The New York Knicks are mere weeks away from the 2018 NBA Draft. Who are the Knicks’ top 10 overall targets as of June 1?
The New York Knicks are inching close to a date that will define the trajectory of the organization: June 21, 2018. The 2018 NBA Draft will be Scott Perry‘s first as general manager of the Knicks, and will determine the structure of David Fizdale‘s first rotation.
Knowing this to be true, it’s only rational to evaluate the Knicks’ options given the arrival of the month of the 2018 NBA Draft.
New York will enter the 2018 NBA Draft process with an abundance of options and two key areas of weakness. It’s struggled mightily to defend the perimeter, has been putrid from beyond the arc, and has more questions than answers at center.
With small forward and center identified as positions that need to be upgraded, the Knicks have the opportunity to identify areas of need.
True as that may be, there are prospects at other positions who could be of value to New York’s long-term future. There may be solid incumbents, but if the franchise believes a prospect can reach a higher ceiling, it would be worth looking into.
The question is: Positions aside, who are the top 10 2018 NBA Draft targets for the New York Knicks to consider as of June 1?
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
The Villanova Wildcats won two national championships in three seasons during Mikal Bridges’ tenure. He evolved from a defensive specialist into an elite 3-and-D threat between his freshman and sophomore seasons, and became a true all-around player as a junior.
If the New York Knicks are looking for a player who can solidify the defense, improve the output from distance, and develop into something more long-term, Bridges may be the answer.
Bridges is a three-point marksman, as evidenced by his 104 makes on 43.5 percent shooting in 2017-18. That’s an appealing truth for a Knicks team that ranked No. 29 in three-point field goals made and attempted this past season.
Bridges has also diversified his offensive game to the point of being able to create in isolation, finish with both hands, and set his teammates up as a passer.
Defensively, Bridges would provide New York with a 7’2″ wingspan and a firm commitment to excellence on that end of the floor. Not only is he physically capable of defending at a high level, but he’s actually shown the fire and desire to get after it.
Even if Bridges maxes out as a 3-and-D wing at the next level, he’d fill a significant void for the Knicks and help David Fizdale build towards the future.
Age: 20 (3/21/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6.75″, 220 pounds, 6’9.5″
Slash Line: .463/.369/.883
Season Averages: 31.2 MPG, 16.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.8 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 2.0 3PM
I’m not as infatuated with the idea of Miles Bridges playing forward as others, but I think he’ll be an at least solid NBA player at the 3. It’s unwise to value basement over ceiling with a top-10 pick, but that’s actually where Bridges has been winning scouts over.
Not only does Bridges have the IQ and well-rounded skill set to be solid, but he has the scoring instincts and athleticism to be an All-Star.
Bridges is a hybrid forward with a somewhat underwhelming wingspan, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be successful. Bridges is a skilled shooter who can spot up from beyond the arc or drive and pull up from midrange with reasonable efficiency.
He’s also an explosive leaper who can work without the ball, throw down dominating finishes, or provide value as the dive man in the pick and roll.
Defensively, Bridges overcomes his questionable wingspan by getting into offensive players and crowding their space. It’s a strategy that works to frustrate rhythm scorers, as well as an approach that the Knicks have been wishing their players would embrace.
I’m still uncertain about Bridges, but he’s a prospect whom one would be remiss to completely ignore when discussing the 2018 NBA Draft.
Age: 19 (4/16/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’10”, 251 pounds, 7’4.5″
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 APG, 0.5 3PM
The New York Knicks have three centers under contract, but that could change as soon as July 1. New York also has three players who have essentially realized their potential at the position, as well as a franchise player who can work from both the 4 and the 5 spot.
As the Knicks look around the NBA, it should be known that it’s players like Wendell Carter Jr. who are helping anchor championship-caliber teams.
Offensively, Carter is cut from the cloth of the Draymond Green and Al Horford type of big men of the NBA. He’s more of a post presence and rebounder than the other two, but he has a modern offensive game that’s adaptable to a variety of systems.
For the Knicks, adding a Horford type of big to the rotation would make the game easier for Kristaps Porzingis and enable David Fizdale to run the system when he isn’t on the court.
As for the specifics, Carter is a skilled passer, a competent post scorer, a well-rounded athlete, and a capable shooter with expanding range. He’s also a versatile defender who can switch against the pick and roll, and protect the rim as a shot-blocker.
If New York were to select Carter at No. 9 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, it would be acquiring a player who could stabilize the team on both ends of the floor.
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.
Age: 18 (8/11/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’9″, 213 pounds, 6’11.75″
Slash Line: .445/.341/.774
Season Averages: 32.4 MPG, 15.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.5 3PM
The New York Knicks desperately need to add length and athleticism on the defensive end of the floor. There are players who could help in that regard, but few are quite as intriguing as Kentucky Wildcats hybrid forward Kevin Knox.
Knox is an admittedly polarizing prospect, but he fits what the Knicks are looking for on both ends of the floor while potentially filling a positional need.
Knox is a 6’9″ forward with a 7’0″ wingspan and a 9’0″ standing reach. He can play and defend both the 3 and the 4 spots, which should appeal to a Knicks team that can utilize Kristaps Porzingis at both the 4 and the 5.
Knox can utilize his length and athleticism to help defend the three perimeter positions and pick up stretch bigs to help keep Porzingis closer to the paint.
Offensively, Knox is the complete package as far as basic skills are concerned. He’ll need to polish the skills he has in place, but he can shoot with three-point range, attack a closeout, drive against a set defense, and finish with both power and finesse.
There are players who may be more NBA-ready than Knox, but his ceiling is that of a perennial All-Star who provides significant value on both ends of the floor.
Age: 19 (6/29/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’10.75”, 211 pounds, 7’0.25″
Slash Line: .333/.300/.778
Season Averages: 3 GP, 17.7 MPG, 10.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.3 ORPG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 3PM
This would be nothing short of a dream scenario for the New York Knicks. Michael Porter Jr. entered the 2017-18 college basketball season as a projected top-three pick, but a back injury has damaged his draft stock to an uncertain degree.
Thus, while it’s ambitious to list Porter as a target, there’s a realistic possibility that he’ll be available at No. 9 overall—and there’s clear reason for the Knicks to want him to be there.
Porter measured at just under 6’11” in shoes with a wingspan that stretched longer than 7’0″ and a 9’0.5″ standing reach. He pairs that with impressive mobility in the open court and the leaping ability to play above the rim with relative ease.
Injuries limited him in 2017-18, but Porter’s physical tools should help him score efficiently and defend at a high level in the NBA.
Offensively, Porter is a skilled ball-handler who can create space, shoot from distance, or attack the basket. Defensively, he’s an excellent rebounder who should be able to comfortably defend players at all three frontcourt positions once his body fills out.
For the Knicks, the simple thought of pairing Porter with Kristaps Porzingis leads one to believe that this is a pick that the franchise should be wishing for.
Age: 19 (1/4/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’1.5″, 183 pounds, 6’7.25″
Slash Line: .447/.336/.778
Season Averages: 29.9 MPG, 19.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.3 3PM
College basketball analyst and former NBA player Jay Williams recently appeared on ESPN’s Get Out. During his appearance, the 2002 National College Player of the Year award-winner publicly implored the New York Knicks to select Collin Sexton at No. 9 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft.
It was a bold proclamation, but as the Knicks enter the next stage of the talent acquisition phase, it’s impossible to overlook Sexton.
Sexton has been compared to the likes of Eric Bledsoe, Donovan Mitchell, and Russell Westbrook. Those are bold comparisons, but they’re based on Sexton’s powerful frame, long arms, explosive first step, and unique mentality.
Sexton solidified his status as a rising star during the SEC and NCAA Tournaments, and he did so by playing a style that was certainly comparable to those three players.
As a scorer, Sexton’s game is based on his ability to create penetration and read a defense’s reactions to him. That opens up the floor for him to be an attacking scorer, an aggressive distributor, and even a step-back threat with his improving jump shot.
Sexton was also coached well on the defensive end of the floor, which supports the belief that he could be the two-way point guard who helps Frank Ntilikina lead the Knicks’ backcourt.
Age: 18 (6/24/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4″, 199 pounds, 6’9.75”
Slash Line: .556/.450/.717
Season Averages: 28.4 MPG, 11.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.1 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 3PM
Zhaire Smith suffered a bit of a hit at the 2018 NBA Draft Combine, as his measurements essentially revealed that he’s more of a shooting guard than a small forward. That could prove problematic for a New York Knicks team that has depth at guard and weakness at the 3.
As the Knicks look for the perimeter star of the future, however, it’s a player like Smith who could fit the bill as a high-risk, high-reward type of selection.
Smith has the physical gifts to be one of the most exhilarating shooting guards in the NBA. Standing at 6’4” and 1999 pounds with a near 6’10” wingspan, he measures in an at least acceptable manner for a backcourt position.
Smith is also an explosive athlete who boasts a 41.5” max vertical leap and ran the three quarter sprint in 3.05 seconds—faster than both John Wall and Russell Westbrook.
On the court, Smith’s IQ and instincts fortify the foundation for his superstar potential. He’s both unrefined and responsible, which admittedly makes him difficult to read, but he’s flashed a solid outside shot, above-average court vision, and lockdown potential on defense.
I’m more optimistic about Smith than most, but he’s a prospect whom the Knicks should seriously consider if they’re willing to develop a shooting guard long-term.
Age: 19 (12/14/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4.5″, 196 pounds, 6’10.25″
Slash Line: .415/.346/.750
Season Averages: 27.4 MPG, 11.5 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.7 3PM
The New York Knicks have clear interest in Miami Hurricanes shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV. He isn’t the biggest player on the board, but he’s an exciting athlete with a modern offensive skill set and All-Defensive Team potential.
There are still question marks that Walker must address, but he has the upside of a star and the defensive prowess that David Fizdale would surely love to have on the roster.
Walker measured at just under 6’5″ with a muscular 196-pound frame and a 6’10.25″ wingspan. He also posted a 40.0″ max vertical leap, and ranked No. 3 in this draft class in both the shuttle run and the three quarter sprint.
With elite athleticism, adequate size for the shooting guard position, and improving two-way value, Walker could be the Knicks’ star of the future at shooting guard.
Offensively, Walker is a dynamic slasher with an explosive first step, a pretty floater, and the ability to play above the rim. Defensively, he utilizes his length to disrupt the passing lanes, and can overwhelm opponents when he’s locked in on-ball.
Throw in the fact that Walker can space the floor with his jump shot, and he could be an excellent player to develop alongside Frank Ntilikina.
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?