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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