as a shooter and value as a shot-blocker. For the Knicks, Metu can be a player who helps Porzingis find a more defined role on defense.
Michael Porter was the star recruit for the Missouri Tigers, but Jontay Porter proved to be more than just his younger brother. A 6’10” big with a 7’0″ wingspan and a solid outside shot, Porter converted 1.2 three-point field goals on 36.4 percent shooting from the center position.
What makes Porter even more intriguing: High-level passing ability and top-100 rankings in defensive rebound percentage and block percentage.
Moritz Wagner has been the most reliable player on a Michigan Wolverines team that just reached the Final Four. He plays his heart out in an Enes Kanter manner, is a high-quality defensive rebounder, and can shoot the three-ball with volume and efficiency.
If the Knicks were to add Wagner, they’d be getting a 6’11” big who has shot at least 39.5 percent from distance in each of the past two seasons.
Must Read: 2018 NBA Draft to watch in the Final Four
If the New York Knicks properly scout these players, they should have a great idea of how to ace the 2018 NBA Draft.