Whereas it’s unclear the place the Knicks might find yourself choosing within the 2021 NBA Draft with two first-round and two second-round choices to juggle, they’re set as much as make the most of this newest crop of expertise coming in.

Let’s check out a number of the execs and cons of potential draft choices for the Knicks, beginning with UConn’s James Bouknight.

The case for drafting Bouknight

Bouknight, a 6-5, 190-pound guard and Brooklyn native out of UConn, has been rising up draft boards over the previous couple of weeks strictly primarily based off his scoring potential. The sophomore placed on a scoring show from all three-levels of the ground final season for the Huskies, ending the 12 months averaging 18.7 factors per sport.

As a much bigger guard, Bouknight’s ending on the rim was by far his greatest asset in school, the place he confirmed a knack for attacking the ring to get UConn a bucket when wanted. A highlight-reel dunk may very well be anticipated at any second when he was on the courtroom.

Bouknight was a grasp craftsman at creating house for a mid-range shot or drive in the direction of the rim, utilizing hesitation strikes, step-backs and ball fakes to combine up defenders all season. He shot a particularly environment friendly 52.8 % from contained in the three-point arc on 9.6 photographs makes an attempt per sport final 12 months.

At the same time as he battled by means of an elbow harm whereas holding the protection’s consideration on most nights, Bouknight’s confidence and athletic means have been greater than sufficient to assist lead UConn to a No. 7 seed within the NCAA Event.

His three-point shot might use some work (29.3 % final season), however that’s a straightforward factor to repair when you’ve got that sort of uncooked expertise at your disposal. He reportedly shot the lights out throughout his professional day, so his contact and launch might have already gotten higher since we final noticed him in March.

At 6-5 with a 6-8.5 wingspan, enjoying protection in opposition to both guard spot might come simple, together with his on-ball protection already proving to be strong after averaging 1.1 steals per sport final 12 months. He additionally grabbed 5.7 rebounds per sport as a sophomore.

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Although there have been lapses there at instances, all he must do is purchase in (possibly by means of the correct coach in Tom Thibodeau) to the defensive aspect of the ball to doubtlessly develop into an elite defender on the one or two spots.

The case in opposition to drafting Bouknight

For a possible mid-first rounder, Bouknight should be taught fairly rapidly that he will not be the focus of the offense on whichever crew he finally ends up with.

Bouknight’s ‘purple flags’ at UConn have been his playmaking and tunnel imaginative and prescient on offense. His decision-making when on the lookout for photographs — and probably not on the lookout for teammates (1.8 assists per sport final season) — received him into hassle extra typically than he would’ve preferred.

Whereas his deal with can look spectacular at instances, Bouknight had the ball poked out of his arms typically whereas making an attempt to create on the high of the important thing. As his position within the offense grew from freshman to sophomore 12 months, so did his turnovers, shifting up from 1.8 per sport in 12 months 1 to 2.8 in 12 months 2.

He was within the driver’s seat of an offense that did not have another NBA-caliber expertise on it, so making an attempt to do an excessive amount of is comprehensible. However that is one thing that will not fly on a Thibodeau-coached crew.

His three-ball might use some work, as highlighted earlier. Guards are anticipated to return into the league in immediately’s sport with the flexibility to be snipers from three simply in addition to they will move the ball.

Defensively, his off-ball manufacturing was spacey at greatest. He’d typically get misplaced on cuts and combating by means of screens. In case you do not put within the effort on protection, Thibodeau is not going to provide the minutes on offense.

Nonetheless, Bouknight’s inventory has risen quite a bit through the draft course of, and it might be stunning to many if he was obtainable for the Knicks at No. 19 or 21.

Scouting Report

From a scout to SNY’s Ian Begley:

“You understand he’s going to attain and he’s going to get by guys off the dribble at this degree. However the query for (Bouknight) is, what else can he do up right here? That’s what groups must weigh. A affected person crew might help him alongside as a defender. However in case you’re not affected person with him, it won’t work out. I do suppose that he’ll profit from NBA spacing, so I’m not as involved about his capturing and passing numbers from final 12 months.”

One other scout to Begley:

“I really like him however I feel it’s a must to give him time. He is the most effective scorers on this draft. However I fear about him defensively. Match/group shall be so necessary (for Bouknight).”