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New York Knicks: Evaluating the upsides of Noah Vonleh and Mario Hezonja

By Spencer Dempewolf

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 23: Mario Hezonja #8 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 23, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 23: Mario Hezonja #8 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 23, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA,PA – FEBRUARY 24 : Mario Hezonja #8 of the Orlando Magic goes up for the dunk against Philadelphia 76ers during game at the Wells Fargo Center on February 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA – FEBRUARY 24 : Mario Hezonja #8 of the Orlando Magic goes up for the dunk against Philadelphia 76ers during game at the Wells Fargo Center on February 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Noah Vonleh and Mario Hezonja were the highlights of the free agency period for the New York Knicks. The former lottery picks still have unfulfilled potential.

The New York Knicks have remained true to their goal of signing players to short-term deals this offseason, as their two major signings have been inking former top-10 draft picks Noah Vonleh and Mario Hezonja to one-year deals.

Vonleh, the ninth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, will join his fourth team in five years in the Association. He’s produced underwhelming averages of 4.1 points and 4.7 rebounds through his first four seasons.

Hezonja was drafted via the pick that directly followed Kristaps Porzingis in the 2015 NBA Draft. With the Orlando Magic, he posted averages of 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists through three seasons.

It’s obvious that both players have yet to reach their fullest potential thus far, but the Knicks’ front office didn’t sign them for the players that they are today.

New York signed the two former lottery picks to one-year auditions in order to give head coach David Fizdale a chance to work with the untapped upside that made both players so coveted on their respective draft nights.

It’s fairly unreasonable to believe that either of these two will suddenly turn into a superstar in New York, but what would the Knicks be getting if Hezonja and Vonleh were to utilize their untapped potential in New York?