New York Knicks: If Trae Young falls to No. 9, should NYK take him?

Trae Young is a rumored target for the New York Knicks. If he falls to the ninth selection in the 2018 NBA Draft, should the Knicks take him?

The New York Knicks recently secured a workout with 2018 NBA Draft prospect Trae Young. Speculation over a possible match between the sharpshooting point guard and the team has stemmed from the hope that other squads pass on Young, as the Knicks currently hold the ninth overall selection.

Young may fall to the Knicks, but if he does, a question beckons: Should they take him?

Acquiring a quality point guard in the NBA has for a long time been considered a necessity for constructing a title contender. The position is comparable to a team’s quarterback, as the holder is tasked with initiating the offense and setting up teammates.

The value of such skills has made the Knicks’ recent lack of ideal point guard play a key factor in the team’s inability to reach the postseason, therefore making the search for a top-tier floor general a significant concern.

The breakdown of Young’s game portrays him as a player with the ability to be a threat in modern-day three-point heavy offenses, as well as an advanced passer capable of improving his teammates.

These skills seem to make him a compatible option for the Knicks in their search for adequate point guard play.

Why Not?

The current NBA has placed a high value on a certain type of player; one who possesses the body to guard a big man, the shooting stroke to space the floor, and the quickness to create mismatches for opposing defenses.

While Young may have a rare set of abilities, the league has moved from a game of fundamentals to a battle of superior athleticism.

For a team that’s been disappointed by its return on decisions made with outdated logic, selecting a smaller, less athletic player may be a foolish example of an inability to learn from previous mistakes.

The Knicks have seemingly accepted a full-on rebuild; a process long overdue. Selecting a flashy star like Young, a player whose game subsists on a New York degree of attention, would be a move of instant gratification for an organization that recently embraced success through patience.

Young may develop into the engine of an NBA franchise, with the ability to command an offense similar to his common NBA comparison: Stephen Curry.

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Yet while missing out on the original Curry stung for the New York Knicks, selecting a bust who boasts a similar skillset would burn for a team attempting to escape the ill-advised choices of previous decision makers.