New York Knicks: 4 draft prospects using Kenny Payne’s insight

Kenny Payne can make an early impact on the New York Knicks in the upcoming draft.

Most New York Knicks fans have been obsessed with LaMelo Ball since highlights of his games in the Australian league started circulating the internet.

While the Knicks do need a true point guard that thinks pass first, the real priority is getting a player that can break down a defense and provide the gravity necessary to generate offense. Most teams rely on their primary ballhander to do that, but all that matters is that there is at least one player on the court with that ability.

There are real concerns about the top two point guard prospects in this year’s draft class. Neither LaMelo Ball nor Killian Hayes have athleticism that is considered elite and neither are great at getting to the rim. There are also concerns on the defensive end.

That is why drafting a wing player might make more sense. Below are some players that I was intrigued by, but dismissed before because I didn’t think they were a good fit.

However, now that Kenny Payne is on the staff, my thinking has changed. With the limited access to scout prospects this year because of COVID-19, it would make sense to focus on players the Knicks are most familiar with, which means players Kenny Payne knows first hand from the SEC.

We will look at 4 of them: Anthony Edwards, Isaac Okoro, Tyrese Maxey and Kira Lewis Jr..

1) Knicks Draft Targets: Anthony Edwards

Edwards is projected to be a top 2 pick, so the chances of the Knicks drafting him are small. However, if the Knicks do beat the odds (9%), you would have to strongly consider taking him.

He has the highest upside of any player in the draft, as he is an athletic freak. His biggest issues appear to be between the ears. His effort and shot selection are concerning. That could be a byproduct of being at Georgia, which is not an elite program.

If he was surrounded by other great players at a program with higher expectations, the effort and focus might have been different. You figure that those maturity issues would have been nipped in the bud at Kentucky. The real question is does Kenny Payne think he can connected with this kid?  If so, then his selection is a no-brainer.

Edwards would allow Knicks to play Frank at the point, let RJ settle into the role of secondary shot creator which he is better suited for and would create more quality kick-out shots for the outside shooters.

2) Knicks Draft Targets: Isaac Okoro

If the Knicks don’t move up in the draft, an intriguing prospect to consider is Okoro. He is built like a tank and gives off a 90’s Knicks vibe. Maybe it’s because he conjures up memories of past frontcourt enforcers: Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason and Larry Johnson.

Okoro would be a player Coach Thibodeau would love. He is a beast on defense, can cover almost every position on a switch. He also is a winner, does a lot of things that don’t show up on the box score.

The main concern with Okoro is his offense, most notably his outside shooting, only connecting on 29% on 3-pointers this past season. If Kenny Payne believes Okoro can become effective enough on offense to take keep defenses honest then he could be key to making the Knicks an elite defensive team.

3) Knicks Draft Targets: Tyrese Maxey

This is a player I personally liked, but felt was not a good fit for the Knicks. He is an undersized shooting guard that isn’t an elite athlete and is not great at getting to the rim. He also shot only 29% on 3-pointers this past season. However, he has that “it” factor and Kenny Payne cannot stop raving about Maxey.

If the Knicks are willing to trade into the middle of the 1st round, then he could be a steal.

Knicks Draft Targets: Kira Lewis Jr.

This is another player that jumps off the television screen. He has abilities that you simply can’t teach. Edwards is the most athletic player, Okoro is the strongest, but Lewis is the fastest.

There is a saying that speed kills and that is what makes Lewis such an appealing prospect. Even though he played two seasons at Alabama, he is still young, turning 19-years-old in April.

Lewis is raw and still needs to develop physically, but historically players with his potential tend to get picked higher in the draft than expected.

If Kenny Payne believes in this kid, then the Knicks might finally have the point guard they have been seeking for the better part of the 21st century.