The New York Knicks have a chance to land a solid point guard in the 2021 NBA Draft. College basketball is filled with a lot of great point guards this season. From pass-first guards to triple-double threats, the New York Knicks will have their hands full.
Currently, New York owns two first-round picks and one spot in the second round. For how well Elfrid Payton, Derrick Rose, and Immanuel Quickley have been playing, the Knicks still lack a star at the position (although Quickley is surely on the right track). It’s also a position to never take lightly – consistently having options to play point guard is one problem every team would love to have.
There are many more options than just these three PGs, but in my eyes, they all have something in particular that would resonate with New York Knicks basketball. These are three different point guards who they should prioritize.
1. Ayo Dosunmu
Dosunmu is this draft’s Ja Morant. He’s explosive, quick, has an underrated three-point shot, and will bring star power to whatever franchise he ends up with.
At 6-foot-5, Dosunmu has good size and can defend positions one and two. His athleticism allows him to switch on anyone and create havoc on defense, which would fit in with Tom Thibodeau’s system.
As a junior at Illinois, he’s elevated the Fighting Illini to a title contender, averaging 20.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists.
If the Knicks draft Dosunmu, he would add much-needed scoring, fit in with the defensive scheme, and have the potential to be a mid-round steal with NBA All-Star potential.
2. Cameron Thomas
Cameron Thomas has been the most unheralded freshman in college basketball this season and it’s not even funny. If the New York Knicks want a flat-out bucket, Thomas is the man for the job.
At LSU, Thomas is averaging a whopping 22.6 points along with 3.4 rebounds. He’s not a true point guard – only averaging 1.4 assists per game, but does play alongside two other playmakers in Trendon Watford and Javonte Smart.
If the Knicks are willing to take a chance on Thomas and convert him into a bigger point guard role, it could be a perfect pair. He’s as gifted a scoring as any draft prospect and has one of the biggest upsides.
3. Chris Duarte
Differing from Dosunmu and Thomas is Chris Duarte. While he can score the ball, he’s much more of a rebounder and fits into the ongoing movement of big point guards.
He has experience as both a point and shooting guard and at 6-foot-6, 190 pounds, can virtually good one through most threes.
In his second year at Oregon, Duarte’s averaging 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. He was just named an AP Third Team All American, which attributes to his star power.
Duarte is getting slept on, and if the New York Knicks can snag him in the second round, it’s a pick that could be great a few years down the line.