Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: Top 5 centers in the 2018 NBA Draft

By Maxwell Ogden

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 23: Wendell Carter Jr #34 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots the ball against the Syracuse Orange during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - MARCH 23: Wendell Carter Jr #34 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots the ball against the Syracuse Orange during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
SAN ANTONIO, TX – MARCH 31: Omari Spellman #14 of the Villanova Wildcats dunks against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four semifinal game at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – MARCH 31: Omari Spellman #14 of the Villanova Wildcats dunks against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four semifinal game at the Alamodome on March 31, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

Age: 20 (7/21/1997)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’9.25″, 254 pounds, 7’2″
Slash Line: .476/.433/.700
Season Averages: 28.1 MPG, 10.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.3 ORPG, 0.8 APG, 1.5 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 1.6 3PM

The Villanova Wildcats have received mountains of praise for winning two championships in three seasons. Yet, as the 2018 NBA Draft nears, it appears as though there’s a prospect whose contributions are being undervalued: Omari Spellman.

In the event that Spellman lasts until Round 2, the New York Knicks shouldn’t be afraid to take a chance on one of the most promising talents in this draft class.

Some are concerned about Spellman’s body fat percentage, but it’s worth noting that he’s already lost 36 pounds, going from 290 to 254. That’s a testament to his work ethic, which is reason enough for the Knicks to give him a look.

It also elevates the level of intrigue in terms of the player whom Spellman is patterning himself after: Draymond Green, who also lost significant weight when he entered the NBA.

Spellman is currently a stretch big who can shoot with three-point range and both rebound and defend at respectable levels. He believes that his passing was underutilized in college, however, which certainly lends credence to the Green comparison.

If the Knicks believe in Spellman’s work ethic, then he should be the top target with the second-round draft pick that Scott Perry has at his disposal.

Home/Knicks Draft