NBA Draft 2017: 5 targets for the New York Knicks
The New York Knicks hold the No. 8 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and desperately need an infusion of youth and talent. Which prospects should they be focused on?
For the vast majority of my adult life, the New York Knicks have been a rollicking clown car of incompetence. Long gone are their days of being the NBA’s Postseason Sisyphus, perennially contending, but consistently overmatched, disappointingly watching as their Larry O’Brien boulder repeatedly got kicked down the hill by Jordan’s Bulls, Reggie’s Pacers or Alonzo’s Heat.
While those bittersweet Knick teams weren’t able to bring home any championship hardware, they were much beloved and often get waxed poetic. Probably because they personified the city they represented: tough, hard-working, and never indifferent. Also because it was the last time when you weren’t embarrassed to root for the Knicks.
Phil Jackson’s arrival in the Big Apple was supposed to bring the Knicks to prominence. For this was the Zen Master. The man with 11 rings. The real-life Obi-Wan Kenobi. He knows what it takes to build a powerhouse and manage obstinate psyches. Instead of bringing balance to the force, he kept the train of dysfunction rolling ahead at full speed. But for all his social media faux pas, ill-fated free agent signings, and Carmelo Anthony smear campaigns, Phil has done a good job at retaining draft capital.
The past season was an abject tire fire, but the hope of the draft springs eternal for Knick fans. On the night of the lottery, dreams of frozen envelopes danced in their heads. Unfortunately, it was for naught. The Knicks actually fell a spot and will be picking eighth. They need to weigh the pros and cons of all their possible options for June 22 when they’re on the clock.
5. Dennis Smith Jr., PG, NC State
The Knicks find themselves in dire need of a point guard, someone who makes the players around him better, a rising tide to lift all ships. It’s hard to see if Smith is that guy, especially once you consider NC State didn’t make the tournament this past March. He doesn’t check the clichéd box of being a “winner,” but that might be something chalked up as a product of subpar teammates and coaching.
New York could also use a floor general that can rise to a level with the league’s elite athletes. De’Aaron Fox would be their ideal fit. But with Fox climbing up draft boards and now receiving top-three buzz, Smith will most likely be their best bet.
Smith has explosive burst and quickness he uses to power his scoring prowess. A five-star recruit out of high school, he fits the profile of a typical sure-fire top-five pick. However, he comes with the dreaded injury-history red flag after tearing his ACL in 2015. Smith is the ultimate risk/reward mid-lottery pick and one the Knicks need to take a long look at if he’s available.