The Knicks recently interviewed BYU’s Yoeli Childs and could have interest in the power forward/center as a second-round pick, sources tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv. New York has talked to several prospects in that range, Begley adds, but Childs should be considered part of the group receiving consideration for the team’s selection at No. 38.
Childs has been reportedly been impressive during interviews with teams that own picks in upper half of the second round. He averaged 22.2 points and 9.0 rebounds for the Cougars during his senior season and was a finalist for the Karl Malone Award, which recognizes the best power forward in college basketball. Childs is also a threat from beyond the arc, hitting 48.9% of his 3-point attempts last season.
There’s more from New York City:
- Alex Smith of SNY.tv examines the pros and cons for the Knicks of selecting Dayton forward Obi Toppin if he falls to the eighth slot. Toppin was the NCAA’s best player last season, averaging 20.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and winning the Naismith Trophy. He’s athletic at 6’9″, loves to drive to the basket and as a Brooklyn native, he would be a fan favorite at Madison Square Garden. However, he doesn’t fill the team’s top priority, which is finding a point guard, and there might not be a clear position for him in the NBA.
- French point guard Killian Hayes goes to the Knicks in the latest mock draft from Brian Lewis of The New York Post. A report earlier this week listed Hayes as the second point guard on New York’s draft board, behind only LaMelo Ball. Lewis has Ball going to Minnesota with the No. 1 pick.
- With three selections, the Knicks face difficult choices about which players to see in person, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. The Timberwolves and Warriors have indicated that their picks might be available in trade, so New York needs to be well versed in all the top prospects in case the club gets an opportunity to move up. But there are also plenty of players to study for choices at No. 27 and 38. Without a traditional draft combine this year, the league is allowing teams to watch players in person from October 16 to November 16.
So the Knicks are considering taking power forwards at 8 and 38? This feels like a parody story on the Onion. Maybe they could also trade 27 for someone’s disappointing young PG (Darius Garland?) and it would just be complete.
Lol !!!
Number 8 and next year’s unprotected first rounder for Malik Monk and the right to swap second round picks.
Childs has a great stroke from 3 but can’t hit a free throw? Very strange. Hopefully that improves as he gets older and matures but he’s a four-year college guy. And he’s a power forward who averages less than a block per game while playing way over 30 minutes his senior year? Okay I guess he’s second round material. Go for it.
By the way I think Obi toppin will measure out at 6-6 and Anthony Edwards will measure out at 6- 3. Just saying.
ESPN has had Edwards at 6-3 tho some list him at 6-5. Toppin is 6-9 everywhere that I’ve seen… he went through some pre-draft last year.
I really doubt Toppin slides that far.
Personally I have him right in that top 5 with Edwards Ball Wiseman and Haliburton.
Toppin is scary good and I don’t understand why he isn’t getting more hype for number 1 pick.
He’s the modern day PF, hes hard to stop on the break, can stretch the floor, finishes with power and gets you some boards. He’s also unselfish and good at passing, is high IQ, can defend at an alright level and with his size and athleticism he could develop even more at both ends.
He’s also got one of the highest floors meaning even if he doesn’t reach his potential he’s still probably going to be decent whereas there is huge bust potential on Ball
I agree. With his local connections, I don’t think Toppin slides any further than the Cavs pick at 5.
Right now I foresee a top 5 of Edwards, Wiseman, Ball, Avdija, Toppin. The bad thing is that I really don’t have any idea where any of them will wind up. I have reasonable guesses for all of them, but there is no pick that I view as 100% likely to happen. Probably not even higher than 75%. I think it makes this draft both frustrating to follow and immensely entertaining.
Yeah agree having Covid hit and players out there are some huge questions marks at the top of the draft. There also isn’t a huge stand out clear 1,2,3 like in previous years but it’s still a decent draft. Would be great for a team like the Celtics with multiple late selections. They can either trade them away for players, take someone they think is sliding down the board or find a potential diamond in the rough. Like If Cole Anthony was to slide down he would be a great pick up for them. Having him sit behind Kemba and learn off him, coach Stevens, Tatum, Smart and Brown it would be great for the kid and then he could eventually take over. I think he’s has the potential to be an all star and he’s slipping down.
I think the Celtics are far more likely to take a couple of draft and stash Europeans with their last two firsts. Either that or trade 1 or both for cash or future picks. I just don’t see them looking at a trade up here. Of course if there is a guy they happen to love, having that trade ammo is not a bad thing.
Cole Anthony is just a strange prospect in that I have seen him projected anywhere from the mid lotto to the mid 2nd round. He is a very divisive prospect. But there seems to be several of those this year. Tyrese Maxey and Vernon Carey come to mind.
Toppin is a good enough player to take #8, and I think he could easily fall there. He fits what the Knicks are looking for on several fronts, namely he’s a high IQ player who moves well and is gifted offensively. Not my first choice, but not a bad one. Negatives are that he’s likely a one position player, at 4. He can guard that spot, but isn’t a rim or paint protector, and might not have the lateral quickness to switch effectively. He’s not a great rebounder. He’ll turn 23 this coming season. If they draft him, it has to be to as a plug in and play 4 with a quick path to 30 min/game. If they’re not confident of that, then they should go in another direction.