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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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CHICAGO, IL – MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Combine circuit on May 15, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Combine circuit on May 15, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Age: 19 (7/12/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6″, 180 pounds, 6’11.5″
Slash Line: .485/.404/.817
Season Averages: 33.7 MPG, 14.4 PPG, 5.1 APG, 4.1 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 0.6 3PM

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is currently too thin to play 30-plus minutes per game in the NBA, but that’s an issue he can address. With the proper strength and conditioning training, Gilgeous-Alexander could become the all-around threat whom every team is looking for at point guard.

While some will question whether or not Gilgeous-Alexander should be an option at No. 9 overall, the New York Knicks have a unique opportunity here.

Gilgeous-Alexander stands at 6’6″ with a near 7’0″ wingspan and an 8’8″ standing reach that easily ranks No. 1 amongst point guards in this class. To pair him with Frank Ntilikina would be to give David Fizdale a rare backcourt with elite size and length.

While Ntilikina is more of an off-ball scorer who can produce within the flow of the offense, Gilgeous-Alexander is the penetrating playmaker.

Gilgeous-Alexander will need to stabilize his jump shot, but he’s a crafty slasher with above-average court vision and the ability to knock down the shots that are presented to him. Defensively, he and Ntilikina could form a dominant duo that overwhelms the opposition.

The Knicks may have point guards on the roster, but the goal is to find the right player—not to settle for solid when there could be something more.

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