New York Knicks: How the top 2019 NBA Draft prospects fit
With a likely top pick for the New York Knicks in the 2019 NBA Draft, how well do the marquee prospects fit into the current team?
The New York Knicks have 13 games remaining in the 2018-19 season, and it can’t end soon enough. With the NBA’s worst record and few pieces to remain excited about, this team has been in freefall since the 18-game losing streak started earlier this campaign.
The silver lining is the draft, however, as the Knicks project to one at least a top-five pick. That happens before July’s unpredictable free agency, which will feature some of the NBA’s top talents enter the open market.
A top prospect will join New York, pending they keep this pick, and partake in the 2019-20 campaign and beyond. It could be a postseason team, as well, pending the players that arrive this summer.
How do the prospects fit into the current team and the potential players that may sign in July Let’s take a look:
Nassir Little, UNC
Age: 19
Height, Weight: 6-foot-6, 215 pounds
Slash Line: .468/.283/.774
Season Averages: 9.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 0.4 3PM
Nassir Little was once grouped with the Duke stars and others. His spot near the top of the nation’s recruiting list brought unquestioned hype, and North Carolina as the commitment destination helped the 19-year-old’s stock on brand name alone.
The numbers have not followed, due to limited playing time in head coach Roy Williams’ rotation. He has a veteran team, and Little may have started on almost any other college basketball team.
Even with that, Little still projects as a top-10 pick. His size, 7-foot wingspan and athleticism offer intriguing defensive potential. The offensive upside has shown in glimpses and is one of the few attributes missing from this physically-regarded prospect’s game.
On the New York Knicks, Little can slide into the middle of the lineup, next to the porous defender Kevin Knox is. That can supplement the team’s backcourt scorers, who currently are more offensive-minded than the other way around.
Any kind of defensive improvement on the wing is important for this Knicks team, but there are also scoring questions that accompany this, a la when Frank Ntilikina entered the NBA with physical upside and doubt on offense.
Little is not Ntilikina, though. He’s scored in double-digit points on more than 10 occasions this season and is more athletic than the sophomore Knicks guard. They match is body type and defensive acumen, which is fine, but there should be more confidence in the Tar Heel freshman’s game, given what he’s also done in limited time. Can he become the outside shooter New York needs?