2023 NBA Mock Draft 5.0: Pistons face difficult choice at No. 2
. F, Michigan. New York Knicks. Jett Howard. 13. player. 27
The Knicks have been surprisingly sturdy on both sides of the ball this season, thanks in no small part to Julius Randle’s return to All-Star form and the skyward trajectory of Jalen Brunson. The Josh Hart trade at the deadline furthered strengthened the supporting cast for one of the NBA’s most compelling postseason underdogs.
Looking forward, however, the Knicks do still have holes to plug. Another shooter would do them good. Jett Howard checks a lot of boxes in today’s NBA: at 6-foot-8, he can swish 3s with pinpoint accuracy and contribute amply on the margins offensively.
The son of current Michigan head coach and former NBA star Juwan Howard, basketball clearly runs in the family. Jett is one of the most NBA-ready offensive players in the draft, consistently moving without the ball and shooting off screens. He plays with his head on a swivel and flashes shot-making upside that goes beyond his current role-player projections.
What will make or break Howard at the next level is defense. He competes hard but he’s not the greatest athlete and he’s still very mistake-prone (who isn’t at 19 years old?). In that sense, who better to coach him up than Tom Thibodeau? Check back next season to see if I actually believe that.