5 Draft prospects Knicks fans must watch closely during March Madness

3. Dereck Lively II, C, Duke

If the Knicks would be interested in taking a chance on another big man project, Dereck Lively, the highly-touted prospect out of Duke, would make a lot of sense and fit the bill. It worked out well for the Knicks when they drafted Mitchell Robinson back in 2018; maybe it’ll work again in 2023. Lively has not put up big numbers during his freshman season but has begun to show signs of life with his recent play.

At 7-foot-1, Lively has proven that he can be a capable rim-protector and an above-average finisher at the rim at the next level. Again, his numbers aren’t gaudy but he’s flashed enough that he may be worth a first-round pick based on his potential alone.

This season at Duke, he’s averaging five points, five rebounds, and two blocks per game on 66 percent shooting from the field. He hasn’t had to play a big role for a talented Duke team but he could develop behind Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein (for one season) and carve out a more defined role for the Knicks after his rookie season.

Lively would be more of a gamble than some of these other possible prospects and a move that may not pay dividends for a few seasons.