Cole Anthony, North Carolina Tar Heels
The New York Knicks will have to make an ideological decision before investing in talent at the point guard position. It isn’t necessarily a flawed approach to want two scoring guards in the same backcourt, but the team must be committed to building a system that incorporates their talents.
If the team is in fact interested in acquiring a second scorer at guard, then North Carolina Tar Heels star Cole Anthony may be the best option on the board.
Anthony has a tight handle, a strong first step, and unwavering confidence in his abilities. There are times at which Anthony’s game needs to be reeled in a bit, but that’s something that the right coach should be able to do with him or any other player.
Anthony aggressively drives to the rim, believes in his ability to knock down pull-up jump shots, and has legitimate range on his three-point shot.
Consistency will be key for Anthony, but playing alongside RJ Barrett could simplify the game for him. At North Carolina, Anthony was often viewed as a one-man show who had to put the team on his back, rather than a key function of a grander scheme.
Anthony will need to improve his shot selection and prove that he can create for others, as well as himself, but he’s an explosive scorer with the tools to make an impact on Day 1.
On the Knicks’ end, however, they’ll need to definitively know how it is he fits into the equation before making the selection.