New York Knicks 2018 NBA Draft 1st Round Preview

New York Knicks 2018 NBA Draft 1^st Round Preview

Written By Kyle Crabbe

Follow on Twitter: @KthetruestKnick

With the 2018 NBA Draft only a few days away, we can start to get a good idea of where some of the young NBA Prospects will be going to start their NBA Careers. The 1^st Round of the NBA Draft are sure to bring a few surprises but here I will break down who the New York Knicks will be looking at and most likely drafting in the 1^st Round of the 2018 NBA Draft.

Draft Selection

Round 1 - 9^th Pick

1) Mikal Bridges

Mikal Bridges Highlights

Position: SF/SG

College: Villanova

HT: 6-8” ( Wingspan: 7-2”)

WT: 210 Lbs

Age: 21

TrueFan Skills' Grades

Offense: 6/10

Defense: 9/10

Size/ Physical Abilities: 9/10

Basketball IQ: 8/10

Potential: 8/10

TrueFan Potential: Starter/ All-Defensive Teams

TrueFan Pro Player Comparisons: Wesley Person, Paul George, Otto Porter Jr, Scottie Pippen

TrueFan Best Pro Comp: Paul George

Strengths

-Elite Skills, Ability and Instincts on Defense.

-Excellent Team Defender, Great Footwork and Discipline

-High Intensity Player with endless motor

-Elite Length And Wingspan, Great Athlete

-Competitive Player that brings winning Intangibles To Any Team

-High Character, Brings Winning Mentality

-Top Tier Catch-And-Shoot Shooter

-Excellent Shooter From All Over Court

-High Basketball IQ

-Very Unselfish Player

Weaknesses

-Not a Great Playmaker

-Not a Number 1 Scoring Option

-Can be too passive

TrueFan Take:

I view Mikal Bridges as the best two-way perimeter prospect in the entire 2018 NBA Draft. With that being said there's also a strong possibility that Bridges might not be on the board when the Knicks come to make a selection at the 9^th Pick. I think there's strong chances that the Chicago Bulls or the Cleveland Cavaliers might take Bridges before the Knicks have a shot at him. But If Bridges is available for the Knicks at the 9^th pick, their should be no debate, Bridges is the perfect player for the current Knicks team and regime. I would view adding Bridges as a homerun pick for 3 Main Reasons, 1) As a prospect Bridges fits very well with the current Knicks core. As a great spot up shooter, Bridges can spread the court well for the Knicks guards like Emmanuel Mudiay, Trey Burke, Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr and likewise for the Knicks more interior players like Kristaps Porzingis and Enes Kanter. 2) As the best defender in the entire Draft, Bridges fits the Knicks current movement toward being an elite defensive team. In addition to having a defensive-first new head coach in David Fizdale, playing alongside Defensive-Phenemon Guard Frank Ntilikina could make Bridges and Ntilikina a Jordan/Pippen like elite defensive perimeter pair for years to come. Add along to that with Knicks Franchise Player Kristaps Porzingis being the League's primer Shot Blocker, the Knicks could have the pieces in place for a top ranked defensive with the selection of Bridges. 3) Bridges comes off of winning a championship in his last year in college. Bridges brings a winning mentality that all teams trying to build a team to compete to contend need. Bridges has all the intangibles and experience to become a player that will be part of a very successful team wherever he plays.

2) Kevin Knox 

Kevin Knox Highlights

Positon: SF

College: Kentucky

HT: 6-9”( Wingspan 7-0”)

WT: 215 Lbs

Age: 18

TrueFan Skills' Grades

Offense: 8/10

Defense: 7/10

Size/ Physical Abilities: 8/10

Basketball IQ: 8/10

Potential: 9/10

TrueFan Potential: Starter/ Possible All-Star

TrueFan Pro Player Comparisons: Rudy Gay, Antonie Walker, Rashard Lewis, Tayshaun Prince, Hedo Turkoglu

TrueFan Best Pro Comp: Rudy Gay

Strengths

-Elite Level of Offensive Versatility

-Improving Playmaker, great in Pick-and-Roll Situations

-Great Size, Length And Wingspan, Fluid Athlete

-Committed Team Player

-Potential Number One Option on Offense

-Excellent Defensive Potential

-Potential to Guard 1-4 Positions Defensively due to impressive physical profile

-Good Shooting Form, can shoot over opponents

-Smart Basketball Player

-Great Potential Upside, one of youngest in draft

Weaknesses

-No Major Weaknesses

-Decision Making

TrueFan Take:

If one of the teams picking before the New York Knicks are to grab Villanova's Mikal Bridges before the Knicks pick, then the excellent second choice would be, for me, Kentucky's Kevin Knox. Knox in my opinion has a abundance of potential. Coming from a program at the University of Kentucky under former New Jersey Nets Head Coach John Calipari, where Knox had to share the spotlight with other highly touted freshman's and potential NBA Lottery Draft picks has some what temper what we have seen in Kevin Knox and many others that have came from the Kentucky Program( examples such as Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Rajan Rondo, Devin Booker, John Wall). Knox came out of High School as a potential top 10 NBA Draft Prospect, I don't feel that should change due to his situation playing with the UK Wild Cats this past NCAA season. The point that the Knicks are pushing for young players wuth length, athleticism and a player that brings a team-first mentality; Knox checks off all those qualities in a young basketball prospect. Knox was already willing to sacrifice his game for Kentucky at 18 years old, so we can believe he's a player willing to adjust him game for not only his success but for the overall team's success( Championships). So I firmly believe even if the Knicks don't select Kevin Knox, the team that does will get a steal in this year's draft. So if I was the Knicks GM, and Mikal Bridges was off the board, I would momentarily consider Miami's Lonnie Walker and Michigan's Miles Bridges, but ultimately they don't match our stated needs as well as Knox, therefore Knox would be my pick hands down.

3) Michael Porter Jr 

Michael Porter Jr Highlights

Position: SF

College: Missouri

HT: 6-10”(Wingspan 7-0”)

WT: 215 Lbs

Age: 20

TrueFan Skills' Grades

Offense: 9/10

Defense: 5/10

Size/ Physical Abilities: 7/10

Basketball IQ: 6/10

Potential: 10/10

TrueFan Potential: All-Star

TrueFan Pro Player Comparisons: Tobias Harris, Glen Rice, Danilo Galinari, Rashard Lewis, Cliff Robinson

TrueFan Best Pro Comp: Glen Rice

Strengths

-Elite Offensive Talent

-Can score on a elite level from all 3 levels.

-Gifted Athlete

-Superstar Upside

-Potential Primary Option on Offense

-Great Defensive Potential

-Good Rebounder For Size

-Smart Basketball Player

-Supremely Confident Ball Player

Weaknesses

-Lacks Lower Body Girth, Struggles in Traffic

-Decision Making

-His Passing/Playmaking ability

-Lacks Explosive/Space Creating First Step

-Prone to forcing up Questionable Shots

-Spinal Surgery(Dwight Howard Had Surgery)

-Questions if he can ever return fully healthy

TrueFan Take:

Michael Porter Jr is a very intriguing young prospect. Porter was the second ranked High School Basketball Player in this class. Porter looks the part of a top 3 player but his injury history leaves cause for caution. Given Porter had Microdisectomy, which is spinal surgery to repeal pain with a herniated or bulging disk. Players in the NBA that have had this surgery include former Knick Danilo Gallinari and Al Harrington as well as former Orlando Magic Superstar Dwight Howard. We have also seen star athletes careers suffer from this surgery in former Dallas Cowboys Star Quarterback Tony Romo and Superstar Golfer Tiger Woods. Fortunately for Porter Jr, he's a lot younger than all these athletes mentioned. I believe he will take a fall in the draft similar to Harry Giles last year and I would hope the Knicks don't take the immensely risky choice of selecting Porter Jr.

For the Knicks, I believe one of these three players will be the selection come Thursday June 21^st. But there are also three more prospects that have gotten media coverage with links to the Knicks at the 9^th pick. In these 3 prospects there has been reports of workouts with the Knicks and that the Knicks front office has some level of interest. Here are those 3 prospects:

1) Miles Bridges

Miles Bridges Highlights

Position: SF/PF

College: Michigan St.

HT: 6-7”(Wingspan 6-8”)

WT: 225 Lbs

TrueFan Skills' Grades

Offense: 7/10

Defense: 7/10

Size/ Physical Abilities: 6/10

Basketball IQ: 6/10

Potential: 8/10

TrueFan Potential: Starter

TrueFan Pro Player Comparisons: Corey Maggette, Jerry Stackhouse

2) Lonnie Walker

Lonnie Walker Highlights

Position: SG

College: Miami

Age/Class: 19 / Freshman

HT: 6-4”(Wingspan 6-10”)

WT: 200 Lbs

TrueFan Skills' Grades

Offense: 7/10

Defense: 7/10

Size/ Physical Abilities: 8/10

Basketball IQ: 6/10

Potential: 8/10

TrueFan Potential: Starter

TrueFan Pro Player Comparisons: Iman Shumpert, Dwyane Wade, Mitch Richmond, Eddie

3) Wendell Carter 

Wendell Carter Jr Highlights

Position: PF/C

College: Duke

HT: 6-10”(Wingspan 7-3”)

WT: 260 Lbs

TrueFan Skills' Grades

Offense: 7/10

Defense: 6/10

Size/ Physical Abilities: 7/10

Basketball IQ: 7/10

Potential: 7/10

TrueFan Potential: Starter

TrueFan Pro Player Comparisons: Channing Frye, Myles Turner, Al Jefferson, Al Harford

TrueFan Overall Take

I believe the Knicks are in great hands for the first time in 30 years with General Manager Scott Perry, President Steve Mills, and the great new addition to the Knicks Leadership in Head Coach David Fizdale. This draft will be huge in determining how successful this trio will be. I have outline which prospects to look out for, now we as fans can celebrate which each of these young players the New York Knicks do draft and bring the New York City.

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