NY Knicks: 10 examples why NY should NOT trade up in 2021 NBA Draft

NY Knicks Examples #5, 6, and 7 — Kevin Huerter, Josh Okogie, Grayson Allen

We’ve arrived at the 2018 NBA Draft, arguably the least talented pool of players for our draft range.

Kevin Huerter was drafted at #19 to the Atlanta Hawks and appears to be a significant part of the Hawks group of budding young talent. Huerter averaged nearly 12 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists this year and was a key player in the Hawks playoff run (that unfortunately ended ours).

Huerter came into the league pegged as a 3-point sharpshooter but showed serious improvement this year from mid-range and as a slasher.

After Huerter, Josh Okogie went to the Minnesota Timberwolves at #20, while the Utah Jazz snagged Grayson Allen one pick later.

Okogie has averaged a modest 5.4 points per game on lackluster shooting splits, but Timberwolves fans would tell you he more than makes up for it on the defensive end.

Grayson Allen, meanwhile, was later traded to the Grizzlies and has turned into a solid role player, averaging 10.6 points per game, shooting 39% from three.

Neither of these guys has shown the ability to become high-level contributors, but they also haven’t fallen into the bust category.

Huerter would have been a great piece for this Knicks team as we desperately needed more scoring and three-point shooting this year.

I don’t think Allen or Okogie would’ve made much of a difference, which is why out of the last five drafts this probably ranks as the weakest when making the case to keep our two first-rounders instead of trading up.