The New York Knicks are in the talent acquisition phase. Thus, the question beckons: Who are the top five power forwards in the 2018 NBA Draft?
The New York Knicks have a positionally interchangeable franchise player in Kristaps Porzingis. It’s a strength that can’t be ignored, as the Knicks can line Porzingis up at the 4 or the 5 without much concern about whether or not he’ll be able to score or defend.
As recently hired head coach David Fizdale embraces the positionless style of the modern NBA, however, it stands to reason that Porzingis will spend more time as an unofficial 5.
Acknowledging that possibility, it would behoove the Knicks to be aware of the promising power forwards in the 2018 NBA Draft. Defining positions in the modern NBA is a tricky proposition, but even in a positionless system, roles must be filled.
For the Knicks, very few weaknesses were as glaring in 2017-18 as the non-Porzingis bigs’ inability to defend the outside shot or the pick and roll.
Daily Knicks’ positional rankings have taken two critical factors into account: Availability and fit. That will continue here, as we accept that the odds are slim, if existent at all, of Marvin Bagley III or Jaren Jackson Jr. sliding to No. 9.
The question is: With Bagley and Jackson excluded, who are the top five power forward prospects for the New York Knicks to consider in the 2018 NBA Draft?