New York Knicks 2019 Point Guards In-Depth Breakdown

Do The New York Knicks Have Their Franchise Point Guard?

Written By Kyle Crabbe

Follow on Twitter: @KthetruestKnick

As the 2017-18 NBA Season winds down to the final team standing, we NBA fans turn our attention to the next major aspects of the Basketball calendar year which will be the NBA Draft followed by NBA's Free Agency period where said teams that fell short in their Championship pursuits try to retool, rebuild and restock for the next season's shot at the title.

With the Golden State Warriors winning their 3 NBA Championship out of the last four seasons we can look to their team as the current “Golden” standard for how you construct a Championship level basketball team in today's modern NBA. This current Golden State Warriors team is built around it's Generational Point Guard, Sharp Shooter Steph Curry. Steph Curry, was drafted by the Warriors 7^th Overall in the 1^st Round in the 2009 NBA Draft, and has developed under the Warriors organization into one of the NBA's Greatest Shooters of all time and a 5x All-Star, 5x All-NBA Team Selections, 2016 NBA Scoring Champion, 2x League Most Valuable Player as well as a 3-Time NBA Champion. Curry has revolutionized the game and has risen to the top of his position but we must also mention Curry is also part of a era that is lead by a abnormal amount of dominant players at the Point Guard Position during this basketball era.

In this current NBA, more than any time in recent history the Point Guard Position has become the most dominant and has arguably the most talent at it's position than any other position currently in the league. Star Players like Houston Rockets Chris Paul, OKC Thunder Russell Westbrook, Portland Trailblazers Damian Lillard, Boston Celtics Kyrie Irving, Washington Wizards John Wall, Charlotte Hornets Kemba Walker, New Orleans Jrue Holiday, Los Angeles Lakers Isaiah Thomas, San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker, Memphis Grizzlies Mike Conley, and even a young group of talented Point Guards coming in their own in LA Lakers Lonzo Ball, Utah Jazz Donovan Mitchell, Sacramento Kings De'Aaron Fox, Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons, Chicago Bulls Kris Dunn, Boston Celtics Marcus Smart, Brooklyn Nets D'Angelo Russell, Boston Celtics Terry Rozier, and San Antonio Spurs Dejounte Murray all terrorize teams and defenses around the league every night in today's NBA. So to say the least, if any team wants to compete they must have a uber-talented Point Guard or a group of Point Guards that every night can compete with some of the most effective players in the league every night.

So that leads me to where the New York Knicks stand currently with their Point Guard situation. The Knicks currently have 4 Guards on their roster that can play the postion of Point Guard. Those players include 2017 Lottery Pick Frank Ntilikina, Trey Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Ron Baker. Unlike the majority of Point Guards that I listed earlier these players haven't yet found their way to where they are consistently effective Point Guards in the NBA. The Question then for many Knicks fans and basketball fans viewing the New York Knicks, especially with the 2018 NBA Draft less than two weeks away, is, Do the Knicks have a Point Guard that will become that effective talented Franchise Point Guard or do the Knicks need to draft(Trae Young/Colin Sexton) or pursuit a Point Guard (Kyrie Irving/ Damian Lillard)?

I will take a shot at answering that question for those who are interested, in this very article. I will breakdown the NY Knicks entire Point Guard Situation and where I see those players potential and if I believe the Knicks need to look elsewhere for their Franchise Point Guard. But before we begin to dive in, basketball fans must understand one main thing. For any player to reach their full potential and become an truly effective player night after night in the NBA, that requires a full organization and coaching staff developing that player, building that player skills and confidence, then putting that player in positions to uses their strengths and skills in a system around a team that will bring the most out of that prospect player's potential. To give more context to that point, Warriors Superstar Steph Curry who is now the best Point Guard in the league, had to develop for several years before he and his team were effective night after night in the NBA and eventually earned the right to boast being the best in the NBA.

The New York sports landscape has always been a bit more demanding and impatience than many cities and other towns. That sentiment alone has caused the Knicks to lose out on great young Point Guards before they have developed fully for the Knicks organization, examples like Mark Jackson, Rod Strickland, and even more recently Guards like Jerian Grant or Iman Shumpert comes to mind as drafted guards in New York that never got the opportunity to fully embrace their talents with the Knicks. The Knicks last legit starting elite level Point Guard was New York City's Coney Island's Own Stephon Marbury and the last point guard drafted and fully developed with the Knicks team was from the mid-90's and was former NCAA Football Heisman Trophy Winner Charlie Ward. Part of that reason I believe is fans, media and front office personnel can be way too quick to label a player a bust who hasn't been given to fair opportunity to succeed or has been failed by an organization to properly develop that players' skills, confidence and create an environment and playing system to fully showcase that players' talents and potential. I want to use a few players that developed into great legendary players that struggled at first( in their first 2-4 years). With those players I'm going to prove my point that time and patience is more important that what we fans and critics see from the player on the court during games. I will start with a few pre-draft scouting reports of these respective players then describe who they are:

A) Player A From 1997 NBA Draft

Pre-Draft Scouting Report: “...Is probably the best guard in the draft. He is an excellent shooter and passer. He can also lead his team in the big games. One of his only weaknesses is that he is a little overeager, which can lead to turnovers or bad shots.

First 3 Seasons Averages

Games Played/ Games Started: 46 / 39

Minutes Per Game: 28.1

Points Per Game: 11.2

Assists Per Game: 3.6

Rebounds Per Game: 2.3

Steals Per Game: 1.1

Blocks Per Game: 0.2

Field Goal Percentage %: .365%

3-Point Field Goal Percentage % : .287%

Free Throw Percentage % : .868

B) Player B From 1996 NBA Draft

Pre-Draft Scouting Report: “...Is a natural point guard who can distribute the ball effectively and hit the long-range jumper. He uses deceptive quickness and a superior understanding of the game to his advantage. Like many great point guards, he has an uncanny court vision and a sixth sense for the game. His biggest weakness is his man-to-man defense.”

First 3 Seasons Averages

Games Played/ Games Started: 60 / 17

Minutes Per Game: 21.4

Points Per Game: 6.7

Assists Per Game: 3.6

Rebounds Per Game: 2

Steals Per Game: .6

Blocks Per Game: 0.06

Field Goal Percentage %: .415%

3-Point Field Goal Percentage % : .402%

Free Throw Percentage % : .836%

C) Player C From 2001 NBA Draft

Pre-Draft Scouting Report: “...Considered by Boston the best point guard in the draft. Might be two years away but can really shoot it and score the ball. A bit undersized, will have to prove he can be effective in the NBA.”

First 3 Seasons Averages

Games Played/ Games Started: 78 / 76

Minutes Per Game: 32.5

Points Per Game: 13.1

Assists Per Game: 5

Rebounds Per Game: 2.8

Steals Per Game: .9

Blocks Per Game: 0.06

Field Goal Percentage %: .443%

3-Point Field Goal Percentage % : .324%

Free Throw Percentage % : .710%

Do you think you know who these players are and what legends these player eventually became?

Now I will give the pre-draft scouting reports of 2 of the 4 Knicks Point Guards on the Roster and show how their pre-draft scouting reports compare:

A) New York Knicks Point Guard A

Pre-Draft Scouting Report: “...He might be the most complete offensive player in the draft. He can shoot from deep, get into the lane and score off the bounce, control the tempo of the game and create shots for his teammates off the drive and the pick-and-roll. There's little question that he will be a good point in the NBA. Regardless of how high his ceiling is, the team that drafts him should have a stable presence at the point guard position for the next decade.”

B) New York Knicks Point Guard B

Pre-Draft Scouting Report: “...A polished Lead Guard with high basketball IQ and good decision making. Can penetrate into the lane at will and is an excellent passer with great court vision. He is hard to defend due to his elite height, strength, and quickness. He has a Dwayne Wade-type craftiness and should star right away. Incredibly gifted athlete with terrific upside. Has to round out offensive game, has tremendous potential defensively.”

I think it's must easier to predict which of the 4 Knicks Point Guards these Pre-Draft Scouting Reports were for.

Knicks Player A, was none other than Trey Burke. Trey Burke entered the NBA in the 2013 NBA Draft as the 9^th Overall Selection to the Minnesota T'Wolves. He was traded on Draft Night to the Utah Jazz where he would spend his first 3 seasons under two different head coaches. Burke came into the draft as the best player in NCAA College Basketball and that preceding college season took home awards like the 2013 National Player of The Year, 2013 Big Ten Player of the Year, and the 2013 Bob Cousy Award Recipient( given to that year's College Basketball Best Point Guard). But just like the 3 legends we have discussed, Burke has struggled to find consistency in his first several seasons. In fact, Burke's numbers look very close to the 3 legends when his First 3-Year averages in Utah stack up.

First 3 Seasons Averages

Games Played/ Games Started: 70 / 37

Minutes Per Game: 27.9

Points Per Game: 12.1

Assists Per Game: 4.1

Rebounds Per Game: 2.5

Steals Per Game: .6

Blocks Per Game: 0.13

Field Goal Percentage %: .387%

3-Point Field Goal Percentage % : .330%

Free Throw Percentage % : .824%

Knicks Player B, was none other than Emmanuel Mudiay. Emmanuel Mudiay entered the NBA in the 2015 NBA Draft as the 7^th Overall Selection to the Denver Nuggets. Mudiay entered that draft as possibility the best Point Guard prospect in the draft in a debate with Ohio State's PG/SG D'Angelo Russell. Mudiay was in conversation for the 2015 NBA Draft's 1^st overall pick for much of the early parts of 2015 year but had came into the pre-draft process off of a injury-plagued season overseas in the Chinese Professional League which effected his draft stock. Mudiay was a unique case in he didn't take the traditional route for a top ranked US High School basketball prospect to the NBA. Mudiay was the second rated High School Recruit in 2014 via Rivals.com, second only to Duke's Star Freshman Bigman Jahlil Oakfor, who went on to win a NCAA Championship with Duke in his lone college season. Mudiay's last year in High School he was considered the best Point Guard in his 2014 class by leaps and bounds and had committed to play for Legendary Head Coach Larry Brown at SMU before changing his course and playing professionally abroad in China against the likes of New York City's Own Stephon Marbury. Mudiay and many basketball people alike thought and predicted Mudiay would go between the second to the fourth selection to either the Philadelphia 76ers or the New York Knicks in the 2015 NBA Draft, but Mudiay dropped to the 7^th overall pick to the Denver Nuggets, where he would play his first 2 and half seasons in the NBA. During the 2018 Trade Deadline, Mudiay was traded to the New York Knicks where many felt he was going to play for to begin his career anyway ironically. Mudiay like Burke also posted numbers comparable to the Legends we stated early. His first 3 seasons averages look like this:

First 3 Seasons Averages

Games Played/ Games Started: 62 / 40

Minutes Per Game: 25.2

Points Per Game: 10.8

Assists Per Game: 4.2

Rebounds Per Game: 3

Steals Per Game: .7

Blocks Per Game: .3

Field Goal Percentage %: .376%

3-Point Field Goal Percentage % : .317%

Free Throw Percentage % : .738%

So now we can bring back who the actual young point guards that struggled in their first few years that became NBA Legends. Let's start with Player C.

Player C, was the 28^th Pick in the 2001 NBA Draft out of France and he became a 4-Time NBA Champion. He is San Antonio Spurs Point Guard Tony Parker. Tony Parker actually shares a few traits with Knicks Young Point Guard Frank Ntilikina, in 1) They both came from the French Professional League, 2) They both started their professional basketball careers as teenagers in the France's Pro A Professional Basketball League, 3) They both were awarded the French League Pro Best Young Player awards during their respective early pro careers, 4) They both have a story connecting their love for being great at basketball to Michael Jordan. For Tony Parker, he preferred playing football(soccer) while growing up, but after several summertime trips to Chicago as a youth he became a huge fan of Michael Jordan playing with the Bulls and influenced his interest in rather playing basketball. As for Frank Ntilikina, it was meeting the great Michael Jordan at the Jordan Brand Classic at the age of 16. He asked Michael “ What does it take to have a long and successful basketball career?” To Jordan telling the young Ntilikina, “What you have to do is love basketball. You can't be great unless you really love the game”. Jordan would give Ntilikina a few more golden nuggets but would also influence Ntilikina like he did Parker a decade before to try to be great at the game of basketball. 6) Both Parker and Ntilikina have won international MVP's for the French National Team in FIBA/EuroCup Play. For Parker, he was the 2013 EuroBasket MVP playing for the French National Team. And for Ntilikina he was the 2016 FIBA Europe Under 18 Championship MVP.

Tony Parker contrary to popular belief wasn't a player that wasn't on nobody's radar coming into the draft, as his pre-draft scouting report indicates. Parker was a very talented international player that many teams shied away from picking for not having to be patience for Parker. But as a teenager coming into a tough NBA, Parker needed the great San Antonio Spurs Organization to properly develop him, grow his confidence, be patience with his struggles and give him a playing system that could fully flourish his talents. Coach Gregg Popovich and the Spurs Organization did a great job with Parker and Tony Parker is a case where he reached his full potential in his tenure in San Antonio but Parker also struggled in his first few years.

Now to Player B, the 15^th Overall Pick in the 1996 NBA Draft was Steve Nash. Steve Nash was drafted by the Phoenix Suns, spent his first 2 seasons there before being traded and then later returning to the Suns in his 9^th Season to become a 2-Time NBA's Most Valuable Player and 5-Time All-Star with the Phoenix Suns. Nash also has a couple relate-able traits to a couple of the Knicks Young Point Guards, 1) Nash like Frank Ntilikina and Emmanuel Mudiay were born on the continent of Africa, 2) Nash like Frank Ntilkina looked to iconic Michael Jordan as heroes and Mentors in their journey to basketball greatness. 3) Nash like Trey Burke was considered a pure point guard with a supreme shooting touch coming into the NBA.

Steve Nash is another great case of a player that had great talent and was looked at as such, coming into the NBA Draft but then 3 years into his playing career, he was being shipped out of Phoenix and labeled a bad draft pick. We can see once Nash was given the opportunity to play first in Dallas then in a system that maximized his skills later in Phoenix with Coach Mike D'Antoni, Nash was as dynamic and as talented as the notable basketball scouts projected years before. Let's move on to the our last example.

Lastly Player A was, the 3^rd Overall Selection of the 1997 NBA Draft; Chauncey Billups. Chauncey Billups was drafted 3^rd by the Boston Celtics, but was traded that same season by the Celtics to the Toronto Raptors 51 Games into his Rookie Season. Billups would go on to be moved to 3 different teams within his first 5 seasons of his NBA career. His 5^th Team in his 6^th season would become the one for Billups. With the Detroit Pistons Billups would realize his full potential and abilities. There under the Detroit Pistons Organization( Where current Knicks General Manager Scott Perry was part of the Front Office) in 6-plus seasons, Chauncey Billups would become a 4-Time All-Star and 2004 NBA Finals MVP and World Champion.

Chauncey Billups however has a staggering amount of connections to young Knicks Point Guard Emmanuel Mudiay. 1) Mudiay and Billups both struggled to find their way with the Denver Nuggets Franchises early in their respective careers. 2) One of Emmanuel Mudiay's NBA Mentors is Chauncey Billups. 3) The Head Coach that produced Chauncey Billups best seasons in Detroit was Larry Brown. Larry Brown is the same coach that recruited Emmanuel Mudiay out of High School to play college ball under Brown at SMU. Brown was quoted as saying then that Mudiay, “ Is the best young Point Guard prospect I've ever seen play”. Let's not forget Larry Brown had the great Allen Iverson in Philly, Mark Jackson in Indiana, Chauncy Billups in Detroit, and Stephon Marbury in New York.

Billups is a great case and example of a young point guard that was drafted very high and passed around on by several organizations that didn't show the right patience and development and missed out on a great talent possibility helping their organization to success and possibility winning a championship.

Now that we have looked over several examples of what a player can be for a coach, a team, and a city if the whole organization gets behind the development of not just one player but every player they bring in to fit their program and culture. I will now breakdown in depth each Point Guard on the Knicks roster and how I see their potential and the potential they can become to the Knicks, Coach David Fizdale and the Great City of New York. Let's start with Guard Emmanuel Mudiay.

Emmanuel Mudiay

Player Profile:

Position: PG

Height: 6'5”

Wingspan: 7'0”

Weight: 200 Lbs

Age: 22

Drafted: 7^th Overall, 2015 Draft

Seasons Played: 3

Strengths

-Strong Ball Handler

-Offensively Can get anywhere on the court at will.

-Exceptional Court Vision

-Superb Playmaker

-Great Passer

-Special in the Open Court

-High Basketball IQ

-Can Draw Tons Of Fouls

-Outstanding Rebounder For Position

-Always Finds The Open Man

-Tremendous Potential Defensively

Emmanuel Mudiay 2015 Scouting Report Video

Pre-Draft Pro Comparisons: Tyreke Evans, John Wall, Jrue Holiday, Derrick Rose

TrueFan Potential Floor

Role Player Point Guard = Raymond Felton

TrueFan Potential Ceiling

Top Tier Point Guard = Rod Strickland

TrueFan Take:

I view Emmanuel Mudiay as a perfect case of a supremely talented player in which got drafted in a horrible situation in which the team that drafted him didn't have a plan or strategy to develop him, then failed to develop him and became impatience with the young player's progress as a effective NBA Player. The first thing I look to as to why this happen to Mudiay is what happen during his draft process. Emmanuel Mudiay during his 2015 pre-draft workouts only worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers, and The New York Knicks; picks 2,3, and 4 of the 1^st Round in the 2015 Draft respectively. Mudiay never met with the Nuggets before the Draft and the Nuggets organization never got to work out Mudiay in-person before taking the young prospect in the 2015 Draft. I believe by not even working out Mudiay the Nuggets didn't believe that Mudiay might fall to them and therefore never did their through homework on what made Mudiay so special of a talent. In those initial days of Mudiay's career in Denver, the coach tasked with developing him was Coach Mike Malone. Mike Malone is know as an elite defensive-minded Basketball coach, who was mentored on the bench and was assistant to former Knicks great Mark Jackson( while Coaching with the GS Warriors) and Malone prefers a grind-half court offense with great spread shooting. Just based off those characteristics, we can see where Mudiay talents being more offensively advanced at that stage in his career versus defense and his game being more suited to a fast-paced transition style offense, Malone and Mudiay were never a good match. Mudiay's career suffered as he lost the starting Point Guard Competition this past season to Jamal Murray because Malone felt “ nobody ran away with the race( in relation to Mudiay vs Jamal Murry Starting Point Guard Competition), Malone choose Murray because he felt Murray's outside shooting would be a better fit alongside the Nikola Jokic and Paul Millshap frontline. But the Denver Nuggets' Organization did Mudiay wrong way before taking his starting position away because of his outside shooting ability. 1) When the Nuggets drafted Mudiay in 2015, the Nuggets had a frustrated star veteran Point Guard already on the team in Ty Lawson. That hurt Mudiay's development for Lawson wasn't available to help mentor the young rookie and it became a toxic environment for any lottery pick teenage to start their career in. 2) The Nuggets drafted another point guard in Jamal Murray the very next year after drafting Mudiay. Those two moves alone show me that Mudiay never had a chance to fully develop because the organization never made moves indicating full commitment to developing Emmanuel Mudiay the prospect. So the trade to the Knicks is a sure blessing for Mudiay.

In my opinion, Mudiay has as much potential as any Point Guard in the NBA currently. I also feel that Mudiay has been put in a great position to be successful with this Knicks regime. There's a few major points I will point out that showcase great connections between Mudiay and the Knicks.

-Legendary Head Coach Larry Brown

The connection between Larry Brown, Emmanuel Mudiay, and the Knicks new leadership is incredible. Point number 1) During New General Scott Perry tenure with the Detroit Pistons as Assistant General Manager to Joe Dumars, the head coach they went and hired for those eventual championship Pistons teams was Coach Larry Brown. So Scott Perry has a long history with Coach Brown. 2) Part of the reasoning behind General Manager Scott Perry targeting Emmanuel Mudiay over Elfrid Payton( who Perry traded for during the 2014 Draft while with the Orlando Front Office) at the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline was from Perry counseling with Coach Brown on the potential of Emmanuel Mudiay. 3) To the third major connection, Coach Larry Brown so now famously recruited Emmanuel Mudiay out of High School to play under Brown's tutelage at SMU University. 4) New Knicks Head Coach David Fizdale claims in several interviews he worked and studied under Coach Brown for some time this year with his free time. However, during that time learning from Brown, Fizdale makes mentions in a podcast the two spoke of Emmanuel Mudiay. 5) When the Knicks traded for Emmanuel Mudiay, no one sung the praises of that deal more in the media and in interviews than Coach Larry Brown. Brown claiming the fresh start can really unleash Emmanuel Mudiay's great talent and potential.

-Knicks Head Coach David Fizdale

I believe part of the reason why Emmanuel Mudiay will have a great tenure in New York is directly in relation to the head coach he will have in David Fizdale. Fizdale's first comments to the players that came to his press conference was directed at Emmanuel Mudiay “ Glad to see you Mudiay. We going to get you right, kid. We're going to make you extremely hard to defend and defending on a high level.” That quote alone let's you know Fizdale has a plan in mind for Mudiay but the most important part he's committing to developing Mudiay the player and young prospect. Fizdale also spoke to the media in recent interviews about Mudiay after the Introduction Press Conference, Fizdale stating Mudiay reminds him of Tyreke Evans, whom Fizdale just coached in Memphis this previous season. Evans, the 4^th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft and 2009-10 NBA Rookie of the Year, had struggled in past years and had his best season influenced by Coach Fizdale in Memphis this last season, the best campaign in 5 years for Evans. My last point for Fizdale to greatly improving Mudiay is that the one major weakness that many basketball fans and pundits complain about Mudiay is his inefficiency at finishing at the rim given his size and athletic ability. Fizdale made great improvements at finishing at the rim for Point Guard Mike Conley in Memphis, and Fizdale has a training program he implements for his Guards shooting and scoring around the rim/basket that I believe he will school Emmanuel Mudiay in and develop Mudiay ability to score around the rim and use his great size to create havoc at and around the basket. In terms of another talented point guard that had similar skills and played a similar game, we have another NBA Point Guard Legend whose pre-draft scouting report also sounds very close to Emmanuel Mudiay potential and prospects.

Pre-Draft 1994 Scouting Report: “...Doubts: Shooting, not as bad as everyone makes it out to be, shot 36% from 3-Point range this year and started hitting free throws down the stretch as well. Also has a tendency to force things, especially in the half-court game. Also has some tendencies to make the spectacular move, than miss the lay-up. Has trouble finishing. He is able to dominate a game, without scoring.”

That scouting report was in 1994 for the eventual 2^nd Overall Pick in the 1994 NBA Draft and 10-Time NBA All-Star Point Guard Jason Kidd. Jason Kidd and Emmanuel Mudiay alike were touted as great passing point guards that could get to the rim and in the paint at will coming into the NBA. Kidd like Mudiay struggled at finishing at and around the rim/basket during his early career as well as struggling with turnovers and his outside shooting, all basketball aspects identical to that of the young Emmanuel Mudiay has suffered from. So looking at Jason Kidd's Hall of Fame Career can be very encouraging for the future of Mudiay in my opinion.

I feel under David Fizdale, Emmanuel Mudiay has the opportunity to become a All-Star level point guard in the NBA. I feel even having Jeff Hornacek as the head coach Mudiay first encountered when coming to New York was a plus for his development. Hornacek recognized Mudiay's great abilities and was willing to give Mudiay an opportunity to develop his skills and confidence. Hornacek is known for and his basketball genius is around developing combo guards in the NBA and implementing great offensive plays and offensive principles for their talents to flourish, he has a track record with players like Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Isiah Thomas. I witnessed adjustments Hornacek implemented with Mudiay this past season, improving Mudiay's set jump shot and giving Mudiay plays to get him driving downhill off the pick-and-roll during his brief time working with and coaching Emmanuel Mudiay. To that point I believe like Mark Jackson to Steph Curry and Klay Thompson instilling a great defensive foundation for them, Hornacek greatly helped built a offensive foundation as comfortable combo guards playing on and off the ball for both Frank Ntilikina, Emmanuel Mudiay, and even Trey Burke and Ron Baker.

The player I point to most that Mudiay can become in this era is former Knicks guard Rod Strickland. Rod Strickland (Strickland is also Boston Celtics PG Kyrie Irving 's Childhood God Father) at his best was a player that gave you 20 points 10-plus assists every night and he didn't have a great jump shot, but finished around the basket with a amazingly wide array of layups, floaters, spins, scoops and trick shots. For a small guy Strickland lived in the paint either setting up teammates or cleverly finding a angle to put up two points. I feel this is exactly what Mudiay's game is, he's a gifted passer and has that same rare ability as Strickland to live in the paint and around the basket. I feel Emmanuel Mudiay and Frank Ntilikina will eventually forge a backcourt together like Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas of the late 1980's Detroit Pistons and be two tough two way guards that win championships together. I feel just alike to the backcourt of Thomas and Dumars, Mudiay and Ntilikina character personalities work well off each other. On the court Mudiay is a very aggressive player that always pushing the pace and offensive envelope, whereas Ntilikina is more a defender and temperament can be passive. Just like Isiah Thomas was the very aggressive leader of those Pistons, but Dumars was an elite defender and a cold calm clutch player that didn't feed into the violent Pistons moments that Thomas would spearhead from game to game. For Emmanuel Mudiay and Frank Ntilikina size alone could make them an imposing backcourt for years to come. They are both basically 6'6” with 7'0” wingspans each, that can both pass well, both play either on the ball or off the ball Guard Positions, and are committed to playing winning team-first basketball.

I feel Mudiay's potential is too great for Mudiay not to get a shot at being the starting Point Guard for the Knicks for years to come. I already have Mudiay as my early favorite for 2018-19 Most Improved Player. I strongly feel that with Coach Fizdale supporting Mudiay, Frank Ntilikina and his teammates supporting Mudiay, and the entire Knicks organization supporting Mudiay, he will have a dominant 2018-19 Season. I don't feel like Mudiay becoming a star Point Guard would hurt Frank Ntilikina's development at all. I feel just like Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in Portland, or Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio in Utah, two point guards can work together well. The Knicks franchise actually has a successful history pinning two elite Point Guards together, in the 1970's with Earl “The Pearl” Monroe and Walt “Cylde” Fraizer. The Knicks fanbase also saw recent success with a dual Point Guard lineup in 2012 with the aforementioned Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton starting in the Knicks backcourt for that 52-Win Knicks Team.

I predict numbers for Emmanuel Mudiay in the coming 2018-19 season of 33 Minutes Per Game, 16.5 Points Per Game, 8.5 Assists Per Game, 5 Rebounds Per Game, 1.5 Steals Per Game, and 6 Free Throw Attempts Per Game. I feel for Mudiay it's just the right opportunity and right time for him, and the talent and mentality for success is there, but only time will tell.

Trey Burke

Player Profile:

Position: PG

Height: 6'1”

Wingspan: 6'5”

Weight: 190 Lbs

Age: 26

Drafted: 9^th Overall, 2013 Draft

Seasons Played: 5

Strengths

-Can score efficiently from all 3 levels( At the Basket, Mid-Range, 3pt Shot )

-Supremely Quick with the ball, Advanced Ball-Handler

-Exceptional Feel Out the Pick-and-roll

-Natural Leader / True Floor General

-Has Point Guard Polish, Can Make all the passes

-High Basketball IQ

-Very Effective Defender, Smart Defender

-Lives For the Moment, Very Clutch Player

Trey Burke 2013 Draft Scouting Video

Pre-Draft Pro Comparisons: Kemba Walker, Kyle Lowry, Chris Paul

TrueFan Potential Floor

Great Sixth Man = Jason Terry

TrueFan Potential Ceiling

NBA Level Starting Point Guard = Michael Adams

TrueFan Take:

I feel Trey Burke is another example of impatience from a organization with a very talented player. Burke I feel was failed also by his first organization. In my opinion the Utah Jazz Organization didn't do everything they could to furnish Burke's immense talents and build around Burke's star-level skill set. I do feel Burke has found a home in New York, and playing with his former college teammate Tim Hardaway Jr in time I believe will pay big dividends in the long-run.

I believe the role that best will suit Burke is being a elite sixth man, for the Knicks. Burke in my opinion could be a excellent starting Point Guard for 6-8 teams right now in the NBA, but for this Knicks team I feel he can be more beneficial as a offensive weapon in a sixth-man's role. Burke to me is a poor man's Chris Paul. He is a natural floor leader that can score from anywhere on the court efficiently and set up his teammates from any position on the court. If the Knicks could get a solid 20 to 25 minutes a night from Burke, I believe they would get production similar to what the Clippers get from Guard Lou Williams. I also feel that Burke being on the Knicks roster gives the Knicks great depth at the Point Guard position. If Emmanuel Mudiay or Frank Ntilikina were to have to miss some time with a injury, Burke I believe could step me and put up great numbers and provide the Knicks with great point guard play. With Burke I believe it's also about opportunity, the skills are there.

Frank Ntilikina

Player Profile:

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6'6”

Wingspan: 7'2”

Weight: 190 Lbs

Age: 19

Drafted: 8^th Overall, 2017 Draft

Seasons Played: 1

Strengths

-Rare Size, Length and Wingspan For Position

-Supreme Defensive Abilities, Instincts And Defensive Technique

-Hall of Famer Defensive Player Potential

-Great Court Vision

-Excellent Passer

-High Basketball IQ

-Natural Playmaker

-Team First Player

-Excelling Spot-Up Shooter

-Intense Competitor

Frank Ntilikina 2017 Draft Scouting Video

Pre-Draft Scouting Report: “...An extremely well built ball-handler, Ntilikina is developing nicely as a three-point shooter and has an overall advanced profile at a very young age. He's an aggressive defender who uses his length to create turnovers and pressure opponents. He's long and has the size to see over defenses and defend both guard spots. There's a lot of upside here.”

Pre-Draft Pro Comparisons: George Hill, Dante Exum, Avery Bradley, Gary Payton

TrueFan Potential Floor

Elite 3-And-D Guard : Nate McMillian

TrueFan Potential Ceiling

Supreme Two-Way Defensive Guard : Alvin Robertson

TrueFan Take:

Frank Ntilikina in my opinion is the one player out of the Knicks Point Guard situation that has the greatest potential upside. Frank's upside is great enough to say Ntilikina has Hall of Famer Potential. Ntilikina was selected 8^th in last year's draft at the tender age of 18 to become the Point Guard in the world's Biggest City, in the World's Most Famous Arena, as the Lead Guard in the Notoriously Vaunted Phil Jackson's Triangle Offense. That alone is reason for great optimism for the young prospect out of the French Professional Basketball league. The fact that one of the greatest coaches in NBA History in Phil Jackson(that coached arguably the greatest in Michael Jordan himself) felt Ntilikina had the IQ at age 18 to come from international waters to play in his infamous Basketball System shows you Ntilikina's is a player beyond his years. A player I feel we can compare to from a similar situation is Los Angeles Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant also came into the league and to a bright big city in Los Angeles as a teenager in 1996. Bryant also had had experience international as a youth, as his father Joe “Jelly Bean” Bryant had a impressive basketball career overseas and Kobe youth days went spent in international countries like Italy. There's two real points I want to make that compare Kobe to Frank. 1) Like Kobe, Frank has already become known for seeking out advice and putting in the work with other players to get better. Frank at the young age of 18 has already said and shown he is willing to study the greats to become great. That was a quality the 18 year-old Kobe also had. 2) Like Kobe, Ntilikina didn't get to play a lot his first season. If we look at Kobe first season, he played 71 games, started in 6 and averaged 7.6 points a game on 15.5 Minutes per game for his entire rookie campaign. To compare those numbers to Frank Ntilikina's rookie campaign, playing in 78 games, starting in 9 games and averaging 5.9 points per game in 21.9 minutes per game. We can feel better about Frank's future looking at Kobe's career progression. However I personally feel like just like Kobe, Frank Ntilikina is destined for greatness.

My next point with Frank Ntilikina is disputing the popular argument of whether Frank is a true point guard or is he better fitted to be a shooting guard. I feel that's a great barbershop debate but means nothing in terms of how good he can be or how much success he can have in his NBA career. To try to label Frank as a 1 or a 2 is pointless at this point in his young career. At this point Frank is a basketball player, and by year 3, when Frank is approaching age 21, we will have a better view of what style player he is, but for now he is still very young and developing. Also to that point, I believe Frank will be great whether he is on the ball like Damian Lillard, or he becomes a off the ball ball-handler like CJ McCollum.

When I look to project what Frank Ntilikina can ultimately become, I think to a Point Guard Version of San Antonio Spurs Forward Kawhi Leonard. I believe Ntilikina has the potential to win multiple defensive player of the year awards and be a perennial 1^st Team Defense Selection. But like Leonard I feel where Ntilikina has the greatest room for growth is offensively and becoming a unique two-way talent in the NBA. The Player I project Ntilikina to ascend to is akin to former San Antonio Spur Great Guard Alvin Robertson.

Highlights Of Alvin Robertson Quadruple Double

For many younger basketball fans that are not aware or not familiar with Alvin Robertson, he was an elite two way player during the late 1980's and early 1990's, Robertson holds the record for averaging the most steals per game in NBA history, was the 1986 Defensive Player Of The Year and is one of four players in NBA History to ever record a quadruple double. The way Robertson was an absolute nightmare for Guards during that time in NBA history and the way he dominated the game from the defensive side and many aspects of the game, I feel Ntilikina as he matures will be able to do just that for the next decade. Alvin Robertson at his best at both sides of the court was probably in his 1988 All-Star Campaign when he put up numbers of 19.6 points per game, 6.1 Rebounds per game, 6.8 Assists per game, 3.0 Steals Per Game, and 0.8 Blocks per game. I feel like when Nitlikina matures he will also put up numbers very similar, whether as the Point Guard or the Shooting Guard with the Knicks. I also feel like David Fizdale being from the Pat Riley Coaching Tree, is the perfect coach to take Ntilikina to Scottie Pippen/ Gary Payton levels of a defender.

Ron Baker 

Player Profile:

Position: SG/PG

Height: 6'4”

Wingspan: 6'10”

Weight: 220 Lbs

Age: 25

Drafted: Undrafted, 2016 Class

Seasons Played: 2

Strengths

-Jack of All Trades, Can Do Virtually Everything Well On A Basketball Court

-Scrappy Competitive Player that brings Great Intangibles To Any Team

-Good Court Vision

-Excellent Shooting Mechanics and Consistency

-High Basketball IQ

-Team First Player

-Solid Outside Shooter

-Rugged Defender

Pre-Draft Scouting Report: “...Baker is a 23-year old sharp-shooter with a high-basketball IQ and an off the charts work ethic. A team that values defense, toughness and isn't drafting Baker because of his shooting would be an ideal fit. He's the type of young guy a coach can trust.”

Ron Baker 2016 Draft Scouting Video

Pre-Draft Pro Comparisons: Shelvin Mack, Jeremy Lin, Matthew Dellavedova, Patrick Beverley

TrueFan Potential Floor

Bench Player = Scott Brooks

TrueFan Potential Ceiling

Intangible Role Player = Lindsey Hunter

TrueFan Take:

Ron Baker is a good basketball player and a great basketball story. Baker is the result of a young man's great work ethic leading to over achievement and making it to the world's best professional basketball league. Baker is the basketball's version of master of none, Jack of all Trades. Baker is the type of player that every NBA Championship has some where on the roster and is needed for any team to have continued success.

To that point I disagree with many fans and basketball pundits that claim Baker is overpaid. The argument I feel is weighing stats and numbers to heavily and stating that Baker's 4.5 Million Contract is much more in dollars than the value Baker brings to the Knicks. I have a 3 points that dispute that point, 1) Comparing to other NBA salaries, like Sacramento Kings Guard Garrett Temple ($8.00 Mil), Milwaukee Bucks Guard Matthew Delladova ($9.67 Mil), Indiana Pacers Guard Cory Joseph ($7.94 Mil), Former Knicks Guard Langston Galloway ($6.00 Mil), Orlando Magic Guard Shelvin Mack ($6.00 Mil), and even OKC Thunder Guard Alex Abrines ($5.54 Mil). I would beg to see who says these respective players are that much better than Ron Baker to say his salary is overpaying considering these NBA contracts. 2) Baker is 25 and entering his 3 NBA Season, the average salary for a rookie in this upcoming 2018 NBA Draft Lottery Pick is $4.54 Million Dollars 1^st Year Salary. Again I feel Baker value could be just as valuable to the Knicks. 3) And lastly, Baker fits the Knicks' Front Office Mantra to the teeth, “ Hustle, Work Ethics, compete on every play and give all out effort”. So basically Baker is, based on those reasons more va1uable to the Knicks than just a random player selected in the NBA Draft. Ron Baker is a player that can always have a positive impact on the game, and the most telling stat of that, in just 29 games last year for the Knicks, Baker lead the team in Plus Minus, at a +19 for the season, that was a higher mark than Knicks Franchise cornerstone Kristaps Porzingis.

In my opinion the Knicks are in luck that former President Phil Jackson discovered a Ron Baker. I believe Baker is one of those players every championship team has in their DNA and on their roster. He is the ultimate intangible player. The player I project he could be for the Knicks is something like a Cory Joseph was for the 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs Championship Team. A great role player that can provide great depth to any team Guard Position.

TrueFan Outlook

In looking at the landscape of the NBA, we can't help but notice the Point Guard Position. In Today's NBA there virtually a star at Point Guard for every team in the league. So there's no way around being successful in today's NBA without having a great point guard or two on your team. For the New York Knicks organization, obtaining a great point guard has been a tough task in recent memory. The Knicks haven't had a elite Point Guard in their prime manning that Position since Stephon Marbury in the early 2000's. Since then 3 specific moves have prevented the Knicks from securing another young player to be their star Point Guard. 1) Drafting Jordan Hill in the 2009 NBA Draft over Point Guard Brandon Jennings. 2) Being unable to retain and sign Jeremy Lin to a long-term deal after Lin showed the promise of being the Knicks Future Starting Point Guard. 3) Case of Jerian Grant; not being able to retain Point Guard Derrick Rose after giving up the young prospect Point Guard Jerian Grant for Rose. Those 3 moves have left the Knicks in the position they are now. But the good news is as of last season, the Knicks have acquired not one, but three young starting caliber Point Guards.

I believe at the position of Point Guard for the Knicks the future is very bright. With the 2018 NBA Draft approaching I believe the Knicks have no reason to even look at adding another Point Guard. With no disrespect to the prospect Point Guard in the 2018 NBA Draft, not one of them have the same ceiling entering their draft as either Emmanuel Mudiay( was the arguably the top Point Guard in 2015 Draft), Trey Burke( was the best Point Guard coming out of his 2013 Draft) or Frank Ntilikina (whom is already the best Point Guard Pick-and-roll Defender in the NBA).

So Knicks fans can get excited that the Knicks will add another great piece to this building team but can confidently know the Knicks are comfortably covered at the Point Guard Position.

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