3 realistic targets Knicks can draft with No. 11 pick

2: Ochai Agbaji

Ochai Agbaji is a bit of an anomaly because he was a four-year starter at Kansas and is 22-years-old. If he were to be drafted by New York, he’d be older than both RJ Barrett and Miles McBride.

But as a guard, Agbaji’s talent is undeniable, and him being a Jayhawk for four seasons will help him to be more prepared for what’s to come at the next level.

In the 39 games that he played in during Kansas’ championship run this past year, Agbaji averaged 18.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 35.1 minutes. The six-foot-five guard shot 47.5% from the floor, 40.9% from the 3-point line, and 74.3% from the free-throw line.

With a six-foot-ten wingspan, Agbaji’s best skill is being a great defender. He averaged 0.9 steals this past season but in 2020-21 he averaged 1.1 steals and the year before that, 1.2.

The assumption is that whoever the Knicks draft is going to sit on the bench under Tom Thibodeau, but we know how he values pesky defenders.

Like Daniels, Agbaji’s shot needs work, but he saw improvement in that during his senior year. He shot 42% from the field and 37.7% from beyond the arc in 2020-21 and he upped both of those percentages in 2021-22.

He wouldn’t be New York’s starting point guard, but he’s a decent ball handler. That aspect of his game has room for improvement as well.

If Agbaji’s name is called at No. 11 in June, Knicks fans should be happy although he won’t be an answer to the point guard dilemma. But that could be what Immanuel Quickley’s for, right?