Why the New York Knicks shouldn’t undervalue the top big men in the NBA Draft.
As the draft is quickly approaching, the New York Knicks have been linked to almost every player expected to go in the top 10, even the two centers, James Wiseman and Onyeka Okongwu. But those rumors haven’t been taken seriously since the New York’s most promising young player, Mitchell Robinson, plays the same position.
But for as much as I love Mitch, the Knicks can’t afford to leave any stone unturned. As mentioned in my finding the outliners article, New York needs to draft the best player available, regardless of position, especially if that player is clearly better than the other prospects available when it’s their turn to pick.
If the Knicks draft a center, they can then trade Robinson to acquire a point guard, outside shooter, or stretch 4. This scenario appears unlikely because Robinson is one of the few homegrown players the Knicks have had in the past 35 years.
However, it needs to be explored because history has shown us that most drafts produce less than a handful of All-Stars. Plus, there is going to be a bidding war among the championship caliber teams for an athletic big man.
Why would the Knicks entertain the idea of trading Mitchell Robinson to draft either a player like Onyeka Okongwu? Let’s discuss.
A New Era for Big Men
We just witnessed the changing of the guard in the NBA during the Finals. While LeBron has received most of the coverage, the reality is that he is not the best player in the NBA anymore, or for that fact, on his own team.
That title belongs to Anthony Davis, the true modern-day big man. All the teams considered contenders, with the exception of the Miami Heat, are in need of a big man that can cover Davis. Even the Heat, who have Bam Adebayo, needed someone else to help cover Davis for stretches of the Finals games. So you best believe that the Warriors, Celtics, Nuggets and Clippers will be looking to add an athletic big man for the 2020-21 campaign.
Don’t be fooled, the Warriors will include the 2nd overall pick in the draft in a trade package for Mitchell Robinson since that would greatly increase their chances of getting past the Lakers.
But the question would remain is it worth the risk?
While Wiseman is taller and is perceived to have a higher ceiling, Okongwu is the surer bet. After playing a full season of college basketball, most experts believe he can come in to contribute in the NBA right away.
ESPN draft expert Mike Schmitz said Okongwu is “one of the best 19-year-old pick-and-roll defenders” that he has ever evaluated and identifies his defensive versatility as the quality that gives him “an incredibly high floor” and a clear role early. That is why most experts have him rated right there with the top players in the draft. The only issue with Okongwu is the position he plays.
The center position has been marginalized in the NBA due to the Money Ball / Analytics movement. Unless you’re a center who can shoot threes, it is hard to be viewed as a potential franchise player.
The modern NBA center is now viewed in a similar fashion to the NFL running back—a position that went from being the face of the sport to one now viewed as one of the least valuable. However, in basketball, one player has a greater impact on the game than in football. In basketball it is hard to find great two-way players, so devaluing them because of position is a big mistake.
Making the case for Okongwu
While Onyeka Okongwu wasn’t a threat from the outside, attempting a total of four 3-pointers in his lone season at USC, he showed he was capable of doing everything else you would want from a modern-day center.
He has been compared to Bam Adebayo due to his size and ability, which is high praise. He was a 5-star recruit coming out of Chino Hills High School where he played with all three Ball brothers. He was so good that in his junior season the coach decided to make him the focal point of the offense, not LaMelo Ball. That is why LaMelo’s dad, Lavar Ball, took him out of school.
Okongwu was named Mr. Basketball for the state of California twice, one of only five players to ever accomplish that honor. He also led a Ball-less Chino Hills team to the state championship.
The kid is a winner and a grinder. When asked to describe himself, he note that he is defensive player, first. He loves getting after it on that side of the court. Aside from being a great pick-and-roll defender, he is also a great rim protector. He average over 5 blocks per 100 possessions at USC.
On the offensive side of the ball, he is an effective rim runner and has a good post game. While his outside shot needs work, he did shoot 72 percent from the free throw line, which is usually a good indicator of whether a player will develop into a good outside shooter.
As stated earlier, I, like most Knick fans, love Mitch and don’t think the team would trade him. But it has to be considered, especially as the Knicks need to decide what kind of financial commitment they are willing to make to him long-term.
If the Knicks don’t think Robinson will be worth the price tag, then they need to move him. If that is the case, then Okongwu looks like the right player to replace him. He has Thibs’ culture written all over him and fits the new era of basketball we are entering, the age of AD (Anthony Davis).