New York Knicks: 2019 NBA Mock Draft, Sweet 16 edition
player. 20. . SG. Virginia Tech. nickeil Walker-Alexander. 10
Age: 20
Height, Weight: 6-foot-5, 205 pounds
Slash Line: .478/.380/.775
Season Averages: 16.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 1.7 3PM
Nickeil Walker-Alexander, the cousin of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, closes the top 10 as one of this class’s top shooting guards. He led Virginia Tech to the Sweet 16, but with Duke ahead, tests are ahead for this sophomore star.
2018-19 has provided a winning situation for Walker-Alexander, but in this scenario, he joins the downward-trending Los Angeles Lakers at 10th overall.
Who knows if this pick will belong to Los Angeles on draft night? With their roster questions around LeBron James and the possibility of a superstar arriving via trade, including a lottery pick for whoever it is, seems reasonable, whether for Anthony Davis or someone else.
Maybe the Lakers keep it and sign star free agents. If so, Walker-Alexander brings the much-needed outside shooting the front office failed to sign and traded for too late, with Reggie Bullock and Mike Muscala arriving for a meaningless late-season run.
Walker-Alexander can spot-up for LeBron and provide some of what surrounded him in Cleveland, when JR Smith, Kyle Korver and others flanked him. That’s along with the wingspan to become a solid perimeter defender.
The New York Knicks need a backcourt player with a defensive mindset and some shooting ability. Walker-Alexander fits that, but not as high as where New York will pick.