New York Knicks: Michael Porter Jr. falling a dream scenario at No. 9
If the New York Knicks can land Michael Porter Jr. in the 2018 NBA Draft, it would be a huge success for a team looking to take a small forward.
After failing to move up in the draft order, the New York Knicks will be selecting right where they were projected with the ninth overall pick. While obviously not as coveted as a top three spot, there is still talent to be had just inside the top 10, and the Knicks are hoping to use that selection to fill their void at small forward.
According to most mock drafts, the most likely selection for New York appears to be Mikal Bridges out of Villanova.
Standing at 6’7″, Bridges was one of the better perimeter defenders in college basketball this past season, able to use his 7’2″ wingspan to stifle those on the wings and in the lane.
With a 43.5 percent conversion rate from beyond the arc, Bridges gets that coveted title of a 3-and-D prospect—a desired label for teams in the modern NBA.
While Bridges would fill a position of weakness for the next decade or so, his ceiling isn’t close to another wing in the 2018 NBA Draft that, should he fall to No. 9, would be an amazing grab for the Knicks—one with the potential to be arguably the best players in his class.
Before the 2017-18 college basketball season, many analysts had Missouri Tigers forward Michael Porter Jr. as a consensus top three pick.
Back surgery kept him out for most of the season, making sure he couldn’t justify the hype, but that shouldn’t take away from his skills on the court.
With a 6’10” frame and a soft shooting touch, Porter is one of the better shot-makers in the 2018 NBA Draft. He’s capable of going 1-on-1 with his defenders and getting buckets consistently.
His 86 percent rate from the free throw line during his senior year at Nathan Hale makes him playable at all times, while his 47 percent mark from distance would make him an adequate floor spacer from either forward position.
Pairing Porter with Kristaps Porzingis would be a devastating combo, as they could both play their natural positions and dominate, or shift down and play a faster, more athletic and versatile brand of basketball.
That’s something we’ve seen from all four 2018 Conference Finals teams: The Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and Houston Rockets.
It would also give New York another scoring option to pair with KP, as The Unicorn was showing massive signs of fatigue as this past season wore on, due in no small part to the heavy offensive burden he was tasked with carrying on a nightly basis.
While virtually every incoming rookie has their fair share of question marks, Porter may have the biggest red flag of them all, as his back surgery raised questions as to how much of an issue it would be moving forward.
No front office wants to select the next Sam Bowie, especially with plenty of other talents in this draft. However, should he stay healthy, Porter has a chance to remind everyone why he was a projected top pick before the season started.
For Porter to fall all the way to No. 9, a lot of luck would have to be involved, including teams passing on a guy who would fill a positional need of their own.
It’s not impossible, though, as there’s so much talent in the 2018 NBA Draft that, despite his immense potential, teams may not want to take a chance on Porter’s back, thus allowing him to fall to the Knicks.
While New York would be taking a risk by selecting Porter, his potential as a franchise-altering prospect may be too high to pass up.
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Selecting Michael Porter Jr. at the 2018 NBA Draft would give the New York Knicks a much-needed victory as they meticulously build their way back to relevance.