New York Knicks: Five alternatives to Zion Williamson in 2019 NBA Draft

1. RJ Barrett

Slash Line: .450/.331/.690
Stat Line: 23.1 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 4.0 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG

For a hot second, RJ Barrett was seen as this class’s best player. Maybe he still holds that position in some viewers’ minds, but that title mostly went to Zion Williamson the moment this Duke team started preseason action.

That’s not to scoff at Barrett’s ability at all. In fact, for now, he’s a better scorer than his superstar teammate.

The Canadian freshman started this season erratically from the field, showcasing inconsistent shooting on three-pointers. That blip helped Williamson’s rise, but Barrett moved back to prominence to hold the second or third spot on draft boards, making 36.8 percent of his outside shots since Feb. 1 while adding 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

There’s still top scorer upside for Barrett on any team he joins. Even the New York Knicks. That may come in a more appropriate secondary role, however, as he learns the NBA and the unnecessary need to remain the alpha from the get-go.

If the Knicks land second, this could be their pick. Barrett’s upside is of a 20-point scorer, standing at 6-foot-7, with a 6-foot-10 wingspan that helps his defensive case.

This might be the definitive player that either follows Williamson at No. 2 or falls as low as third. So if the Knicks like Barrett but land fourth or below, they might have to look elsewhere.