Could LSU’s Skylar Mays give the New York Knicks everything they would be hoping to get in free agent Fred VanVleet?
With less than a week left until the NBA draft, the New York Knicks are gathering as much intel as possible on this year’s crop of prospects. As the orange and blue attempt to build a competitive roster for next season, there has been no shortage of rumors linking the Knicks to restricted free-agent Fred VanVleet. A smart, savvy guard, with the ability to run the offense and play off the ball, his services will come at a steep price.
But the Knicks might be able to draft VanVleet’s protégé in LSU’s point guard Skylar Mays.
Mays is six-foot-four with a six-foot-seven wingspan and has the frame to play through contact. A two-time All-SEC selection, Mays improved his scoring numbers every season at Baton Rouge, eventually averaging over 16 points per game during his senior year, while shooting almost 50 percent from the field and over 85 percent from the line.
Mays has been compared to guards like Malcolm Brogdon, DJ Augustin, and VanVleet. Even if the Knicks manage to find their point guard of the future with their first two picks (8, 27) Mays’ versatility as a catch-and-shoot threat can provide positional flexibility going forward.
Mays may not have the athleticism or handle to excite a crowd, but he’s a productive player with a winning mentality. He even posted a 3.93 GPA while studying Kinesiology at LSU.
Let’s review his strengths, weaknesses, and fit the Knicks.