NBA Mock Draft: 3 Consolation prize lottery prospects if Knicks miss playoffs

Knicks Lottery prospect No. 2: Jett Howard, Michigan

The son of former All-Star big Juwan Howard, Jett is playing his freshman season for his father at Michigan. The 6’8″ forward absolutely gets the game of basketball, with excellent instincts and hundreds of hours of muscle memory already built up. He has been playing in NBA-style offenses for years and should be ready to step in immediately and fit in.

He has a lethal three-point shot, but has great touch from midrange, on his floater, and at the rim. He’s also a dogged defender with great size, although he needs to polish his positioning inside of a good team concept; playing for Tom Thibodeau would be perfect for that.

While Howard can create his own shot, he is truly elite as a movement shooter already. He could step in from day one and start sprinting off of screens while Julius Randle handles at the elbow or Jalen Brunson runs an action on the opposite side, catching and firing like a 10-year pro.

Howard probably won’t be a star in the NBA, but there is a perfect role waiting for him: a movement shooter with great size and the ability to attack closeouts, with defensive upside and just enough passing ability to hope to grow even more.