New York Knicks Draft Strategy: Target Upperclassmen

New York Knicks: Who makes sense in the 19-21 range?

Jared Butler (JR, 9/25/99) – Come draft time, when mocks and big boards look much different than they do now, the national champion Butler might not be available. But if he is, he’d be an ideal addition for the Knicks. He can play either guard position; he’s an excellent shooter – 41.6% from 3 – however you want it (C&S, on the move, off the dribble); and he can get to the rim, which not nearly enough Knicks could do last year.  Plus he plays D, which Thibs would certainly appreciate.

Chris Duarte (SR, 6/14/1997) – Wait, he’s 24?!? Hard pass! He’s a finished product! Right, because everyone knows 24-year-olds are fully-matured adults incapable of learning and growing…

If other teams decide to pass on the draft’s senior citizen, Rose should welcome him with open arms. Reggie Bullock was vital to the Knicks’ success this year; Duarte is a better Bullock – better off the bounce, better at the basket, younger (save your jokes), and cheaper.

Trey Murphy III (JR, 6/18/2000) – If you haven’t caught on yet, being an upperclassman isn’t the only thing my targets have in common. Butler shot over 41% from deep; Duarte over 42%; and now Murphy, who finished the season at 43.3% (as well as 92.7% from the line). This kid can really stroke it. Throw in the smart cutting, size (6’9 with a 7’1 wingspan), defensive potential, and positional versatility, and you’ve got a really interesting prospect, especially for a team that needs to be more flexible/creative with lineups moving forward.

Note: The odds of Leon standing pat with these two firsts are slim. If he packages them to move up, both Corey Kispert and Davion Mitchell are players who fit both Knicks’ needs and the theme of this piece. However – if you’re gonna move up, put age/experience aside and just take the best guy on your board, even if he’ll need time to develop. Then take one of the following guys in the second round.