The New York Knicks have made it known that finding a wing is a priority in the 2018 NBA Draft. Who should you know beyond the obvious names?
The 2018 NBA Draft is shaping up to be one of the most prolific events in New York Knicks history. The Knicks have voids to fill at both small forward and center, but there’s a growing belief that prospects could be added at any of the five positions on the floor.
True as that may be, the Knicks have now made it public knowledge that they’d prefer to select a wing in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Trading Carmelo Anthony was the right move, but the decision to do so left a void at the 3 spot. It’s a critical flaw in the modern NBA, as a vast number of stars happen to either play that position or work in the hybrid 4 role, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George.
At Fizdale’s introductory press conference, team president Steve Mills acknowledged the need to improve at small forward. Per Marc Berman of The New York Post:
"“We need talent, we need athletic players and the position will determine who we pick but in an ideal world, we’d like to get a wing player,” Mills said."
The Knicks would benefit from adding talent at virtually every position, but acquiring the small forward of the future would certainly be ideal.
There are a number of intriguing small forwards on the radar, including Mikal Bridges, Miles Bridges, Kevin Knox, and Zhaire Smith. While said players are expected to garner serious consideration, there are others who would be worth looking into.
Thus, the question beckons: Which less obvious 2018 NBA Draft prospects should the New York Knicks be evaluating along the wings?
Age: 20 (9/23/1997)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’7″, 205 pounds, 6’8″
Slash Line: .399/.322/.839
Season Averages: 39.0 MPG, 19.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.1 3PM
The New York Knicks know quite a bit about how effective scorers from the Syracuse Orange can be. Before anyone jumps to the belief that Tyus Battle is the second coming of Carmelo Anthony, however, it should be noted that he’s more of an ideal two-way role player.
Admittedly skilled in isolation, Battle could be a steal in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft—if he actually slides to the Knicks.
In a perfect world, Battle will realize his potential as a 3-and-D specialist who can attack a closeout. His percentages were underwhelming during the 2017-18 season, but he has solid mechanics on his shot and the physical tools for high-level defense.
Some are of the belief that Battle is more of a shooting guard than a small forward, but he could be of value at both positions in New York.
The concerns have more to do with discipline than skill, which makes David Fizdale the perfect coach for him. Battle’s handle is advanced for a 6’7″ wing, his jump shot can be a strength, and his athleticism would be a welcome addition on defense.
Battle could be a J.R. Smith type of presence for a Knicks team that will need a wing who can create consistent offense from the second unit.
Age: 18 (7/28/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’7″, 215 pounds, 6’11″
Slash Line: .444/.291/.743
Season Averages: 31.2 MPG, 11.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.9 3PM
The New York Knicks have the ninth-best lottery odds in the 2018 NBA Draft. The odds are in favor of the Knicks picking at No. 9 or No. 10 overall in the first round, which could make Troy Brown the proverbial limbo prospect.
If the Knicks are willing to package the second-round draft pick with an appealing asset to acquire a second first-round draft pick, then Brown could make sense in the 20-to-30 range.
Brown is essentially a modernized version of Evan Turner with what many to believe a higher defensive ceiling. Like Turner, he’s a big and physical wing who can create in isolation and set the table for his teammates as a distributor.
For a Knicks team that’s embracing positionless basketball, adding a penetrating wing who can hit the open man—or even run the offense—would alleviate pressure from Frank Ntilikina.
Defensively, Brown utilizes his 6’11” wingspan and advanced instincts to contain slashers and shooters alike. He isn’t the most explosive of athletes, but he does as good job of playing angles on both ends of the floor.
Brown may not be a top-10 pick, but if he continues to prove that his jump shot is improving, he could be an intriguing prospect for the Knicks to consider.
Age: 21 (8/30/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6″, 200 pounds, 7’2″
Slash Line: .556/.385/.712
Season Averages: 34.4 MPG, 15.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.2 3PM
If the New York Knicks have a chance to select Melvin Frazier in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft, it should be an easy decision to do so. It’s becoming unlikely that Frazier will fall that far, but he’s another example of a prospect who could be worth trading for.
Frazier may not be a household name just yet, but he has the tools to develop into the best defensive wing in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Frazier has a massive 7’2″ wingspan that enables him to defend every position from the 2 to the 4. He’s also an impressive athlete who should have no trouble keeping up with the pace of the modern game, which should be music to the Knicks’ ears.
Frazier can step in and contribute on defense from day one, with the hunger for improvement that would undoubtedly appeal to head coach David Fizdale.
Offensively, Frazier continues to expand his range as a shooter, and has flashed the ability to provide value as a distributor. He’s comparable to Jae Crowder in that sense, as he can wear multiple hats offensively and defend a number of different positions on the other end.
Frazier won’t be considered in the top 10, but he’d be a valid option in the second round and a prospect to potentially traded up for in the 25-to-30 range.
Age: 21 (4/26/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’7″, 196 pounds, 7’0″
Slash Line: .475/.359/.728
Season Averages: 31.0 MPG, 20.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.5 3PM
If the New York Knicks are looking for a prospect who can defend on one end and space the floor on the other, then Chandler Hutchison is an option worth considering. If the Knicks are searching for a player who can create in isolation, then Hutchison is again a viable option.
There are some who question Hutchison’s NBA potential based on his average athleticism, but he has the skill level to be an absolute steal.
Hutchison is a 6’7″ wing who has a tight handle, a solid jump shot, and ambidextrous finishing ability. He doesn’t blow by defenders with a quick first step, but can easily attack a closeout with his NBA-caliber knowledge of how to play the angles.
Hutchison has also proven capable of attacking a set defense with his size, handle, and IQ as strengths that complement his fundamental polish.
Defensively, Hutchison’s length is a strength that he manages to utilize against players at multiple positions. His greatest strength at this point is his rebounding, but he should at least be a quality team defender in the event that a coach can get him to buy in.
Coupled with Hutchison’s vision as a passer and his off-ball value as a scorer, he could be an ideal prospect for the Knicks to scout and consider.
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
The New York Knicks are in the market for an athletic wing who can defend at a high level and provide value on offense. While injuries may have limited his impact in 2017-18, it’s plausible that Jarred Vanderbilt could emerge as the steal of the NBA Draft.
Vanderbilt will need to receive a clean bill of health in order to be worth selecting in either round, but he’s a prospect who could be a legitimate star at the next level.
Vanderbilt has the size, length, and athleticism to comfortably defend players at every position from the 2 to the 4. He can play the passing lanes, help protect the paint, and rebound at a borderline elite level for his position.
That level of defensive potential is exactly what the Knicks need at small forward, and his positional versatility fits David Fizdale’s positionless scheme.
Offensively, Vanderbilt has a strong handle, above-average court vision, and the instincts as a scorer to make a significant impact in that regard. In New York, he could be the perfect bridge between Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Vanderbilt’s health will be a deciding factor, and this is as much about upside as anything else, but his star potential is as legitimate as any wing’s in this class.
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The question is: Will any of these prospects receive the opportunity to play for the New York Knicks via the 2018 NBA Draft?