Early 2018 NBA Mock Draft NY Knicks Edition 1st Round Pick

Early 2018 NBA Draft Picks NY Knicks Edition, 1st Round Selection





Written By Kyle Crabbe
Follow on Twitter:@KthetruestKnick





As the NBA 2017-18 Season is well underway and the 2017-2018 NCAA College Basketball Season is on and going, now is a perfect opportunity to speculate at what prospects will be selected where in the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft. Here we look at a few young prospects that will be 2018 Draft possibilities for the NY Knicks.

The 2017-18 New York Knicks are enjoying a good start to their season and expect to battle for a playoff spot throughout the season. Knicks President Steve Mills and General Manager Scott Perry have did a great job at roster building thus far since Perry was named General Manager in July 2017. The Carmelo Anthony Trade has benefited both the Knicks and the OKC Thunder with C Enes Kanter being a top-tier bigman with elite rebounding and SF Doug McDermott being a excellent offensive and defensive contributor off the bench for the Knicks this year. So as I look at the Knicks current roster as constructed, I feel the Knicks have excellent depth at the Center position with Enes Kanter, Kyle O'Quinn, Willy Hernangomez, and Joakim Noah. With PF Kristaps Porzingis also being able to effectively log minutes at the Center position in today's NBA game. The Knicks are also quite settled at the Power Forward Position with Franchise Star PF Kristaps Porzingis, Michael Beasley, Lance Thomas, and young G-League on a two-way contract PF Isaiah Hicks. The Knicks I believe are also very strong in the backcourt with the shooting guards they have: Tim Hardaway Jr, Courtney Lee, Damyean Dotson, and Ron Baker. Also the Knicks boast a decent talented group at point guard with PG Jarret Jack, Rookie Lottery pick PG Frank Ntilikina, and PG Ramon Sessions. Whereas the Knicks only have one Small Forward on the roster in Sharp Shooting SF off the bench Doug McDermott. So as I breakdown the Knicks roster and see what they would pursue in the upcoming draft, I would project the Knicks to look in drafting an athletic 3 and D Small Forward with the potential to be a long-term starter. I could also see the Knicks drafting a point guard in the 2nd round with the eyes on developing that Point Guard to back-up Frank Nitlikina. I feel the Knicks are in a great position to continue building an effectively competitive team. I believe they have their main pieces in place with young Superstar PF Kristaps Porzingis, a starting Shooting Guard with years to growth in Tim Hardaway Jr, and a young Franchise Point Guard to lead the team in PG Frank Nitlikina. The Knicks going into the draft have plenty of options at Center, so I believe they will focus strongly at the Small Forward Position where there is great talent coming in the 2018 NBA Draft. The Knicks I project will have a pick between 14-18 in the first round depending on where they finish the season, so let's look at some of those potential players



1st Round, 16th Pick

Knicks Select:
-Justin Jackson

School: Maryland
Position: SF/PF
Height: 6'7”
Weight: 219 Lbs
Class: Sophomore

Pro Comparison: SF/PF Robert Horry






TrueFan Take:
Justin Jackson is a very talented young prospect hailing from Canada to play his collegiate basketball at Maryland University. The first thing that stands out about Jackson is his unquie size, Jackson measures at 6'7” with a incredible 7'3” wingspan and large hands that rival Spurs superstar SF Kawhi Leonard. Jackson is a ideal forward in the modern NBA game, Jackson can defend very well due to his length and aggression as well as rebound exceptionally by in parts to those same athletic qualitiles. And like the Spurs Leonard coming out of college, Jackson is an excellent rebounder. Jackson can also shoot the ball very well from long range and makes himself a great 3 and D wing player but with a game more similar to Draymond Green with the Golden State Warriors. Unfortunely for Jackson he recently went down this year with a torn labrum in his right shoulder effectively ending his 2017-18 NCAA campaign. Jackson's draft stock might dip due to this injury and might make Jackson available later on in the draft. However I feel Jackson's mentality and skill set make him too ideal to not be pursued by the Knicks in the coming 2018 NBA draft. Justin Jackson's stats for the 2017-18 Year were: 11 Games Played, 29.4 Mins Per Game, 9.8 Points Per Game, 8.1 Rebounds Per Game, 1.9 Assists Per Game, 0.8 Steals Per Game, 0.8 Blocks Per Game.




Choice B

-Mikal Bridges


School: Villanova
Position: SF
Height: 6'7”
Weight: 200 Lbs
Class: Junior

Pro Comparison: SF Otto Porter Jr







TrueFan Take:
Mikal Bridges is one of the more consistent players playing right now in NCAA basketball. Bridges is playing a leading role on one of the two or three best teams right now in college basketball. Bridges is a two-way player that contributes in many different ways. First off Bridges is also quite unique in size, he posses a 7'1” wingspan to go allow with his solid 6'7 size for the small forward position. What makes Bridges attractive for the Knicks is he is the classic 3 and D Small Forward with excellent length, athleticism, and defensive versatility and impact and could therefore fit perfectly along Porzingis and Hardaway for the Knicks. Bridges also brings a winner's mentality.


Choice C

-Isaac Bonga



Team: Frankfurt International (Germany)
Position: SF/PG
Height: 6'9”
Weight: 200 Lbs
Class: 99'


Pro Comparison: SF Lamar Odom








TrueFan Take:
Isaac Bonga is a promising young international player in a class surrounded by elite international talent like PG/SG Luka Doncic and SF Dzanan Musa. Bonga's special talent is he is an exceptional passer. At 6'9 and built more like a Small Forward, Bonga has great abilty to handle the basketball and impressive playmaking ability very similar to former Laker SF Lamar Odom. Bonga is also a fluid athlete that shows guard skills in transition similar to Milwaukee Bucks Star SF Giannis Antetokunmpo. Isaac Bonga's high basketball IQ both on the offensive side and the defensive side makes him a great prospect for the Knicks to look at. Many mock drafts have Bonga going in the late first round or early second round, so at the 16th pick he might be looked at as a reach but at age 19 coming into the 2018-19 season I feel Bonga's potential makes him maybe to good to pass up if the Knicks feel as strongly as I do of his talents.
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