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New York Knicks: Top 10 2018 NBA Draft targets as of June 1

By Maxwell Ogden

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 23: Wendell Carter, Jr. #34 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on prior to their game against the Syracuse Orange during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - MARCH 23: Wendell Carter, Jr. #34 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on prior to their game against the Syracuse Orange during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – FEBRUARY 05: Trae Young #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners tries to rally his team against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Lloyd Noble Center on February 5, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. West Virginia defeated Oklahoma 75-73. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – FEBRUARY 05: Trae Young #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners tries to rally his team against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Lloyd Noble Center on February 5, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. West Virginia defeated Oklahoma 75-73. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

Age: 19 (9/19/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’1.75″, 178 pounds, 6’3″
Slash Line: .422/.360/.861
Season Averages: 35.4 MPG, 27.4 PPG, 8.7 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 3.7 3PM

The Oklahoma Sooners ran a system that was essentially Trae Young or bust. When Young wasn’t leading the team as a scorer, he was doing so as a facilitator—and thus, the gaudy averages of 27.4 points, 8.7 assists, and 3.7 three-point field goals made per game.

Beyond the numbers and the hype, however, was the arrival of a player who can contribute to an offense in all three phases: Scoring, distributing, and working off-ball.

As a scorer, Young is an elite three-point shooter and a capable finisher at the rim. He buried an absurd 118 three-point field goals during his freshman season, and did so in a manner that he wouldn’t often be asked to with the New York Knicks.

In New York, Young would be allowed to work without the ball and make plays within an NBA-caliber system to create more efficient scoring opportunities.

Beyond his scoring ability, Young is quite easily the best facilitator—not distributor, but facilitator—in this class. His court vision is advanced and his passing ability is that of a player who can be both exciting and methodical.

Young may not be the most physically imposing player in this class, but he’s as skilled as any—and a perfect fit for a Knicks offense that needs direction.

Must Read: The 15 greatest draft picks in New York Knicks history

The question is: Will these prospects be available for the New York Knicks to select at No. 9 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft?

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