New York Knicks: 2018 NBA Draft prospects worth trading up for

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OMAHA, NE – MARCH 25: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts during their game against the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional Final at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

Ultimate Upside Comparison: Motivated Michael Beasley
Safe Upside Comparison: Athletic Zach Randolph
Projection: Top 3
Age: 19 (3/14/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’11”, 234 pounds, 7’0.5″
Slash Line: .614/.397/.627
Season Averages: 33.9 MPG, 21.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 4.0 ORPG, 1.5 APG, 0.9 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 3PM

The New York Knicks would have to pull out all the stops for this, but Marvin Bagley III has the potential to be special. In addition to possessing a well-rounded skill set that enables him to play inside-out, he has a motor that few in this class can rival.

If the Knicks manage to trade up for Bagley, the combination of he and Kristaps Porzingis could anchor the franchise for the next decade-plus.

Bagley plays like a motivated Michael Beasley—a sight we’ve admittedly rarely seen in the NBA. He’s all over the floor, playing with impressive quickness for a player his size and a second jump that would make a prime Carmelo Anthony proud.

That should at least enable Bagley to become an elite rebounder at the next level, which is the foundation for the persistent (thinner) Zach Randolph comparisons.

Offensively, Bagley has the instincts to be the type of player who produces upwards of 25 points per game. He needs to bulk up in order to accommodate his style of play, but he’s a skilled post scorer who can put the ball on the floor and occasionally knock down the outside shot.

Bagley, like every 19-year-old, requires polish. Outside of Deandre Ayton, however, there may not be a better combination of safety and upside than this.

Bagley would be perfect for New York’s positionless system.

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