The Knicks will have a great opportunity to add some immediate help in the 2021 draft, stocked with two first-round and two-second round picks. David Vertsberger of Yahoo Sports examines the pros and cons of intriguing Duke small forward Jalen Johnson in a new piece.
The 19-year-old Johnson appears to have a high upside, per Vertsberger. He has exhibited flashes of being a solid playmaker and dangerous transition option at the next level. Defensive-oriented Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau might enjoy working with Johnson, who should be a valuable contributor on that end of the floor thanks to his athleticism and size (6’9″ with a 6’11” wingspan).
Vertsberger cautions that Johnson’s long-range jump shooting is the biggest question mark in his game, as he took just 1.4 three-point attempts a night during his lone season at Duke (though he did convert 44.4% of them). He also made just 63% of his free-throw attempts, a low number for a ball-handler. Johnson is currently listed as a late-lottery prospect on ESPN’s big board. The Knicks possess the No. 19, No. 21, No. 32 and No. 58 picks this year, so if they want Johnson, they may need to move up.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- 6’6″ three-and-D Oregon wing Chris Duarte could be a perfect fix for what ails the Knicks in this year’s 2021 draft, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. “I’m ready to step in,’’ the 24-year-old said during a Zoom interview with reporters Friday. “No doubt in my mind, [Duarte is] good enough for an NBA rotation now,’’ Oregon assistant coach-turned-DePaul head coach Tony Stubblefield raved. “And he’s ready to impact winning in an NBA franchise. He’s still got more upside to his game.’’ This season, Duarte won the Jerry West Award, given to the country’s top shooting guard, and was honored as the Pac-12 Player of the Year by The Associated Press. Duarte averaged 17.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.7 APG and 1.9 SPG. His shooting percentages are encouraging too: he averaged .532/.424/.810. ESPN projects Duarte to be available within the range of where New York will be selecting, as a mid-to-late first-rounder.
- Now that Nuggets shooting guard Will Barton will opt out of the final season of his contract this summer, the free agent market for swingmen has gotten that much more competitive. Brian Robb of MassLive suggests that this could help the Celtics retain free agent wing Evan Fournier. Robb notes that no more than five-to-10 clubs will have the salary cap space to add players for more than the full $9.7MM mid-level exception, and thus Barton’s availability could mean one fewer team is in the mix to lure Fournier away with a big-money offer.
- Wells Fargo Center, home court to the Sixers, is soon set to resume its $300MM renovation, which had been paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New club level seating tweaks will be added this fall, and further improvements will be built next summer. Mike Sielski of The Philadelphia Inquirer wonders if the club will opt to remain at Wells Fargo long-term or will continue pursuing the rumored construction of their own arena. The team’s lease with Wells Fargo expires in 2031. Sielski notes that the improvements to Wells Fargo could entice Sixers ownership to stay. “I don’t want to get into speculation about how the Sixers think about this,” Valerie Camillo, Wells Fargo’s president of business operations, said. “The Sixers know we want them to stay.”
The NYK’s draft position is not great relative to their desire to add immediate help. They’re almost certainly looking to trade up. But so are a lot of other teams. They shouldn’t waste assets. I’m sure they don’t want to take two guys late in the round who don’t figure to play a lot as rookies. I don’t want them to either. But the answer isn’t to trade up 2 for 1 at a premium price.
Johnson may be a good prospect, but he didn’t impress at Duke, and then just left the team when being on it no longer served his purpose. His skill set is hard to find. Just don’t be wrong (again) about things that are clearly out there.
Duarte would certainly fit with the Knicks. Poor (old) man’s Moody. But, until recently, he’d be more a candidate after #19, either #21 or #32.
I don’t see the downside to a mature 3&D. He will just be cheaper during his prime. 3&Ds don’t have to do much so he will be ready quickly.
Maturity alone is good, but it rarely travels alone. I wouldn’t call it downside, more like question marks. There are reasons that a 24 year old has only 2 college seasons under his belt, and while I don’t know them all, I do know that its likely that they’re not all good. The draft evaluation process is time limited and never full proof, so suitors don’t expect all the answers. But I think they do expect a “draft discount” in lieu of getting them all.
Philadelphia like Bankrupt due to inept leadership
How the hell could they afford a new stadium for the Sixers?
Is the Sixer goofy ownership talking to the goofy ownership of the Arizona Diamondbacks?
Those Balloon Heads wanted a new stadium too
SMH
Tax Payers…
@JimmyD
Yeah shake them down
They can raise ticket prices because everyone will want to watch Ben Simmons next season.
@WW
LOL
Don’t see how Duarte slips past LAL @ 22, he’d be a perfect pick for them
Id say thats his floor now and could easily see Mem or Nyk taking him before that
Johnson has the size and skill level to compete now. He plays D and will be better with Thibs coaching him. His shooting is a knock. But his form is good. So he should be able to improve. He is a playmaker and at his size that is rare. Considering Knicks want to compete next yr. Johnson is more a guy who will be better in 2-3 yrs. He’s still worth a long look for me. I’d definitely work him out. Bouknight and Mitchell are two players who are more ready. But are probably top 10 players. Duarte is a shooter and we need that. But at 19 and 21 I’d rather Ayo and Murphy. If Knicks move up Toppin and Quickley could be in play. If you look at lottery most are young with upside. Knicks need an Impact PG and scorer. Mitchell and Bouknight fit that. They are not one yr players. Both are more mature and play an NBA gm already. Knicks will probably trade up for a player and sign one. Both will be impactful players we need next yr. Thing I like about Mitchell and Bouknight. Is they are both very good 2way players. Both will be better offensively in NBA. Where it’s a more open game. More man to man. Like them both a lot.
Yea… those picks are crap shoots. They would be better off trading those picks for Sexton, Marvin Bagley, something along those lines. That would be immediate help. Both can go to RFA and probably be retained for less than percieved.
Not sure Sexton has ever said max or close to it. Nothing from GilbertAltman or anyone almost. I dislike the dislike of the public.
We can sign Dinwiddie why trade for Sexton. I don’t like him for Knicks. I rather trade for Scary Terry. A scoring PG fits us well. But he’s got too many rumors about him. Don’t want a guy with baggage. Why give up assets for that.
Jalen Johnson is the #1 guy in this whole draft that I would avoid at all costs. (Brandon Boston is #2 by the way). Johnson QUIT on his team and that says more about his character than any interview or combine ever could. You could be the most athletic guy in the world, but if you quit on your team you are nothing.