The New York Knicks recently hired David Fizdale on a four-year contract. Here’s how the Knicks can ace the 2018 NBA Draft for their new head coach.
The New York Knicks have hired David Fizdale to be the leader of the youth movement. That’s a clear enough approach, but with Fizdale in as head coach, the Knicks must provide him with the necessary talent to execute the rebuild.
Thankfully, the 2018 NBA Draft will provide the Knicks with the perfect platform to find the next building block for Fizdale to plug in and develop.
The Knicks have two significant voids that should be targeted: Small forward and center. It would certainly be understandable to prioritize the best player available if a star-caliber prospect falls their way, but the clear reality is that New York has defined areas of weakness.
For that reason, this mock draft will consist of two options: One in which the Knicks select a wing and another in which they take a center.
New York has Enes Kanter and Kyle O’Quinn at the 5, but both are expected to decline their respective player options. Tim Hardaway Jr. played well at the 3 in 2017-18, but he was out of position and would benefit from a return to shooting guard.
The question is: How can David Fizdale, Scott Perry, Steve Mills, and the New York Knicks ace the 2018 NBA Draft? We’ve provided two possibilities.
Upside Comparison: Al Horford
Age: 19 (4/16/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’10”, 258 pounds, 7’3″
Slash Line: .561/.413/.738
Season Averages: 26.9 MPG, 13.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.9 ORPG, 2.0 APG, 2.1 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 3PM
If the New York Knicks prefer to select a center, then Wendell Carter Jr. would be the obvious choice. Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Mohamed Bamba, and Jaren Jackson Jr. will likely be off the board, but Carter is far more than just a consolation prize.
Amongst the available big men, Carter may actually fit what the Knicks are building better than any of his peers—and that’s reason enough to consider drafting him.
Carter has Al Horford potential as a prospect who does everything at an average or better level. He can play with his back to the basket, pass from the high post, rebound at a high level, shoot with expanding range, and protect the rim.
Carter has also displayed the necessarily agility to both run and defend the pick and roll, as well as the strong hands to make plays in traffic.
In theory, Carter could be a Kyle O’Quinn style big who has the athleticism and range to play 30-plus minutes per game. Moreover: He could be the big who helps alleviate pressure from Kristaps Porzingis on both ends of the floor.
David Fizdale needs an elbow facilitator, Porzingis needs a versatile defender, and the Knicks need a big who won’t cost them upwards of $10 million per season.
Carter checks every box.
Upside Comparison: Otto Porter Jr.
Age: 21 (8/30/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’7″, 210 pounds, 7’2″
Slash Line: .512/.435/.848
Season Averages: 32.0 MPG, 17.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 2.6 3PM
If the New York Knicks decide that selecting a small forward is the better option, then Mikal Bridges becomes the pick. He should bottom out as a high-level three-and-D player in the NBA, and he has the work ethic to thrive far beyond that distinction.
For a Knicks team that desperately needs wings who can defend and shoot with efficiency, Bridges makes undeniable sense at No. 9 overall.
Bridges has a 6’7″ frame and a 7’2″ wingspan that should at least be disruptive at the next level. He can switch against the pick and roll, easily cover ground to run out on shooters, and lock down slashing scorers at all three perimeter positions.
Bridges will need time to adjust to the physicality of the game, but that’s something David Fizdale can work on with him at the next level.
Offensively, Bridges is an unselfish player who has experience playing in a motion offense. He’s a fearless three-point shooter with range beyond the NBA three-point line, with the combination of volume and efficiency to support the claim he can shoot the lights out.
Bridges has made drastic improvements to his handle, finishing ability, and court vision. He has a basement of an elite 3-and-D specialist and a ceiling of an All-NBA wing.
Just imagine Frank Ntilikina, Bridges, and Kristaps Porzingis anchoring the defense.
Upside Comparison: Lamar Odom
Age: 19 (4/3/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’8″, 214 pounds, 7’1″
Slash Line: .426/.000/.632
Season Averages: 17.0 MPG, 5.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.8 BPG, 0.4 SPG
Jarred Vanderbilt’s freshman season was plagued by injuries that forced him to miss all but a stretch of 14 games. Thus, it’s fair to question why the New York Knicks would select a player who’s essentially all upside and speculation.
If the Knicks select a center in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft, however, then finding a high-ceiling wing should be the priority in Round 2—and Vanderbilt more than fits the bill.
Had Vanderbilt avoided injuries, he would be a first-round lock at this stage of the 2018 NBA Draft process. He’s a big and athletic wing with a long wingspan, elite instincts as a rebounder, a strong handle, above-average vision as a passer, and the versatility to defend multiple positions.
A lackluster jump shot certainly creates cause for pause, but Vanderbilt has garnered Dennis Rodman comparisons from his coaches and teammates.
In other words: He doesn’t quit on defense.
Vanderbilt has a wide and muscular frame that should fill out well and enable him to pick up defensive assignments against players from the 2 to the 4. He’s also an explosive finisher at the rim and a crafty southpaw with a Lamar Odom type of versatility.
It’s possible that Vanderbilt will return to Kentucky to improve his draft stock for 2019, but if he’s on the board, the Knicks should give serious consideration to selecting him.
Upside Comparison: Taj Gibson
Age: 19 (8/23/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’8″, 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
If it’s not Jarred Vanderbilt, then Kentucky Wildcats teammate PJ Washington would certainly make sense for the New York Knicks. Washington is also determining his NBA future, but if he turns pro, he should be a coveted prospect.
Washington is an explosive athlete who can provide Kristaps Porzingis with the type interior complement whom he’s been missing through three seasons.
Washington has long arms and explosive leaping ability—a combination that should make him an at least respectable rim protector in the NBA. He’s also rather mobile for a big, which should help him defend the pick and roll, and pick up assignments against stretch bigs.
That type of defensive versatility is what the Knicks have been sorely missing as they look for ways to simplify the game for Porzingis.
Offensively, Washington is a powerful finisher who has no trouble whatsoever playing above the rim. He’s expanding the range on his jump shot, has the foundation for a solid post game, and should thrive as a pick and roll dive man.
I’d personally select a prospect of Washington’s caliber in the first round, but with projections that he should be available at No. 37, he’s the pick for the Knicks.
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If the New York Knicks provide David Fizdale with one of these two combinations of players, then they’ll have aced the 2018 NBA Draft.