Knicks Draft Profile: LSU guard Skylar Mays

Skylar Mays: Fit with the Knicks

Positional versatility and shooting are Mays’ most attractive skills when he steps on an NBA court on day one. Add to that, this past season Mays finished within the 98th percentile in points per possession as a pick-and-roll ball-handler. This type of skillset is always in vogue, and especially on a team like the Knicks, who finished at the bottom of the league in efficiency categories, as it relates to shooting and playmaking.

I previously touched on Mays’ GPA, but it’s no small accomplishment to finish the last two years of your college career as an Academic All-American, but that’s what Mays did. All reports show that Mays is a high-character guy, his intelligence is certainly there, so adding another player like this to the Knicks’ roster goes a long way towards building a culture.

Moreover, chasing VanVleet in free agency will cost the orange and blue over $20 million in annual salary over multiple years. The current Toronto Raptor has not been shy about his desire to get paid this offseason, and if the Knicks are going to pry VanVleet away from a team two years removed from an NBA championship, that’s exactly what they’re going to need to do.

For my money, i’d rather draft Mays, trust my coaching staff and player development, and error on the side of cautious optimism. Skylar Mays is not a lottery talent, but his impact on winning might be worth more in the long run.