Knicks Rumors: NY ‘collecting a ton of information’ on Devin Vassell
The New York Knicks appear to be intrigued by Florida State’s Devin Vassell.
The New York Knicks could go in a variety of directions with their 8th overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, but according to a recent report, the team is collecting “a ton” of information on Florida State’s Devin Vassell.
What this means: Ian Begley of SNY reported back in August that Vassell “has some fans at Madison Square Garden.” It’s unclear if those “fans” are key decision-makers in the front office. However, Begley’s most recent report reveals the team is clearly doing their homework on the 20-year-old wing.
Of course, as Begley notes in his article, the Knicks have been collecting intel on several prospects. As the pandemic has limited how teams can prepare for the draft, a process that has become almost entirely remote, scouting departments are forced to get creative in researching potential draft targets.
An option at 8: The Knicks have three picks in the upcoming draft—8th, 27th, and 38th. It is believed the team is looking for playmaking and shooting. With Tom Thibodeau calling the shots along the sideline, finding a player who is committed to defense might be another priority.
Vassell projects as a 3-and-D player who could check off a lot of boxes for the Knicks. The 6-foot-7 wing allowed only 0.50 points per isolation possession, per Synergy tracking data. Meanwhile, he knocked down 41.7 percent of his threes over his two seasons in college, remaining consistent in his accuracy while attempting 1.6 more threes per game this past season compared to his Freshman year.
The draft is fast approaching: After being sidelined since mid-March due to the coronavirus shutdown, the Knicks will finally participate in an official NBA event on November 18th when the league holds its annual draft virtually from Bristol, Connecticut. The offseason could pick up in breakneck speed at that point, as their are rumors the 2020-21 season could begin as soon as December 22.
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Besides Vassell, the Knicks have been linked to lottery prospects Isaac Okoro, Killian Hayes, Kira Lewis Jr., and Tyrese Haliburton, to name a few.