New York Knicks: 2018 NBA Draft prospects worth trading up for
Ultimate Upside Comparison: Lamar Odom
Safe Upside Comparison: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Projection: Early Second Round
Age: 19 (4/3/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’9″, 214 pounds, 7’1″
Slash Line: .426/.000/.632
Season Averages: 5.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.3 ORPG, 1.0 APG, 0.8 BPG
There’s a realistic possibility that Jarred Vanderbilt will be available for the New York Knicks to select at No. 36 overall. One could subsequently view the opportunity to draft him further down the board as reason to cross fingers and hope he falls.
Vanderbilt is a player who would be perfect for a positionless system, however, which makes him the dream target if Courtney Lee and the No. 36 pick is enough to trade up into the 20s.
Vanderbilt is a 6’8″ hybrid forward with a 7’1″ wingspan and a strong enough handle to run the offense in transition. He can hit the open man with accurate passes and dominate the boards with both tenacity and a high basketball IQ.
His rebounding ability has been compared to that of Dennis Rodman, who won seven rebounding titles during his legendary NBA career.
Defensively, Vanderbilt has the athleticism to defend every position from 1 to 4, and the frame to fill out and be able to play as a small-ball 5. That would make him a perfect fit alongside Kristaps Porzingis, who needs an athletic complement.
Vanderbilt has an extensive history of somewhat minor injuries, but if the Knicks determine he has a clean medical bill, he’d be worth the pick.