NY Knicks: Hindsight is 20/20
You heard a lot of the pundits in the media say the Knicks should have drafted Tyrese Haliburton instead of Obi Toppin with the 8th pick. But my argument is that you have to look at both 1st rounds picks in tandem. The player taken with the 8th pick had to be able to play with Quickley since there wasn’t a better player than him selected after him. So let’s look at the players selected after Obi Toppin and before Quickley.
9. Deni Avdija : doesn’t fit with Mitch and Julius
10. Jalen Smith : hasn’t played well, doesn’t fit with Mitch and Julius
11. Devin Vassell : would get limited playing time because of Burks and Bullock
12. Tyrese Haliburton : can’t play with Quickley
13. Kira Lewis Jr. : can’t play with Quickley
14. Aaron Nesmith : hasn’t played much
15. Cole Anthony : can’t play with Quickley
16. Isaiah Stewart : doesn’t fit with Mitch and Julius
17. Aleksej Pokusevski : good fit
18. Josh Green : hasn’t been played much
19. Saddiq Bey : maybe
20. Precious Achiuwa : doesn’t fit with Mitch and Julius
21. Tyrese Maxey : can’t play with Quickley at NBA level
22. Seke Nnaji : doesn’t fit with Mitch and Julius
23. Leandro Bolmaro : playing in Europe
24. R.J. Hampton : can’t play with Quickley
Out of the 16 players taken between the 9th and 24th picks, many have shown promise. Some of the best players selected are ball handlers: Haliburton, Anthony, and Maxey. However, none of the three have shown to be clearly better than Quickley or that they can play alongside him.
The NY Knicks are at their best when they get good play from Quickley and Burks, who have the highest plus/minus rating of rating (+6.3), to compliment Randle and Barrett. That is because Quickley and Burks stretch the floor and get to the basket, one thing Obi doesn’t do.