GET THE POINT
Wally: Knicks should target guard
MSG Network’s Wally Szczerbiak likes both Villanova’s Mikal Bridges and Michigan State’s Miles Bridges — but Szczerbiak said he believes the Knicks’ focus in the June 21 draft should be on their need for a top-line point guard.
Szczerbiak, who doubles as a CBS college basketball analyst, told The Post he would take point guard studs Trae Young or Collin Sexton at No. 9, if on the board, over either of the Bridges, who are both small forwards.
“The point-guard position in a Knicks uniform has to be solidified,” Szczerbiak said. “It’s been too long. That’s been the big-time need for this franchise. Unless you have a game plan to get Kyrie [Irving] and can solidify it that way, I think the point guard position is the most important position.”
That’s hardly a vote of confidence for the young Knicks trio of Frank Ntilikina, Trey Burke and Emmanuel Mudiay.
“They have a lot of really good point guards, but do they have an impact point guard in the NBA?” Szczerbiak said. “That’s the question. The answer to me is, it doesn’t look like it.”
Szczerbiak, part of next week’s MSG Network “Rookie Week” draft shows, said he thinks the Knicks can’t go wrong with Mikal Bridges — but sees too much to like in Young (Oklahoma) and Sexton (Alabama).
“If you have Young and Sexton available at 9, I think they’re surefire NBA starters at point guard, so you might have to go that direction,” Szczerbiak said.
A couple of recent mock drafts even have Sexton going ahead of Young, with the Oklahoma point guard falling to the Knicks, though that isn’t the consensus.
“The guy is a gift with the ball in his hands — he’s got an incredible handle, incredible vision,” Szczerbiak said of Young.
The Knicks have worked out both. Sources indicate the Knicks prefer Young, whom some label the next Stephen Curry. Young’s sloppy play late in the season — and Oklahoma’s 2-9 close — caused his draft stock to fall. Szczerbiak said stricter coaching will benefit him.
“I’ve never seen a guy in college have the free rein he got from [coach] Lon Kruger to do whatever he wanted out there,’’ Szczerbiak said. “Kruger just let him play with no repercussions to any bad decisions he made — turnovers, bad shots, not playing good defense.
“It was working at the beginning of the year — they were top 10. Once they hit the Big 12 schedule, teams brought in a game plan for him. That’s where they hit their slide. But if he wasn’t on the team, they may not have won a game in the Big 12. That’s how good he is.”
Orlando, drafting sixth, and Cleveland, eighth, also have point guard needs.
“[Trae] has a ton of talent,’’ Szczerbiak said. “I’m sure the Knicks and other teams are trying to figure out if this guy is [Stephen] Curry or Jimmer Fredette. I lean more toward Curry — not as good, because he’s not as big. He’s 6-1 and has got to get stronger. But there were the same questions about Curry coming in.”
Szczerbiak’s belief that Sexton is a major upgrade to the current cast may go against the Knicks’ thinking. Team president Steve Mills is on the fence because Sexton is a mediocre outside shooter and may not complement Ntilikina as well as Young would.
“I really like Collin,’’ Szczerbiak said. “If that guy’s available, he’s got a bright future in the NBA. The physi- cal gifts he has — explosive, powerful, strong, young. He’s capable, but got to get better shooting. That guy has Russell Westbrook and Damian Lillard explosiveness. When you look at the strength of his calves, he looks physically ready to compete now at the NBA level.’’
After seeing loads of Burke, Mudiay and Ntilikina, Szczerbiak isn’t convinced.
“Burke was phenomenal, but is he an NBA starter?’’ he said. “I don’t know. I think he’s a very, very capable, very good backup.
“Does Mudiay look like a starter in the NBA? From the sample size we’ve seen in Denver and in New York, when he was handed the keys to the team, it doesn’t look like he is. Ntilikina? Is he a 2 or 1? How much growth is he going to make moving forward? It’s a big question mark. … What I saw was Trey was the most capable hands down. The other guys have potential to grow, but until I see that on the NBA floor, I can’t trust them.”
Szczerbiak trusts Villanova’s Bridges more than Michigan State’s Bridges.
“[Mikal] has two rings, he shoots 40-45 percent from 3,’’ Szczerbiak said. “You pair him with Tim Hardaway Jr., you solidify your wing positions right away. That guy is going to be a great defender with his wingspan — a 3and-D guy to put alongside Timmy ... to guard the LeBrons [and Paul] Georges. I’m very high on him.’’
But not as high as he is on Young or Sexton.