HOPE HE’S A YOUNG STEPH
Guard might help Knicks forget ’09
Trae Young is officially on the Knicks’ radar now that the Oklahoma freshman guard has announced that he is entering the NBA Draft. Draft boards project Young, who led the nation in scoring and assists, to be selected anywhere from seventh to 10th. The Knicks, eliminated from playoff contention on Monday, currently own the ninth worst record in the NBA.
GM Scott Perry will have an interesting decision on his hands when the Knicks are on the clock.
It is eerily similar to 2009 when the Knicks, selecting eighth overall, had their eyes on a slight, dynamic scoring guard out of Davidson. But Golden State shattered that dream when the Warriors selected Stephen Curry seventh. The rest is history.
Then-Knicks president Donnie Walsh, who believed Curry would flourish under Mike D’Antoni, picked Jordan Hill. It gets worse.
Toronto, picking ninth, selected DeMar DeRozan. In case you’re wondering, Hill plays for the Vancouver Knights of the North American Premier Basketball League, having previously played for the Nevada Desert Dogs. Yes, it’s been a rough couple of decades for the Knicks.
Young was being touted as the next Curry by the television networks and within no time he was the biggest name in college basketball. But NBA scouts are divided on whether Young is the next Curry or perhaps the next Shabazz Napier. Is he All Star talent or just a rotation player?
“I know there will be doubts again as I prepare for the draft,” Young told ESPN. “I don’t pretend to be ready to play in the NBA today, but I am determined to do what I’ve always done: invest in the work to prepare for the league and the incredible challenges it presents. I’m going to start training immediately for the draft, building up strength throughout my body, sharpening my skills and studying the best of the best.”
Napier won two national titles at UConn and was drafted 24th overall in 2014. He’s now a backup with Portland, his third NBA team.
Curry is a two-time MVP, a two-time NBA champion and arguably the greatest shooter in league history. The 6-foot-3 Curry also spent three seasons at Davidson before entering the NBA Draft. He was the breakout star of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
Young, generously listed at 6-foot-2, finished with an 18-14 record for Oklahoma. The Sooners lost nine of their last 11 games, including a 30-point loss on the road at Kansas. Teams designed their defensive game plans around stopping Young. In his last nine games, Young made just 22 of 83 3-point shots. He’ll have more to work with in the NBA.
The Knicks clearly aren’t sold on Frank Ntilikina, the eighth overall pick from the 2017 Draft. That’s why they traded for Denver’s Emmanuel Mudiay, the seventh overall pick of the 2015 Draft. As you can see, this isn’t an exact science.
But having talented guards is essential. The top three teams in the Western Conference are guard dominated: James Harden and Chris Paul; Curry and Klay Thompson; Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. In the East, Toronto has Kyle Lowry and DeRozan. The Celtics have Kyrie Irving.
There is plenty of time for the Knicks to figure this out. They’ll conduct workouts and interview all of the top prospects. But barring a minor miracle at the draft lottery, the Knicks will likely select eighth or ninth.
And Young could be there. As will the memory of losing out on Stephen Curry nine years earlier.