New York Knicks: 2019 NBA Mock Draft, Sweet 16 edition

Age: 19
Height, Weight: 7-foot-2, 235 pounds
Slash Line: .561/.520/.757
Season Averages: 21.0 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.7 BPG, 1.4 3PM

Bol Bol entered the 2018-19 season as maybe college basketball’s most intriguing big-man prospect. The son of the legendary Manute Bol, the younger Bol brought similar physical traits to the basketball court, with the extra ability to shoot three-pointers.

However, like Joel Embiid in 2014, Bol suffered a season-ending injury before he could finish his freshman season. For a player at that height, especially with a foot ailment, it is a concern. How much, though will depend on the team that gambles on his recovery and potential.

Bol was not set to become the NBA’s most athletic center before the foot injury, but his mobility will come into question. An interested team can only wait and see where he is by the summer and even provide him the Michael Porter Jr. treatment: sitting out the entire season.

How appealing will that be to the New Orleans Pelicans? That’s unknown, but with Anthony Davis out at season’s end, this team’s future is murky at best, aside from Jrue Holiday, pending he willingly stays. If a long-term rebuild is in play, they can risk a player, like Bol. There is also the case for taking a player that impacts the team immediately, but a return package from the Boston Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers will provide NBA-caliber talents to off-set that.

If anything, if the Pelicans wanted Bol, they can move down a slot or two. The risk is high, but so is the reward.

With Mitchell Robinson, the New York Knicks don’t need another center, including one with the concerns Bol has.