NBA Mock Draft: Ranking top 10 realistic picks for New York Knicks

3. Rayan Rupert, F, France

Heading into the 2023 NBA Draft, Rayan Rupert remains one of the bigger mysteries. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. This is where a team like the Knicks could take advantage. And they’ve had success in the past with some international prospects. Perhaps Rupert could be the next international draft pick that they hit on. At 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-plus wingspan, Rupert is a prospect that we may not even know what his ceiling is.

If there’s one positive when it comes to Rupert, it’s the fact that many believe he can be somewhat of a difference-maker on the defensive end initially. And that’s a trait that you have to love in rookies. However, if he’s truly going to make a splash in the league, he’s going to have to make some strides on the offensive end of the floor. And that’s where the biggest question marks are surrounding his game.

There are natural questions when it comes to Rupert and most of them won’t be answered until he comes over for some individual workouts, but there’s a real chance that Rupert could end up being selected in the middle of the first round.