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New York Knicks: 2019 NBA Draft rankings and stats 2.0

By Rob Wolkenbrod

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots a free throw during the first half of the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots a free throw during the first half of the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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Gonzaga Rui Hachimura (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Gonzaga Rui Hachimura (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

8. Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga

Previous rank: 8th
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-8
Stats: 21.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 0.7 3PM, 60 percent shooting

Everyone awaited Rui Hachimura’s breakout season with Gonzaga. He was set to move off the bench and become the school’s basketball star, and that has indeed happened.

Hachimura was terrific in his first five games, but he spearheaded the upset effort to topple Duke in the Maui Invitational, with 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

Hachimura has the physical profile of a classic power forward: 6-foot-8 height and 7-foot-2 wingspan. In an evolving NBA, though, this will allow him to also play center and small forward, if his outside shot develops.

Amazingly, this has been done with little previous basketball experience. Hachimura has the upside to take off beyond these stats, and it makes him maybe the draft’s most fascinating prospects for not just the New York Knicks, but anyone potentially in the lottery.

7. Romeo Langford, Indiana

Previous rank: 5th
Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-foot-6
Stats: 18.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 1.0 3PM, 52 percent shooting, 26.1 percent on three-pointers

Romeo Langford’s draft hype started with his 6-foot-6 height and 6-foot-11 wingspan. It paints an intriguing physical profile and on defense, but what about his offensive game?

Langford was hyped for his scoring profile. So far, he has shown the ability to get to the hoop, but the three-point shooting remains an inconsistent part of his game. The frosh takes 3.8 attempts per game and makes just 1.0 of them.

If his shooting develops, Langford is a bonafide lottery pick. If not, he will tumble past the New York Knicks and other teams’ draft boards.

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