The Knicks held a last-minute workout with North Carolina guard Coby White this morning, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. It’s the second significant workout in less than 24 hours for New York, which brought in Vanderbilt’s Darius Garland yesterday.
White was impressive in the private session, according to Ian Begley of SNY.TV (Twitter link), and the Knicks are prepared to trade down if they get the right offer. They have also worked out Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver and met with Duke’s Cam Reddish, but are still expected to select Duke’s R.J. Barrett if they remain at No. 3.
There’s more draft news as tonight’s event draws closer:
- Some members of the Knicks organization believe Garland is a better prospect than Barrett, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. The Pelicans have discussed teaming Barrett with his Duke pal, Zion Williamson, and may be willing to surrender an asset in addition to the fourth pick to trade up to No. 3. After yesterday’s workout, Garland met with Knicks president Steve Mills, GM Scott Perry and coach David Fizdale.
- If the Knicks draft a point guard, they may look to trade Dennis Smith Jr. along with Frank Ntilikina, tweets Steve Popper of Newsday.
- The Hawks might not be done moving second-round picks after sending No. 44 to the Heat yesterday and No. 41 to the Warriors this morning. Chris Vivlamore of the Journal-Constitution tweets that Atlanta’s selection at No. 35 is also available.
- Darius Bazley appears to have a first-round promise from somebody, tweets Tony Jones of The Athletic.
- Scouts tell Sean Deveney of The Sporting News that Auburn’s Chuma Okeke, Oregon’s Bol Bol, Virginia’s Ty Jerome and Arkansas’ Daniel Gafford are being underrated in pre-draft reports.
- Teams with late first-rounders are focusing on Villanova’s Eric Paschall, tweets Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, who expects him to be taken between 19th and 30th.
I want to be on record. There is no way that Bol Bol is an effective player in the NBA. He will be broken before the All-Star break, and he will never be right. He has bust written all over him. There, I’ve said my piece.
7’2 and shot 52% from 3 and scored 21 ppg in the pac 10 with off the dribble game. That doesn’t sound like it will translate at all in today’s game.
I don’t think the skills are a question mark. But in many cases, the best ability is availability. I hope he thrives in the NBA (unless he’s on the Jazz or Lakers), but durability and career longevity is always a concern for big men with foot injuries.
He didn’t even play a conference games. Scoring 21 against southern Connecticut doesn’t prove anything.
Any*
Predictions are hard, especially about NBA draft picks. Lots of people with a lifetime of basketball knowledge make mistakes every draft.
So, suffice to say, you’ve got a good chance of being right simply because most draft picks don’t pan out. But that doesn’t mean your prediction is based on any special insights.
Yeah most players don’t make it, injured ones less so. That’s why he’s viewed as a major risk/reward player. If you want a sure thing trade all your picks for players like Ilyasova
I agree 100%
You got 7 responses, hit this up some more.
Devaney’s facebook thing quotes unnamed scouts, so he’s not going out on a limb.
But I dislike the advice to take a gamble on Bol because the draft this year sux… I don’t think it sux. I didn’t like Vecenie mocking Bol to the Cavs at #26.
Pels should trade down to the 5-7 spot and aim for Culver or Hunter.
Zion/Ingram/Ball/Randle and Culver/Hunter would be one heck of a core. Also, I’d trade Holiday if I were them. Lots of teams like the Heat, Suns, Bulls, Knicks, Celtics and Clippers could all use a guard like him and Pels should start over fresh with all young talent.
Randle opted out
Bondy may be on to something, thus the other player sessions outside of Barrett. Could move to the 4th pick, then move again for Atlanta’s picks. Not sure I’d do it considering the upside Barrett has over the others they’re looking at.
Typical Knicks. Always willing to gamble for a hope. Gambled by rushing to trade Porzingis with hopes of signing KD and KI. Gambled last year by drafting Knox over Michael Porter Jr. And about to do it again by NOT drafting Barrett.
Steve Popper of Newsday providing a delightful insight of the obvious.