NBA mock draft has Knicks picking Kentucky point guard at No. 11
The 2022 NBA Draft Lottery is in exactly two weeks from today, so on Tuesday, May 17, the New York Knicks will discover where they’ll be picking in June. As it stands, New York holds the 11th-best lottery odds and has a 2% chance to land the No. 1 pick.
The Knicks have been linked to several players but as usual, many fans want to see the team select a point guard. Purdue’s Jaden Ivey seems to be a favorite, but if he’s off the board by the time New York makes its selection, another option should be available.
Tankathon conducted a mock draft and had the Knicks adding a point guard out of Kentucky with the No. 11 overall pick. Of course, that guard is six-foot-three TyTy Washington Jr., who spent one season with the Wildcats.
If the 20-year-old is drafted by the Knicks, he’ll get to join Immanuel Quickley, Julius Randle, and Nerlens Noel as former Kentucky players.
Should the New York Knicks draft Kentucky’s TyTy Washington Jr.?
Depending on where New York picks in the draft, Washington could be a solid addition to the team’s roster. Although a 2% chance is extremely low, it doesn’t mean that the Knicks won’t be able to secure the No. 1 spot. It’d require a miracle, but it isn’t out of the question.
If New York does pick right outside of the top-10, it’d mean that names such as Ivey and Bennedict Mathurin would likely be off the board. But Washington would likely still be there.
This past year, the freshman averaged 12.5 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in 31 games. He shot 45.1% from the field and 35% from the 3-point line.
Unfortunately, the last few months of Washington’s season were hindered by a sprained ankle, which he later said negatively affected the rest of his year.
"“I wasn’t anywhere close to full strength in the past two months of the season,” Washington told Givony on Wednesday. “My ankle had moments where it felt really good and then others it was really hurting. After the Auburn game, that’s when things went downhill. It was a nagging injury that I never really got right. I’m still not 100 percent now, but I’m getting close.”"
Washington’s a playmaker who can facilitate an offense while being an effective scorer. He can play at point guard or shooting guard and does the majority of his scoring off the ball.
His most impressive game as a Wildcat took place on Jan. 8 against Georgia, where he finished with 17 points (8-of-13), 17 assists (a single-game Kentucky record), and 5 rebounds. That happened a couple of weeks before Washington injured his ankle, so that game proved to be a good example of what he can do as a point guard.
TyTy only the 5th player since 2010 in NCAA Basketball to have 17 points and 17 Assists in a game
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) January 9, 2022
Two of the others are Ja Morant and Trae Young
He has a bright future at the professional level, but before the Knicks consider drafting him, Washington’s place on the roster needs to be well thought out. Will Tom Thibodeau refuse to consistently play him? Would his arrival mean that New York will be parting ways with a guard or two this summer?
If Washington is the Knicks’ first-round pick, his development will be crucial. Thibodeau is more partial to young players than fans may think, but in-game development is just as important. Look at how well Quickley did when he received consistent playing time.
All in all, Washington’s toughness and abilities would be welcome in Madison Square Garden, but an inconsistent presence in the rotation wouldn’t be. We’re looking at you, Thibodeau.
