Knicks Draft: 4 combo guards to consider in first round
By Adam Kester
In an NBA Draft class filled with shooters, a combo guard would make a lot of sense for the New York Knicks.
The New York Knicks have a lot of work to do if they want to become a competitive team again. The first step in constructing a revamped roster? The 2020 NBA Draft.
It has been well documented that this draft is shrouded in mystery. Meaning, there is no clear consensus of where most players will land. It may seem that way every year, but there have been plenty of factors for this bizarre 2020 draft.
Even before Covid-19 halted play, this draft was projected as a weaker class, with a lot of role players and projects. The shortened season meant less prospect film to study, which has further muddied this draft class’ outlook.
Looking at where the Knicks stand coming into the draft, the list of deficiencies with the team’s play in 2019-20 is long. On offense, they severely lacked floor spacing, shooting, and playmaking. It was a dysfunctional offense.
One way to potentially give the Knicks’ offense some life would be to select a combo guard with the 8th pick in the upcoming draft.
The term “combo guard” is pretty vague. Generally, it means a guard who possesses both point guard and shooting guard skills but does not necessarily fit the typical mold of either position. It’s a term that gets tossed around a lot, but it can certainly be applied to a ton of today’s NBA players.
Drafting a combo guard this year keeps the Knicks flexible in their roster construction, and it keeps the pressure off whomever they choose to draft. They won’t be forced to run the offense right out of the gate, and they won’t get buried on the depth chart.
Let’s look at some of the combo guard options the Knicks may want to consider in the 2020 NBA Draft.