ESNY’s New York Knicks 2018 NBA Draft big board

Following the lottery and the combine, we made our first list of prospect rankings the New York Knicks should take with the ninth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

To the surprise of no one, the New York Knicks didn’t get lucky at the 2018 NBA draft lottery. They had 81.3 percent odds of staying pat at the No. 9 pick, and they did. As gloomy as that may have seemed at the moment, the Knicks still have their eye on some intriguing prospects.

They met with some of the draft’s top prospects at the combine this past week in Chicago. According to general manager Scott Perry, the Knicks will go with the best player available. New York can go multiple ways with this pick. The arrival of the vaunted 3-and-D wing is something the franchise is desperately in need of while picking up another point guard is also on the table.

Here’s a look at the first version of Elite Sports NY’s official big board. It’s not just a ranking of the prospect’s fit with the Knicks. You heard what Perry said. We’ll sacrifice fit for superior talent. This team needs it.

Let’s assume that the projected top prospects DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley, and Luka Doncic are gone by the time the Knicks pick. You won’t find a mock draft out there that doesn’t have each of them going in the top three. After that, every other prospect available should be on New York’s radar.

1. Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C, Michigan St.

Jaren Jackson Jr. will almost certainly be gone by the time the Knicks pick, but he’s an incredible option for a team in New York’s position. He needs to be on their radar. Jackson is the youngest projected first-round pick, turning 19 years old in Sept., and potentially has the most upside of any player in the draft. Yeah, he’s that guy.

When you hear a draft expert toss around the cliche of “he could end up being the best player in the draft,” there’s a good chance that expert is talking about Jackson. The former Spartan is the perfect model for a modern-day big man. While he’s just as raw as you’d expect an 18-year-old to be, Jackson’s already shown signs of unicorn abilities.

In his lone collegiate season, Jackson averaged a ridiculous 5.5 blocks per 40 minutes. He made 38 of his 96 threes–a legitimate sample size–to finish at nearly a 40 percent clip and shot almost 80 percent from the free throw line. Jackson was named Big Ten Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year.

It wasn’t all great though; the young big man still has a lot to learn. He averaged 5.9 fouls per 40 minutes which led to him playing just 21.8 minutes per game. He fouled out of five different games.

It’s almost unfathomable to think that the Knicks could pick up another three-point shooting shot blocker who can handle the ball like a guard. Unlike Kristaps Porzingis, Jackson plays defense on the perimeter too. If the Knicks had jumped into the top 3, they should’ve seriously considered him. Now they’ll have to cross their fingers for a miracle.

2. Mo Bamba, C, Texas

The idea of a New Yorker playing for the Knicks is always intriguing. The fans fall in love with the idea regardless of how outlandish. In the case of Harlem-born Mohamed Bamba, there’s plenty to be excited about; regardless of the slim chance, he falls out of the top five.

The 18-year-old has already spoken about the possibility of playing for the Knicks. He told Marc Berman of The New York Post that “it’d be pretty cool to either play for or against the Knicks.” Bamba goes on to mention that he’s never played at the Garden–he didn’t consider St. John’s for his one college season–but he thinks that playing there “will be a funny feeling.”

The 7-footer’s elite shot blocking at Texas has naturally drawn comparisons to Utah Jazz star center Rudy Gobert. Bamba was second in the country with 3.7 blocks per game. He was fourth in total blocks and third in block percentage respectively. Then there are the combine numbers. Oh, the combine numbers. The draft combine was built for guys like Mo Bamba, and he took full advantage.

His absurd 7-foot-10 recorded wingspan is the longest all-time among players who have participated at the combine. His standing reach of 9-feet, 7.5 inches was the longest recorded by far. Per Berman, Bamba says that he can be one of the best rim protectors in the league as a rookie.

Bamba had an up and down freshman season, but it’s important to note that his best game came against the Big XII champion Kansas Jayhawks. He notched 22 points, 15 rebounds, and a season-high 8 blocks.

3. Michael Porter Jr., SF/PF, Missouri

Michael Porter Jr. was ranked toward the top of every recruiting class in the class of 2017 along with projected top three picks Marvin Bagley and DeAndre Ayton. He was supposed to be the number one pick in this draft before injuries derailed his time at Missouri. Porter played just two minutes of the opener against Iowa State before leaving with a back injury and missing the entire rest of the regular season.

He came back in March for two opening-round losses in the SEC and NCAA Tournament. In total, the 19-year-old logged just 53 minutes and put up only 30 points in his lone season with the Tigers. Despite the injuries, Porter is still projected as a top-ten pick.

A guy like Porter is incredibly valuable in the modern NBA. He’s a 6-foot-10 forward and a mismatch to nearly everyone he goes up against. He can make plays, shoot off the dribble, and defend. The mystery surrounding his injured back is what makes it possible he’ll slide to New York.

If that happens then, the Knicks need to take Porter. There’s too much potential there, and the Knicks can’t afford to pass on that. The arrival of the former Mr. Basketball USA, Gatorade National Player of the Year, and McDonald’s All-American Game MVP would bring classic New York City pomp and circumstance.

4. Mikal Bridges, SF, Villanova

Knicks Twitter doesn’t agree on much, but they seem to agree on Mikal Bridges being a good fit. New York is starved for the necessary 3-and-D wing traits he brings to the table. The 21-year-old won two National Championships at Villanova but came into his own this season as a junior. His workload increased with the departure of senior guard Josh Hart to the NBA.

The 21-year-old’s scoring numbers jumped as he averaged 6.4 and 9.8 points per game as a freshman and sophomore respectively. As a junior, his averages went up to 17.7 points per game. He made threes at a ridiculous 43.5 percent clip on a total of 239 attempts from beyond the arc. He only launched 189 total threes as a freshman and sophomore combined.

Bridges is a legitimate knockdown catch-and-shoot player as 95.2 percent of his threes were assisted (via Hoop-Math) and finished the season in the 94th percentile on catch-and-shoot jumpers (via Synergy Sports).

But it’s his defense that makes him so appealing to the franchise. With averages of 2.1 steals and 1.3 blocks per 40 minutes for his career, he projects as a versatile defender who can guard 1-3. Everybody wants those guys.

5. Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma

Trae Young was a consensus first-team All-American who led the country in scoring and assists as a freshman. He produced more points than any other player per game–by a wide margin–and had the highest usage rate by a freshman since the stat first started being recorded in 2009-10.

Young is the most polarizing prospect in the draft so naturally he has been linked to the Knicks. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported that New York has the hots for Young following a meeting at the draft combine. And according to Young’s father the interest is mutual.

In an interview with Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News Young’s father, Ray, spoke about the criticism Trae faced in his lone season at Oklahoma and how it should prepare him for New York.

“Trae’s been scrutinized to the point that he has thick skin. None of that stuff is going to bother him. He was like the darling of college basketball for three months, and then the last month-and-a-half he turned into a bad guy, for some reason.”

Young went from Steph Curry doppelganger to an overrated flash in the pan seemingly overnight even though he lit up the nation by scoring 40 points on four different occasions.

It’s still wise to be concerned over Young’s potential fit in the league. He struggled with efficiency–at a time when that’s valued more than ever–and his size makes him a liability on defense. The former McDonald’s All-American shot just 42.2 percent from the field and 36 percent on threes; and according to Hoop-Math.com, he made only 53.5 percent of his shots at the rim.

6. Wendell Carter Jr., C, Duke

Marvin Bagley overshadowed Wendell Carter in their one season at Duke. The likely top three pick received all the headlines on his way to being named ACC Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American. The Knicks won’t be in any position to get Bagley, but they have interest in Carter, who should be available at the nine spot.

He’s already begun honing his craft as a rim protector, blocking 3.1 shots per 40 minutes last season, and his promising shooting touch is something that should give Porzingis relief on the offensive end. Carter averaged 73.8 percent from the free throw line and made 19 of his 46 attempts from three-point range (41.3 percent).

He was solid around the rim on offense too. Carter made 70.2 percent of his shots at the rim and 75 percent of his putback attempts. If it touched his hands around the basket, it was going in.

Bagley had a usage percentage of 26.3 percent to Carter’s 22.8 percent. He can do damage while a superstar teammate is dominating the ball. That’s encouraging for a potential Porzingis pairing.

7. Miles Bridges, F, Michigan St.

Miles Bridges did the unthinkable when he returned to Michigan State for his sophomore season following an outstanding freshman campaign. He’s probably regretting that decision now. Bridges’ stock took a hit as his numbers declined and the Spartans were bounced early in the NCAA Tournament.

A year ago at this time, people were making comparisons to Draymond Green (another former Spartan) but now “the other Bridges” slipped through the cracks. He’s been overshadowed by teammate Jaren Jackson. That’s why New York will likely be in a position to draft him.

At first glance, Bridges is the ideal fit for the modern NBA. He’s a 3-and-D wing who can guard multiple positions and rebound well. Even though he’s been given the dreaded label of a “tweener” he still feels like a matchup nightmare for most power forwards with his three-point shooting and explosive athleticism.

The lack of top-ten interest in Bridges isn’t necessarily an indictment of him, but of this draft process. We’ve forgotten about how good Bridges was just a year ago. The Knicks could end up with a steal at No. 9 with Miles Bridges.

8. Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama

ESPN NBA Draft expert Jonathan Givony has the Knicks taking Colin Sexton. In Givony’s proclamation, he asserts that Frank Ntilikina would play better alongside “a more dominant ball handler and shot creator who can take some of the scoring responsibilities off [his] shoulders.”

That’s exactly what New York would be doing with Sexton. He’s the antithesis of Frank in every way on the offensive end. While Frank is very methodical most of the time already playing the game like a veteran, Sexton plays with an aggressiveness that most rookies wouldn’t have. The 19-year-old took 35.6 percent of his shots at the rim and attempted 10.2 free throws per 40 minutes. He carried the offense in his one season at Alabama with an SEC-leading usage percentage of 32.9 percent. He also led the SEC in points produced.

The turnovers are a concern. So is the shooting. In today’s NBA, you need to be able to take care of the ball and shoot the three as a point guard. Not necessarily in that order. Sexton struggled with both. He averaged 2.8 turnovers per game (to just 3.6 assists) and shot only 33.6 percent on threes and 36.4 percent on two-point jumpers (via Hoop-Math).

9. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Kentucky

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turned heads at the draft combine. The 19-year-old is 6-6 with a 7-foot wingspan and just three percent body fat. Gilgeous-Alexander was a beast for the Wildcats in his one season with the squad. He led the SEC in minutes and attempted a staggering 44.3 percent of his shots at the rim. His jump shot improved as the season went on; he made 40.4 percent of his threes (small sample size alert).

The concerns are there too. He wouldn’t bring the explosiveness that a Sexton would bring or the dead-eye shooting that a Young would bring. Gilgeous-Alexander is an unlikely choice for New York, but he’s a fun prospect to consider at least.

10. Lonnie Walker IV, SG, Miami

Any team that drafts Lonnie Walker in the lottery is doing so based on his potential because he wasn’t exactly the most consistent prospect this season. In fact, he wasn’t consistent at all. Walker finished his one season at Miami with a mediocre slash line of .415/.346/.738. That below average three-point number looks even worse when you factor in that over half of his FGAs were from beyond the arc.

Always beware of prospects who are being sold on their “high upside” like Walker, but this guy is worth taking a look at for New York. He’s still very young (19) with plenty of time to develop. Someone with his athleticism and length is capable of becoming a lockdown defender at multiple positions. If he gets that three-point shot figured out, Walker could be very dangerous.

– All statistics are courtesy of Sports Reference.com unless otherwise noted.