Early 2018 NBA Mock Draft NY Knicks Second Round Edition


Early 2018 NBA Draft Picks NY Knicks Edition, 2nd Round Selection


Written By Kyle Crabbe
Follow on Twitter:@KthetruestKnick









The New York Knicks enter the 2018 NBA Draft with 2 picks in the second round. As we went over the Knicks primary needs in the 2018 Draft in our first round mock draft edition, here we will go over the possible selections for the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft. I believe the Knicks will look at talents at the Small Forward Position and a possible young two-way Point Guard to back-up PG Frank Ntilikina in the future. Here we look at those potential players out of the possibilities in the 2018 NBA Draft Round 2.







2nd Round, 37th Overall Selection


Knicks Select:
-Rodions Kurucs

Team: FC Barcelona
Position: SF
Height: 6'10”
Weight: 190 Lbs
Class: International 99'

Pro Comparison: SF/PF Nikola Mirotic


Rodions Kurucs Prospect Video






TrueFan Take:
Rodions Kurucs is a very talented forward that also comes from international ranks. What makes Kurucs a great possible choice for the New York Knicks is Kurucs is Latvian's best basketball prospect since Knicks current young star PF Kristaps Porzingis. With Porzgingis already having a relationship with Kurucs and mentoring him to a point, the Knicks selecting Kurucs could bode well for Porzingis, the Knicks, and Rodions Kurucs. Now to what Kurucs brings to the basketball court. Rodions Kurucs is a very skilled young player on the offensive side of the ball. Blessed with a soft touch and consistent shooting stroke, Kurucs has the ability to score outside effectively as well as outside. Kurucs is a very good athlete and shows a willingness to run the floor and get out in transition. At 6'9"- 6'10”, Kurucs has great size and length for the Forward position and a skill set that allows him to play the stretch 4 in today's NBA. Rodions Kurucs, like many international players also has a high basketball IQ which he uses to get in good position on offensive for good looks and to facilitate good ball movement. Whereas in addition, on defense end Kurucs' IQ aids him well where he stays in good position and uses his length to bother shots and create steals. Kurucs I believe could be a player the Knicks not only have a great chance of drafting but a player that fits all boxes as a player the Knicks would want right now in their rebuild and fits the culture the new Knicks are creating.




Choice B

-Nickeil Alexander-Walker


School: Virginia Tech
Position: SG
Height: 6'5”
Weight: 180 Lbs
Class: Freshman

Pro Comparison: PG Dante Exum



Nickeil Alexander-Walker Prospect Video



TrueFan Take:
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is an very intriguing young prospect that has a chance to be a one and done this year playing his collegiate basketball at Virginia Tech. Hailing from the country of Canada, Walker has limited exposure but Walker's talent is his upside as a elite lead guard given his court vision and 6'5” frame. Walker presents elite size for the lead guard position at 6'5” with a 6'9” wingspan. Walker has the potential to be special player for his considerable versatility. Walker can comfortably play point guard or shooting guard while operating skillfully on the ball or playing off the ball. Walker is not the most explosive athlete but is a shifty ambidextrous ball-handler who on the drive can pass over the top of the defense and finish at the rim using his length to score from different angles. I feel Walker can be a great pick if the Knicks are to land Walker because his skill set would fit very nicely with the Knicks current bench and could be a great backcourt mate off the bench with Knicks current combo-guard Ron Baker.





Choice C

-Shake Milton


School: SMU
Position: PG/SG
Height: 6'6”
Weight: 205 Lbs
Class: Junior

Pro Comparison: PG Tyreke Evans

Shake Milton Draft Express Breakdown Video


TrueFan Take:
Malik “Shake” Milton is a another promising young combo-guard that the 2018 NBA Draft will have to offer. Shake Milton after almost entering the 2017 NBA Draft returned to SMU for his junior year where he has posted impressive numbers so far: 15 Games Played, 35.9 Mins Per Game, 16.7 Points Per Game, 4.7 Assists Per Game, 4.6 Rebounds Per Game, 1.5 Steals Per Game, 0.7 Blocks Per Game, .409% Field Goal Percentage, .391% 3-Point Percentage, .840% Free Throw Percentage. Milton like Alexander-Walker is also a big lead guard at 6'6” with a 6'11” wingspan. Milton posses similar skills to Alexander-Walker as Milton also is an excellent playmaker and can comfortably play on the ball or off the ball in the lead guard role or the 2-Guard position. Milton game is closely compared to say Memphis Grizziles PG/SG Tyreke Evans or former Grizziles draft pick PG/SG Tony Wroten whereas Milton is great at creating off the dribble and getting into the lane and scoring at around the basket. Milton can score from all 3-levels but can be unselfish to a fault. I see Shake Milton also as a very good defender which gives him great unheralded two-way potential in addition to his offensive talents. Malik “Shake” Milton could make for a great pick for the Knicks to team up with PG/SG Ron Baker also off the bench and provide depth at the guard position for the Knicks.




2nd Round, 43th Overall Selection

Knicks Select:
-Jarred Vanderbilt


Team: Kentucky
Position: SF
Height: 6'9”
Weight: 215 Lbs
Class: Freshman


Pro Comparison: Rich Man's SF Kent Bazemore




Jarred Vanderbilt Prospect Video



TrueFan Take:
Jarred Vanderbilt is an extremely talented young wing prospect but unfortunately has had to deal with recent injury troubles. Vanderbilt's currently a freshman with the Kentucky Wild Cats and suffered a lower-leg injury on the first day of practice and has been sidelined so far since for the season. Vanderbilt also has dealt with various ankle injuries in high school. But beyond his young injury bug history, Vanderbilt is a potential prospect with huge upside. The first plus for Vanderbilt is his size and length, at 6'9” with a 7'1” wingspan and 8'10” standing reach he offers unique size for the wing forward position. Vanderbilt skills are a little harder to project at this point because we haven't seen him play on a higher competition level since high school due to his injury. However from what we have seen so far, Vanderbilt posses great potential for a talented two-way player in the NBA. Vanderbilt has the rare talent for a forward or big of being a skilled rebounder that can rebound the ball and effectively ignite fast breaks while creating and making plays in the open-court. That's the skill many believe makes Vanderbilt a potential 1st round talent in his excelling in open-floor scenarios. We can regard Vanderbilt's great potential to that of a Swiss-Army knife in which he does a lot of things very effectively on the basketball court. He offers a similar style of play to Atlanta Hawks Small Forward Kent Bazemore with maybe a little bit higher ceiling in my opinion at this point. We will see what the future will hold for Jarred Vanderbilt as Vanderbilt is a first round talent but he is definitely a player for the Knicks to look at if he is available in the 2018 NBA Draft.


Choice B

-Abdoulaye N'Doye


Team: Cholet International( France )
Position: PG/SG
Height: 6'7”
Weight: 198 Lbs
Class: International 99'

Pro Comparison: PG Patrick Beverley


Abdoulaye N'Doye Prospect Video


TrueFan Take:
Abdoulaye N'Doye is a very very interesting prospect for the Knicks in the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft. N'Doye has much in common with Knicks 2017 Lottery Pick PG Frank Ntilikina. N'Doye played with Ntilikina on the France Fiba U18 European Championships and like Ntilikina he is a huge sized Point Guard that is a monster on the defensive side of the ball. That's where much of the comparisons between the two cease. Ntilikina was and is a far more polished offensive player and a more skilled player entering the draft. However N'Doye is still a very intriguing possible selection for the New York Knicks. N'Doye first offers rare size and length to the Point Guard position. Measuring in a 6'7” with a ridiculous wingspan of 7'3” and a chisel frame to go with that length, N'Doye has the potential to be a nightmare for opposing guards in the NBA. Like Ntilikina, N'Doye defense is far ahead of his offense, but unlike Ntilikina at this point, N'Doye skill set projects him to being just a elite defender in the NBA. N'Doye is not just a elite defender at this point however, he is by and far the best young defensive player in international ranks. N'Doye is a monster defensively, constantly pressuring opponents using his length and size to smother offensive players and wreck havoc in the passing lanes. I compare N'Doye to Los Angeles Clippers Point Guard Patrick Beverley due to the fact that like Beverley coming into the NBA N'Doye didn't have much offensively developed skills but his defensive abilities and defensive intensity is what will allow him to see court action in the NBA. I feel he can carve out a similar role to Beverley given the right opportunity. I see N'Doye as a player the Knicks have to go get in the 2018 NBA Draft because I feel he will be able to be had in the mid to late second round. I picture a N'Doye playing intense perimeter defensive with either former French teammate Frank Ntilikina or PG/SG Ron Baker and helping the Knicks become a top tier defensive team.


Choice C

-Kris Wilkes


School: UCLA
Position: SF
Height: 6'7”
Weight: 200 Lbs
Class: Freshman

Pro Comparison: SF Wesley Person

Kris Wiles UCLA Prospect Video



TrueFan Take:
Kris Wilkes is another great looking young prospect possibly entering the 2018 NBA draft. Wilkes is a Small Forward with good size and physical profile for the position. Wilkes stands at 6'7” with a solid 6'11” wingspan and a physical frame that can in time fill out solidly. Wilkes is a great athlete with entertaining explosiveness. However, Wilkes greatest skill at this young juncture of his playing career is his scoring ability. Once compared to current Knicks Shooting Guard Tim Hardaway Jr, Wilkes is a very good shooter that can score from all over the court and excels in transition offense. Wilkes weakness at this point is his limited effectiveness on the defensive end despite having good potential due to his size and athletic fluidity on that end. Wilkes projects to be a mid second round pick, and has potential to be a very good two-way Small Forward in the NBA if he is able to keep improving and progressing his game.







We will continue to monitor these potential prospects for the New York Knicks in the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft. We will also release a full NBA 2018 Mock Draft prior to the draft as well. Thanks for reading and follow for more content coming soon.


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