Two Draft Options That Could Ignite The New York Knicks’ Future
The New York Knicks failed to reach the post-season for the 8th time in the last 10 years but, armed with the 11th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, they’re in a great position to re-write their own history.
After being one of the biggest surprises throughout the 2020–21 season, the Knicks are once again back in a familiar-feeling conundrum of uncertainty.
In desperate need of on-court investment and with a future that’s presently very difficult to ascertain following the regression of star player Julius Randle and the slowing of development within their young core, the Knicks must now look to the 11th pick in next month’s NBA Draft for some inspiration. Throw- in Kemba Walker’s persistent knee issues and Mitchell Robinson’s impending free agency to the mix, and the Knicks would be wise to survey the draft for possible cost-effective alternatives.
With plenty of dominos yet to fall in the Knicks’ offseason universe, there are a few key directions they can move in that will strengthen the rebuild and help pave the way back to the NBA’s elite.
TyTy Washington — Point Guard (Kentucky)
Per40 Stats: 17.1 ppg | 5.3 apg | 4.7 rpg
Shooting Splits: 45.1 FG% — 35.0 3P% — 75.0 FT%
Despite some scouts considering Washington the third-best guard in this year’s draft, the point guard out of Kentucky still has the potential to become one of the biggest steals of the 1st round.
The 6’3” and 195lbs Washington, a confident shot-creator with great court vision, is in the archetypical sweet spot for a natural point guard who doesn’t rely on raw athleticism to get into his groove. As the primary ball-handling option, the former Wildcat is comfortable orchestrating the pick-and-roll and has a pretty deep bag of tricks to create his own offense. With great instincts and anticipation, Washington’s stutter-step and ability to switch tempo means he never struggles to create space and get to his beloved mid-range shot, arguably the most deadly weapon in his arsenal alongside an efficient floater from the top of the paint.
And although his sweet shooting stroke has yet to translate fully beyond the three-point line, Washington still hit 34% of his 3 or so attempts per game during the college season. More than that, the mechanics of his shot and ability to quickly set his feet would indicate that this is something he’s got a high probability of adding over the next couple of years.
As a viable option for the Knicks at no.11, Washington would add a nice balance of basketball IQ and facilitation to go alongside Obi Toppin, R.J Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley as a young core, and would be well suited to play alongside a score-first option like Derrick Rose in the rotation. If the Knicks are also able to tie down Mitchell Robinson long-term, he’d settle nicely into an effective role cutting to the basket and making the most of Washington’s ability as a lob passer in transition.
Although a great-looking NBA-ready prospect, there are still a couple of creases to iron out in Washington’s game. Defensively there’s work to do on his awareness and ability to read rotational adjustments, and his lack of footspeed means he’ll likely lose ground on longer offensive players out on the perimeter. If a team drafts him with the intention of running more of a combo-guard rotation or having him consistently play at the two, he’ll struggle to handle more physical matchups where he doesn’t have the same length and size advantage, and his higher release-point will lose its effectiveness if defenders can effectively close out on him inside the arc.
It’s tough to place a definitive former player comparison on Washington, but he’s clearly taken certain elements from pass-first floor general point guards like Chris Paul and Andre Miller, but still brings his own modern swing to the position.
Jalen Duran — Center (Memphis)
Per40 Stats: 18.9 ppg | 12.9 rpg | 3.3 bpg
Shooting Splits: 59.7 FG% — 0.0 3P% — 62.5 FT%
When one of the youngest players in the entire draft class at just 18 also happens to have one of the most physically imposing and NBA-ready bodies, it’s time to sit up and pay attention. At 6'11" and 250lbs, University of Memphis’ forward/center Jalen Duran is exactly that.
An explosive athlete and ferocious shot-blocker and rebounder with huge upside on both ends of the court, Duran remains one of the most intriguing prospects in the lineup as we edge closer to draft night.
As a defensive presence in the paint, Duran’s athletic frame and 7'5" wingspan alone make him an intimidating matchup for any opposing player setting their sights on a dash to the rim, but his nimble footwork and surprising agility adds a whole other dimension to the nightmare. The shifting priorities of NBA teams who operate with a more traditional interior center shouldn’t deter any of the lottery teams from taking a chance on Duran. He’s already shown a moderate ability to step out and guard smaller assignments on the perimeter, so the chances of him being hunted in the same way that a DeAndre Ayton or Rudy Gobert have been are a little lower.
The biggest question mark defensively for Duran at this point in his young career is the occasional overzealousness leading to unnecessary fouls — in a similar vein to that of Jaren Jackson J.R. of the Memphis Grizzlies, but more often than not, these types of issues fade with maturity.
Although more of a “traditional” big man from an offense perspective, Duran does still have plenty in his repertoire that’ll allow him to contribute to an NBA team from the outset.
Firstly, Duran is a very capable passer out of the high post. He doesn’t have a particularly tight or impressive handle, but his ability to see the floor (both literally and tactically) is a huge asset and one he fully understands how to make the most of. Very few high-level modern centers remain in the NBA that aren’t also able to operate as a facilitator, particularly for schemes that run a 4-out offensive unit.
As this type of raw physical profile would tend to indicate Duran is also a very impressive rim-runner, in addition, he possesses a somewhat delicate touch around the rim, so there is an heir of finesse mixed in with the brutality.
For Duran to progress into a truly elite big-man at the NBA level he’ll have to work on improving his jump shot but, unlike some of the similarly projected players in the past, he does appear to have a steady and mechanically-sound shooting form so, with practice, should realistically develop a more reliable ability to step further out and space the floor similar, again, to that of DeAndre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns.
There is still an abundance of questions to be answered before it becomes clear which direction the Knicks go in this offseason. With a multitude of injury concerns, expiring contracts, and no significant max-contract cap space to reinvigorate the squad in free agency, the draft could be the best possible option for Tom Thibodeau and the front office to better equip themselves for another run at the playoffs in 2023.
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