NY Knicks: 5 Players they may trade up for in the 2021 NBA Draft
By Adam Kester
NY Knicks NBA Draft: Josh Giddey could add a new dimension to the team
My initial thoughts on the 18-year-old Josh Giddey joining the NY Knicks is that it’s not a perfect fit. Yet when I think about the ways in which he could mesh with the team’s 2nd unit, he becomes a lot more intriguing.
Giddey is a draft favorite of some – he brings a really extensive skillset to the game. The 6’8 Australian won’t be 19 years old until October.
Giddey is absolutely one of the best passers in the draft. A ball-handling point-forward, Giddey has terrific instincts of where his teammates are going to be. He’s capable of some really high-level passing.
Giddey is a pick-and-operator, and while his passing gets all the glory, he’s flashed some scoring ability as well.
The main thing is just how much Thibodeau would trust the youngin’ early on. I have a hard time seeing him in the starting lineup alongside Barrett and Randle… for now.
What would make Giddey so exciting early on is if he got run with the 2nd unit. Thibodeau could deploy some really fun lineups featuring Giddey, Quickley, Toppin, and Vildoza that could continue the blitzing style of basketball that the team’s bench played this past season.
Giddey has a very high ceiling. He’s shown a level of feel for the game and offensive awareness that few players his age have, so if he can continue to grow physically, the Knicks could be looking at a really special talent. Not many wing prospects can run a pick & roll like Giddey.
His potential as a ball-handler could create a trio of Knicks perimeter players with multi-faceted games. Barrett-Giddey-Randle… It could be a nightmare to defend.