New York Knicks: 2019 NBA Draft targets worth trading into first round for
If the New York Knicks acquire another first-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, potentially between picks 20-to-30, who is worth selecting?
The New York Knicks will own a top-five pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Owning the League’s worst record guaranteed this, after a 17-65 season. They have a 14 percent chance at selecting Zion Williamson, pending the lottery ends in their favor. If not, Ja Morant, RJ Barrett, De’Andre Hunter and Jarrett Culver are among the players afterward.
New York also owns a second-round pick, but it sits 55th overall and not their own. That is due to a 2014 trade that lowered the luxury tax by trading this pick, a 2018 second-round pick and Travis Outlaw to the Philadelphia 76ers for Arnett Moultrie, who was waived.
The 32nd overall pick in 2019, it belongs to the crosstown Brooklyn Nets. It leaves a long gap between selections for the Knicks, and they can potentially find an impact player somewhere in the middle, including the end of the first round.
If the Knicks move someone like Frank Ntilikina, can they seek a late first-round pick? If so, there are intriguing talents to add to the 2019-20 roster and continue the rebuild.
Age: 19
Height, Weight: 6-foot-5, 195 pounds
Slash Line: .462/.355/.935
Season Averages: 14.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.6 3PM
Tyler Herro was among a trio of Kentucky standouts to enter the 2019 NBA Draft, with PJ Washington and Keldon Johnson as the others. He shot the ball from deep well, had a good overall shooting percentage and made free throws at a 93.5 percent clip.
The shooting numbers will make Herro a mid-to-late first-round pick at least, as he is the typical shooting guard that still plays into the modern-day NBA. They may only rise, as well, at just age 19 and ample room to grow.
There is likely limited versatility from Herro, who has a 6-foot-5 wingspan. It is similar to Virginia’s Ty Jerome, but the Wildcats’ freshman is more athletic.
Is Herro quick enough to defend, though? His wingspan is short, so he might struggle to stay in front of NBA guards.
Ball handling is an issue, as well, referring to the versatility, and leaves him as a shooting guard. That can work, but in a bench role to spread the floor.
Issues aside, the New York Knicks need outside shooting, and if they like Herro enough, he makes sense as a late first-round pick to supplement whoever fills the backcourt in 2019-20. The Knicks sorely needed players like that, even in a reserve role as the ninth or 10th man. If players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving sign, that will only make this pick fit better to open the floor for those stars.