Draft day has arrived, and it’s time for a New York Knicks draft preview. Knick fans are flying high after yesterday’s blockbuster trade acquisition of star wing scorer Mikal Bridges from the crosstown Brooklyn Nets. Bridges is a perfect fit and could very well be the guy to put them over the top in overcoming the Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
Heading into the draft the Knicks have some needs to prioritize. For instance, they’ll likely target a center. Isaiah Hartenstein is a free agent, and although they’d love to have him back he may be too expensive. Additionally, the Knicks extended OG Anunoby. Mitchell Robinson is an elite defensive center in the NBA, however, he’s extremely injury-prone and cannot be relied upon.
With the 24th and 25th pick in the first round, a center would make a lot of sense. Tom Thibodeau is elite at developing bigs. He’s likely to make Hartenstein a ton of money, having already earned a lucrative extension for Mitchell Robinson. Furthermore, Nerlens Noel even had a career season under Thibs. Therefore, I expect at least one big to be drafted.
I also expect defense to be considered a priority as that is the team’s identity under coach Tom Thibodeau. A backup point guard should also be addressed in the draft, a ball-handler to come off the bench and provide solid minutes to help ease the load on Jalen Brunson.
New York Knicks Draft Preview
Ryan Dunn
The Knicks conducted four known workouts. Ryan Dunn, Joe Girard of Clemson, Malevy Leons of Bradley, and Andrija Jelavic a possible draft and stash European prospect. Leons is worth keeping an eye on as his defense is considered excellent but he’s an old prospect at 25. Girard the hometown guy, is a good shooter at 37.5% from deep, but his all-around game is very much lacking making them more likely to be un-drafted signings. Ryan Dunn of Virginia is someone the Knicks are linked heavily with.
Dunn has the potential to be one of the best defenders and is considered the best perimeter defender in the entire draft. He has a huge seven-foot-two wingspan and stands at six-foot-eight, allowing him to defend multiple positions. He’s also able to force steals and deflections in the passing lanes. By far his best asset is his shot blocking and contesting of shots. He’s able to make numerous blocks in transition with his athleticism. Case in point, his career numbers of 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.3 blocks attest to his swiss army knife-style defense.
However, his offensive game lags behind massively. He has virtually no jump shot of any kind, making it difficult for him to get major rotation minutes despite being a solid lob threat.
Dunn would widely be considered as a useful bench option to backup OG and Bridges at the wing spot.
Knicks Draft Preview: Centers
Kel’el Ware: Indiana
A product of former Knick coach Mike Woodson‘s Indiana Hoosiers, Kel’el Ware has also been connected to New York.
His measurables jump off the page at seven feet, with a seven-foot-four wingspan. He’d be an instant upgrade to Robinson offensively, as he has better touch around the rim, has soft hands, and a good catch radius around the rim. Projecting as a solid catch and dunk guy in the paint and as a lob threat.
Ware averaged 15 points 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. He also has shown potential to stretch the floor, with a solid stroke from outside, shooting 43% from 3. He’s more likely to be a spot-up shooter from outside than a consistent threat, but his ability from outside makes him that much more difficult to defend against.
Defensively he played well in drop coverage, showing an ability to block shots at the rim, averaging almost 2 blocks a game due to his huge standing reach. His physical tools allow him to make up for his shortcomings, and good coaching at the next level should further improve his skillset.
In terms of negatives, he isn’t particularly physical around the rim. Therefore, he may get bullied by more physical defenders. Additionally, when Ware attempts to back defenders down and spin, he doesn’t create space for himself so he may struggle to score over help defenders at the next level. Ware may be better suited to a faster offense than a half-court one.
Yves Missi: Baylor
Yves Missi stands at seven feet tall, with a seven-foot-six wingspan, and a nine-foot standing reach. The Belgian/Cameroon-born player is an absolute monster at the rim. He’s a plug-and-play center with solid tools. He’s a springy athlete, and a solid finisher with 61% shooting, 77% of his shots are at the rim. He has similarities to Clint Capela or Isaiah Jackson. His offensive game is limited, but at the rim, he truly excels making him a very good fit for the Knicks as he made Big-12 All-Defense.
Missi’s a great offensive rebounder, and very good on the defensive glass. Specifically, he is excellent at defending the pick and roll and a solid rim protector He was 4th in offensive rebounding and third in blocks. As mentioned Missi is limited offensively, he doesn’t have handles, can’t create, and only shot 49% from the free throw line. However, his defensive instincts, instincts at the glass and the rim with his huge measurables make him a safe floor prospect, and a solid replacement for Robinson with similar upside and tools.
DaRon Holmes: Dayton
Another intriguing big man prospect is DaRon Holmes, a versatile forward with ideal size at six-foot-ten with a seven-foot wingspan. Averaging 20 points and 2 blocks per game, 71 dunks for the season. He has decent hands and is a fluid player coming out of screens and finishing at the rim. Holmes flashed some playmaking, averaging around 2 assists per game. He is a high-IQ player currently favored to go to Denver.
Zach Edey: Purdue
Zach Edey is a massive human standing seven-four with a seven-foot-ten wingspan and 299 lbs. He’s a throwback prospect to the type of centers produced in the 90’s. He’s a huge burly prospect with tons of raw potential. Edey’s projected to go in the top 20 but the Knicks may trade up to get him if they feel inclined.
He’s virtually unguardable in the paint due to his footwork, refined technique, and making use of his massive size. Putting up a massive 25 points per game. Edey has several translatable skills for the next level. He’s used to playing with his back to the basket in the half-c0urt set. Showing an ability to pass to the open man at the perimeter with ease with his back to the basket. He was clearly the number one option at Purdue and was unafraid of the increased attention.
Posting 12 rebounds per game, and a huge threat on the offensive glass he bullies defenders to get rebounds. Defensively, he shows solid instincts and is a huge presence that teams won’t want to face down there. This prospect potentially has a high ceiling.
Knicks draft Preview: Possible Guard prospects
Isaiah Collier, of USC, makes a ton of sense for the Knicks at 25. He is a good ballhandler and playmaker with a solid physical build. Collier outside shot has room to grow and he’s already a solid defender.
Kyshawn George of Miami has been linked to the Knicks. He’s an oversized guard and a playmaking forward prospect. Standing at six-foot-seven he has a nice mix of playmaking ability with his time as a PG, but also a shooting ability from the wing. He may well suit the Knicks with that level of versatility. Making over 40% of his catch-and-shoot threes.
Tyler Kolek is a high-IQ guard from Marquette. Kolek is a very crafty player and a sleeper prospect. He has an excellent form from the perimeter. Furthermore, Kolek is difficult to stop when driving to the rim with his quick first step, and he’s virtually unstoppable when finishing with his left hand. He can score at will when finishing with his left.
Kolek’s playmaking also sets him apart. Averaging a very good 7.7 assists. If he’s available at 24 the Knicks should draft him as a floor general and backup to Brunson.
My Knick draft preview Mock draft: Yves Missi and Tyler Kolek.
