3 Knicks draft prospects that could be off the board at No. 11
1: Bennedict Mathurin
This one might sting, but it’s true. There is no chance that guard Bennedict Mathurin will hang around until the No. 11 pick. Leading up to and during March Madness, many Knicks fans identified him as their dream pick, but they’ve since turned into pipe dreams.
The soon-to-be 20-year-old has recently been linked to the Pacers at No. 6 and the New Orleans Pelicans at No. 8. And if he’s still on the board when the Spurs make their pick at No. 9, he’ll surely be gone by that point. In Givony’s mock draft (where he had Mathurin going to Indiana), he wrote:
"Mathurin is drawing strong reviews on the private workout trail, excelling in competitive action, individual drills and interview sessions everywhere he’s visited thus far."
That gives you an insight into how he went from being selected by New York in numerous mock drafts to being far out of the Knicks’ range leading up to the draft. The 6’6” guard with a 6’9” wingspan has jumped up the board.
Fresh off a breakout sophomore season at Arizona, Mathurin’s proven that he isn’t afraid of the moment, which will be a huge advantage to whichever team selects him.
"That 3-point shot to tie the game late in regulation — that is an all-time NCAA Tournament shot."
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) March 21, 2022
- @JonRothstein on Ben Mathurin's clutch bucket pic.twitter.com/TsvqT0tmbM
His athleticism and ability to knock down open shots are the two things that stand out the most about him. Mathurin’s one of the best wings in the draft, if not the best. If his defense can get up to par, he’s going to be a force in the NBA for years to come.
Out of the three listed players, Griffin’s the most attainable target and he could still find a way to fall into the Knicks’ lap at No. 11. If New York’s going to trade up in the draft, it seems as if it’d most likely be into the top four for Ivey. But if that doesn’t happen and the Knicks remain where they are, fans should be hoping that Griffin’s available when New York makes its highly-anticipated selection.
