Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State Cyclones
The New York Knicks could be looking for a player who can both create for others and score in order to fill the void at the point guard position. With RJ Barrett already slotted in at shooting guard, however, it may behoove the Knicks to find more of a playmaker than a scorer.
If that proves to be the goal, then the Knicks should spend serious time studying the film of Iowa State Cyclones point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
In terms of upside, Haliburton projects to be Elfrid Payton with a jump shot. His bread and butter will be setting the table for teammates on offense and being active in the passing lanes on defense, but his contributions should be felt in every phase of the game.
That doesn’t mean Haliburton is guaranteed to pan out, but he has a complete skill set that includes a marksman-level jump shot from the NCAA’s three-point line.
Haliburton has a thin frame that will need to fill out, but he and Barrett would create a genuinely unique backcourt. The Knicks would have two more-than-competent defenders who both stand over 6’5″, thus creating invaluable versatility as far as matchups and switching are concerned.
There are reasons to question whether or not Haliburton’s game will translate to the NBA, but if Scott Perry believes that it will, the sophomore sensation could be a steal of an acquisition.