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Knicks Final Mock Draft: Trade up fails, targeting a point guard, shooting guards

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tre mann, knicks

The New York Knicks are trying to find a trade partner in the 2020 NBA draft. Having explored the idea of moving up with the Golden State Warriors, the team is trying to package their first-round picks together to move up into the late lottery.

Teams simply aren’t interested in moving back into the 20s, as several quality prospects reside in the top 15 selections. As for the Knicks, they sit tight and stick with their guns in this scenario, spending their picks on several different players.

Final Knicks Mock Draft:

Pick 19: SG Trey Murphy

The Knicks have been connected to shooting guard Trey Murphy recently. Murphy presents a fantastic physical profile as he prepares to transition to the NBA. At 6’8″ and 206 pounds, he has a 7-foot wingspan that resembles similar measurements to Jayson Tatum.

As a solid defensive player and scorer, he fits the 3-and-D mold perfectly for Tom Thibodeau. Having spent three seasons at the collegiate level with Rice and Virginia, Murphy has plenty of experience. Murphy averaged 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and shot 50% from the field this past season. An even more exciting statistic, he connected on 43% of his shots from three, showcasing his prowess as a shooter.

Some of his weaknesses include a lack of physicality, but that is something he can improve on as his frame fills out. Murphy is 21-years-old, presenting a younger option than Chris Duarte, who will be turning 24.

Pick 21: PG Tre Mann

Knicks need a point guard desperately in the draft and one that preferably can create shots for others and himself. Tre Mann could be the perfect fit for the Knicks with the 21st overall pick.

Mann is a smooth ball handler that creates space, which inevitably forces defenders out of position and opens up shots for his teammates. He is a purebred scorer, shooting over 40% from three and ranked in the 90th percentile in pull-up jumpers last season.

While his defense lacks physicality and aggressiveness, he’s a player Thibodeau can depend on to open up the floor and offer scoring process. If Mann can improve defensively and add more court vision to his game, he could develop into a solid starting PG.

Pick 32: C Day’Ron Sharpe

The Knicks struggled considerably in the paint during the postseason due to a lack of physicality. Rolling with Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson, they could use another center who plays with aggression. North Carolina big man Day’Ron Sharpe fits the bill perfectly.

Traditionally, physically imposing big men aren’t necessary in the NBA anymore, but having one as a reserve center could pay dividends against more disruptive interior defenders. Having played just one season with UNC, the 6’11”, 265-pound center is a bruiser and is solid around the rim. He’s a traditional low post scorer but doesn’t offer much as a shooter. The Knicks don’t depend on their centers to offer much in the scoring department but rather contribute consistent defense.

His strengths include rebounding, shot-blocking, but struggles with on-ball defending. If he is still available with a 32nd overall pick, he would be a great fit behind Robinson, adding a physical presence the Knicks don’t have.

Pick 58: PF Santi Aldama

Having addressed the center and guard positions, the Knicks take a flyer on Santi Aldama out of Loyola with the 58 overall pick. Standing at 6’11” and 215 pounds, Aldama averaged 21.2 points, 2.3 assists, and 10.1 rebounds this past season. He connected on 51% of his shots from the field and nearly 37% from range.

Aldama has the potential to become a stretch-four player, showcasing solid scoring abilities in the post and from the field. Overall, he seems to be an average player all around with potential but does have streaky moments with his shooting. He hasn’t enjoyed many games against top-tier college teams but dominated with Loyola, giving him some ground to stand on.

NBA Draft Combine: Shotmakers on Knicks’ radar

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The biggest takeaway from the New York Knicks’ playoff flop is that they need more shotmakers.

It was a jarring reminder of what the Knicks are missing.

They saw up close how Trae Young demolished their season-long top-five defense. Then they watched Young cut Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons down to size in the second round. The Atlanta Hawks continue to soar, beating Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on the road behind Young’s career-high 48 points.

Over in the West, Leon Rose’s former favorite clients Chris Paul and Devin Booker are leading the Phoenix Suns’ scorching playoff run.

It’s becoming clear that the NBA is reverting to a guards’ league.

With Damian Lillard increasingly likely to stay in Portland, and Paul standing on solid ground in Phoenix, the Knicks will have to find the needle in the haystack in this Draft.

After rounding up few marginal prospects in the past weeks, New York’s top brass have turned up the notch. In a show of force, Rose, Scott Perry, coach Tom Thibodeau and scouting guru Walt Perrin led a strong contingent that flew to Chicago for this week’s NBA Draft Combine.

The Knicks have sized up the next three explosive guards outside Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, and Jalen Suggs, who are projected to go inside the Top Four.

Curiously, fan-favorite Sharife Cooper of Auburn revealed on Thursday he has not met with the Knicks yet while he acknowledged he’s hearing a lot of people wanting him to go there. Meanwhile, Florida’s Tre Mann said he’s met with about 10 teams though it wasn’t clear if the Knicks are included in that group.

New York has four picks in the draft — the 19th and 21st pick (via Dallas) in the first round; 32nd (via Detroit) and 58th pick (via Philadelphia) in the second round.

Trending up

VCU’s Nah’shon “Bones” Hyland could be available by the time the Knicks select in the early second round. But the Delaware native might have played his way to the first round after an impressive showing in Day 1 of the Draft Combine.

Hyland drew rave reviews after putting together 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists in his team’s 76-57 win in front of NBA executives and scouts. Measured as 6’3.5” with shoes and a 6’8.25” wingspan, Hyland could be another Immanuel Quickley, a steal at 25th pick last year. The Rams’ high-scoring guard shot 7-of-11 from the field including 3-of-5 3s. He was the best player on the floor on Day 1.

Hyland said he had workouts with the Utah Jazz, Knicks, and the Boston Celtics before heading to Chicago.

“The [Knicks] workout went very well. I did my thing, that’s for sure. Interviewing with the front office, I think, was one of the best parts of the workout,” Hyland said.

In two seasons with the Rams, he shot 40 percent of his 3s on six attempts per game. He was VCU’s leading scorer last season with 19.5 points on a 45/37/86 shooting split.

Hyland missed out on the opportunity to raise his draft stock in the NCAA tournament after the Rams were forced to pull out due to multiple positive COVID-19 cases.

His Draft Combine performance should erase some doubts on whether Hyland’s three-level scoring can translate well against tougher competition.

“I’m a combo guard,” Hyland said. “And I can run the point as well. I’m very versatile. I see my game as a scoring point guard, honestly. That’s really me. I can assist the ball at a high level, and I could score at a really high level. But I have a lot to offer for sure.”

Hyland said he’s gotten some pointers from Quickley ahead of his Knicks’ interview.

“I played a little rec (recreation) ball with him. He’s a great dude. He’s like my bro,” Hyland said of Quickley.

The 20-year old NBA prospect is confident that he’ll go high in the Draft and the Knicks might need one of their first-round picks if they intend to grab him.

“[I’m gonna be picked] High for sure. I’m the type of guy who will go back to the lab and grind for sure. And then everything goes and will take care of itself,” he said.

Safe pick

A projected first-rounder is newly-minted NCAA champion Jared Butler, who met with Rose and co. before he sat down for his media availability on Thursday.

“I just interviewed with the Knicks like 10, 20 minutes ago,” said Baylor’s leading scorer. “It went great. It went really well.”

Butler led the Bears to the national title as their leading scorer averaging 16.7 points and 4.8 assists.

The 20-year old Butler is a smart, crafty combo guard who can create his shot and bully smaller guards. Packed with a smooth, high-release jump shot, Butler shot 41.6 percent of his 3s on 6.2 attempts last season.

He was measured 6’3.75” with shoes but some scouts have scoffed at his small 6’4” wingspan. However, that didn’t stop him from being a solid defender averaging two steals per game.

Some in the Knicks organization are high on him for his tremendous basketball IQ and his impact on winning. They quizzed him during his interview.

“[They] Just really try to get to know me and pick my brains in certain situations in the game. They asked me about specific things during my time at Baylor. What I learned from that. How’s that translate to their team but it went really well,” Butler said.

Butler’s lack of size and athleticism has pushed him out of the lottery. He’s projected to go as high as No. 19 (ESPN) to as low as No. 31 (The Athletic).

Hometown kid with star appeal

What Butler lacks, UConn’s athletic guard James Bouknight has.

Measured at 6’4.75” with shoes and a 6’8.25” wingspan, Bouknight is one of the bigger guards in the Draft.

As the Huskies’ go-to guy, he averaged 18.7 points and had a career-high 40 points against Creighton.

While he is more of a scorer than a playmaker, Bouknight has struggled with his outside shot. He only averaged 1.8 assists and hit just 29.3 percent of his 3s.

“I think [my 3-point shot] it’s definitely part of my game that’s underrated and my playmaking ability,” Bouknight said.

“I just feel like the role I had at UConn — being that go-to guy to go get the team a bucket when we need one — I sometimes took ill-advised, tough shots. That came with the role I had,” he explained. “I’m not worried at all about my 3-point shot. Like at all. I think I’m going to surprise a lot of people.”

Booker and Donovan Mitchell started their NBA careers with a shaky outside shot. So there’s a belief that Bouknight, a natural scorer with great size for a guard, can develop in the next level. 

Bouknight, a Brooklyn native, grew up a Knicks fan.

“Being from New York, playing basketball growing up in New York, playing at the Garden, it would be a dream come true,” Bouknight said.

And he made that clear to the Knicks’ top brass during his interview, giving them the motivation to trade up for him.

“I don’t even know how to explain that feeling. Going to New York would be fun and hit everyone up I grew up with. That would be like an accomplishment for me. I definitely told them I’m from New York. They kind of already knew,” Bouknight said.

The UConn star could be selected inside the top 10 to just outside the lottery. The Athletic currently views him as the Golden State Warriors’ pick at No. 7. Bleacher Report has Bouknight going to the Indiana Pacers at No. 13. ESPN sees him going to the Warriors at No. 14. The Ringer pegs him as the Knicks’ 19th pick.

If picked by his hometown team, Bouknight is confident he could slide into the lead guard’s role that the Knicks have been missing.

“I feel like the Knicks fit would be great.  Just another guard you can give the ball and ask him to get a basket,” Bouknight said. “I really feel my playmaking ability is underrated. Going to a team where I can showcase that part of my game, I feel I can do that for the Knicks.”

He has the supreme belief that he’s built for The Mecca.

“Watching the playoffs, you see you need that guy to give the ball, and he can just create a basket and make plays for others and be a go-to guy. I feel I can be that as a rookie. I feel I’m someone you can get the ball to and go get a basket.”

Bouknight, Butler, and Hyland offer different types of shotmaking and playmaking. Could one of them become the answer to the Knicks’ backcourt woes?

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Why Tre Mann is the perfect Knicks prospect target at point guard

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knicks, tre mann

The Knicks have their hands full this off-season trying to solve the point guard position, as they consider multiple high-profile free agents with plenty of funds to allocate. With names like Chris Paul, Lonzo Ball, and Dennis Schroder crowding the headlines as potential options for New York, they will also likely view the NBA draft as an opportunity to further bolster the position.

In fact, signing a starting point guard and drafting another would likely be in their best interest — somebody they can develop and bring in off the bench in their rookie season to contribute. However, the Knicks need to focus more on offense rather than defense at the position, especially with Derrick Rose and Elfrid Payton set to hit the open market in August.

The draft offers plenty of suitable options, but one who could slip to the 19th or 21st overall pick is Florida stand-out guard Tre Mann.

CBS projected Tre Mann to the Knicks in their 5th edition mock draft, stating:

The Knicks were a great story this season. They made the playoffs when no one expected they would, playing a physical style in the mold of their tough-nosed coach. But the playoffs proved their offense is … not great. Tre Mann at No. 21 feels like good value as a potential add to help on that front. He made 40.2% from 3 at Florida last season and has the offensive versatility to add a little on and off the ball.

Mann is an exciting young prospect who offers plenty of offensive prowess at point guard. Last year with the Gators, the 6’5″, 190-pound guard averaged 16 points, 3.5 assists, and shot .459 from the fields. He also hit on .402 of his shots from downtown, attempting 4.7 per contest. He also elevated his free-throw shooting from .655 as a freshman to .831 as a sophomore, a significant jump that should convince front offices he has a well-rounded offensive game.

While Mann lacks the functional strength to be an elite defender, he exerts maximum effort to make up for his lack of frame. He has plenty of room to grow at 20 years old, and with Tom Thibodeau demanding aggressive defense, there’s no question they will focus on that portion of his game if he is drafted.

What would Tre Mann offer the Knicks during the 2021-22 season?

I believe Tre is a perfect fit with the Knicks, as he provides immediate offense from the position and can develop in a secondary role if New York elects to sign a free agent to fill the starting spot. Last year, the Knicks deployed multiple guard schemes, which should allow a player like Mann to find reps throughout the course of his rookie campaign.

More positives the Florida product contributed last season was an obvious ability to create shots and find space on the floor. He has fantastic handles and can pull up for jumpers in the blink of an eye. With enough athleticism to get around defenders, his potential is what we should be really looking at here. The developmental leap he took last year in Gainesville should suggest that he has far more room to grow, which is an enticing factor for the Knicks.

New York Knicks: 3 point guards to target in the NBA Draft

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davion mitchell, knicks

Despite the fact the New York Knicks have $50+ million in available funds this off-season, they should still be targeting a point guard in the 2021 NBA draft. With the Detroit Pistons winning the lottery, the Knicks looked on from afar, having made the postseason, and finally took a step forward in their progression.

The organization is no longer a pushover, thanks to head coach Tom Thibodeau and the rise of Julius Randle. Most believe New York will be an attractive landing spot for star players this off-season, so the Knicks can put their salary space to good use.

However, signing a point guard shouldn’t deter them from drafting one as well, as they can easily utilize multiple guards in the starting lineup; the departure of Derrick Rose and Elfrid Payton could also open up a slot at the position. The Knicks will have their eyes set on a variety of different PGs in the draft, so let’s take a look at three who could offer long-term solutions.

Three point guards the Knicks could target in the 2021 NBA Draft:

1.) Davion Mitchell

Mitchell is currently projected to go in the top 10, but the Knicks have two first-round selections, number 19 and 21, which they can pair together and move up to possibly land the Baylor stand out. As one of the best defenders in the draft, he fits the bill perfectly for Thibodeau and his aggressive defensive mentality.

According to ESPN:

Naismith and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Arguably the best on-ball defender in the draft. Strong frame. Sturdy lower body. Lightning-quick feet. Does a tremendous job of taking on-ball charges. Great anticipation. Fights over the top of screens. Battles on switches. Plays much bigger than his measurements suggest. Elite defender from day one in the NBA.

Mitchell is a fantastic overall prospect, offering elite defense on day one and solid offensive production. Last season, Mitchell averaged 14 points, 5.5 assists, and shot .511 from the field over 33 minutes played on average .

2.) Jared Butler

An alternative if the Knicks miss out on Mitchell would be Jared Butler, his teammate. The 6’3″, 195-pound guard averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 assists, and shot .471 from the field last year. He also connected on .416 of his shots from three, attempting 6.2 per game. Butler is not a physically imposing guard, hosting average size, but he is an aggressive player who puts forth the effort to make up for his lack of frame.

If the Knicks sit still and wait for their selections, there’s a good chance Butler will be available, and as a First-Team All-American who won the National Championship last year, he represents a quality player. In addition, he won’t be 21 until August, so he offers a bit more youth and developmental flexibility.

3.) Tre Mann

Another option that could be hovering in the 20 to 25 range is Tre Mann out of Florida. At 6’5″ and 190 pounds, Mann is ranked as the fourth-best point guard in this class, according to ESPN. As a fantastic handler of the ball and containing superior athleticism, he offers solid offense in the paint, driving to the basket. He shot over 40% from beyond the arc and ranked in the 90th percentile on pull-ups last season. He is a smooth scorer with room to grow but doesn’t have the mean defensive mentality Thibs prefers.

Nonetheless, Mann is a scoring point guard with potential as a defender, and that’s simply what the Knicks need now at the position. Mann will be a solid alternative for New York, who they wouldn’t have to trade up to land, allowing them to allocate their two first-round picks on different players/positions.

If you had a choice, who would you take in the draft? Comment below!