Despite the ire they may receive for their selection of Kevin Knox, the New York Knicks deserve the fans’ trust that they made the right pick.
New York Knicks fans were once again unhappy with their team’s first-round selection in the 2018 NBA Draft. It wasn’t necessarily who they picked in Kentucky forward Kevin Knox, rather who they didn’t select in Missouri forward Michael Porter Jr. that had fans booing before Knox even got to the stage.
There’s some validity to the rage. After all, Porter was projected to be a top selection before the season began, and was derailed only by back surgery that forced him to miss most of the year.
Should his back troubles be behind him, MPJ has All-Star level potential, which the Knicks let pass them by.
Denver Nuggets taking Michael Porter Jr. with the 14th pick, per source. Still feel he’s the second most-talented player in the draft, but tumbled due to concerns about the back.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 22, 2018
Heres the question, though: Porter may have been the sexy pick for New York, but would he have been the right one?
Back injuries are no joke, especially for someone who’s only 19 years of age. That could become a reoccurring injury, one that limits Porter’s ability to remain healthy for years to come. There are already talks of him sitting out his rookie season.
That doesn’t scream longevity.
Knox may not have the same fame of his draft counterpart, but he has the tools to become a great player in the NBA. Standing 6’9″ with a near 7’0″ wingspan, Knox flashes tremendous potential on the defensive end, and he should be able to rotate between the forward spots and still thrive.
He shot just over 34 percent on threes this past season, which isn’t great, but offers a good starting point for an incoming rookie.
Given his length and athleticism, Knox could very well thrive in transition and as a scorer—something New York desperately needs out on the wing.
For years, the Knicks have been criticized for choosing style over substance, and now, when they decide to do the opposite, the fans still aren’t happy?
This isn’t Phil Jackson running the team—a guy who was criticized for seemingly not putting in the work necessary to run a franchise. Scott Perry and Steve Mills have spent months prepping for the 2018 NBA Draft and doing all the research necessary in order to make the right pick.
Porter may realize his potential as a great scorer in the NBA, but even if he does, do Knick fans want a one-dimensional scorer who does little else? They’ve gone through that experience with Carmelo Anthony.
It didn’t end well.
What if New York had selected MPJ, only to see him turn into the next Greg Oden: Capable of greatness, but never healthy enough to get on the court?
Fans would then lament the front office for not doing their due diligence in tracking Porter’s. medical history.
Woj reported on ESPN that a number of NBA teams saw a medical this past week on Michael Porter Jr. that gave teams pause.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) June 21, 2018
Based on his stature and potential, it would have been cool to see Michael Porter Jr. play for the Knicks, but since they’ve become the head decision makers, both Perry and Mills have done nothing but steer the franchise in the right direction.
They’ve earned the right to be trusted with whomever they pick.
Must Read: Five reasons to love the Kevin Knox pick
The least New York Knicks fans can do is wait until Knox gets on the court before coming to a conclusion about his talent—something they also failed to do with a certain Unicorn.