The New York Knicks have serious interest in 2018 NBA Draft prospect Michael Porter Jr. He could realistically fall to the Knicks in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Members of the New York Knicks’ front office will be heading to Chicago on Friday to work out Michael Porter Jr. Due to a back injury that plagued Porter throughout his freshman season, it’s unclear where he will fall in the draft.
At the NBA combine, however, Porter met with the Knicks and indicated that he would definitely be interested in playing in the Big Apple. He said, per the New York Post:
"“I loved meeting with them…They had me as the No. 1 player in high school, but I didn’t even feel I was at 100%.”"
Clearly, the Knicks would love to bring this dynamic scorer aboard. The question is: Will he even be around for the Knicks to select him at No. 9 overall?
Before Porter’s injury, many had him slated as the best prospect in this year’s draft. At 6’11”, some have even compared him to Kevin Durant for his length and ability to knock down shots from anywhere on the court.
Unfortunately, NBA teams have struggled to get an accurate read on Porter given that he was limited to only 3 games with the Missouri Tigers last season.
From the Knicks’ standpoint, they have to be convinced his health won’t be a concern. While he expressed to reporters that he feels 100 percent and is ready to show teams that he is the best player in the draft, additional steps must be taken to ensure his health won’t be a problem at the next level.
All indications are pointing to the Knicks drafting a forward in the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21. Although there are rumblings of the Knicks being interested in guards like Trae Young or Collin Sexton, it seems as though the team is set on filling their holes along the wings.
So far, the team has been linked to other forwards in the Draft, including Miles Bridges, Mikal Bridges, and Kevin Knox. While these all may be viable, solid picks, they don’t have the upside or star potential that Michael Porter Jr. has.
If healthy, Porter has a chance to be the next great superstar in the NBA—and one that can propel the Knicks to title contention.
That is why him falling in the 2018 NBA Draft may be a blessing in disguise. Teams at the top of the board may be too timid to waste a quality pick on a player with glaring health questions.
If he continues to fall towards the back-end of the lottery, the New York Knicks may be in a perfect position to snag him. A young trio of Frank Ntilikina, Kristaps Porzingis, and Porter may be just what desperate fans have been waiting for.
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All questions about Porter’s health will surely be answered in the coming weeks. His storyline is certainly one to keep an eye on as we inch closer to Draft day.