De’Aaron Fox

The speed demon from Kentucky could have easily been a first overall pick in a different draft class. He’s lightning fast with the ideal size you want for a point guard, standing at 6’3 with a wingspan hovering around 6’6. When UK is at its best Fox is torpedoing through the lane and kicking it out to the open shooter or finishing at the rack.

This season he’s averaging 29.5 points, 8.8 assists, 7.5 rebounds and 2.6 steals per 100 possessions. The underbelly of Fox’s game is his jumper. His overall 47.4 field goal percentage isn’t bad. Shooting 24.2-percent from three-point range is.

If you’re jumping between games and see Fox shoot you would not think he’s bad shooter. In fact you might think he’s a good shooter. The problem is he doesn’t seem to trust it yet. He attempts 3.5 three-pointers per 100 possessions which tells you all you need to know about his confidence in that shot. Despite that he should still be at the top of the Knicks’ draft board.

His quickness and defensive play make him look like Gary Payton compared to whatever the hell Rose thinks this is. While he gains confidence in his shot there are few players that can stay in front of Fox who has the speed to keep up with the likes of John Wall, Kyrie Irving and maybe even Russell Westbrook.

Just take a look at Fox vs. Wall at UK

His ability to blow by defenders will make him a nice fit alongside Kristaps Porzingis in the pick-and-roll and especially the pick-and-pop. He figures to be in the five to eight range come draft night and if he is on the board when the Knicks select it would be a wise choice.

Malik Monk

Keeping things in Lexington you can’t not talk about Malik Monk. Ideally the Knicks want a point guard to distribute the ball, but above all they need good young players. Monk fits that description. John Calipari has had some talent at shooting guard (Devin Booker, Jamal Murray), but no one has put up numbers like Monk. He doused UNC for 47 points this season and possess that microwave scoring that can turn even the sanest fan into Dick Vitale.

Much like his backcourt mate Fox, Monk is a talent that figures to adjust to the NBA well. He is a shooting guard in a point guard’s body (6’3 with a 6’6 wingspan), but as Jalen Rose says, positions were only created so a novice can follow the game. No matter what position Monk ultimately plays when he gets to the NBA just know he will get buckets.

Calipari has a reputation of holding his uber-talented players back but don’t tell Monk that. This season he’s averaging 34 points per 100 possessions while shooting 40-percent from three and 50-percent inside the arc. The rest of his game is average from a numbers standpoint (4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.7 steals per 100), but when he’s pouring in points who the fuck cares?

He comes with the typical pitfalls of explosive scorers, cold streaks. The main “problem” with him going cold is that he doesn’t do much else yet. He is prone to taking silly shots and does not play much defense (which should make him feel right at home in New York).

But he is just 19 years old. His ability to explode for 30 points at the drop of a hat is not common for guys entering the league. If you’re looking for a player of reference look at someone like Jamal Murray who has been really good for the Nuggets and ice cold. As his body fills out and his scoring repertoire grows Monk will end up being one of the better players in this class.

Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball figures to be off the board whenever the Knicks choose. However, at the rate his father LaVar is yapping nonsense it would not surprise me to see some teams pass on the impending headache. LaVar wants his son to go to the Lakers. That sounds nice but calling Magic Johnson’s (among other NBA legend’s) son “wack” will not make that dream any easier.

Fatherly shenanigans aside Lonzo is a certified maestro on the court. He inserted life into a dead UCLA team. Joining a supporting cast that was mediocre last year Lonzo (and fellow freshman T.J. Leaf) transformed UCLA into one of the better watches in college basketball this season.

With Lonzo running the show the Bruins became the best offense in the NCAA (averaging 90.3 points per game). They’ve done it by with constant ball movement that becomes infectious when you see the kind of passes Lonzo makes. His superior height for a point guard (6’6 with 6’8 wingspan) allows him to see over a majority of his defenders.

While running the show for the Bruins Lonzo is averaging 22.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 3 steals and 1.2 blocks per 100 possessions. His shot is unorthodox but he manages to post a true shooting percentage of 66.7.

His main point of struggle is in the half court where only his only weapon is his three-point shot. He is shooting 71.7-percent from two-point range this season, but that’s due to him taking less shots inside. Per 100 possessions he averages 8.3 attempts beyond the arc versus 6.4 attempts inside. That will have to change when he graduates to better defenders who will close out on threes.

From all accounts he is the ideal point guard Jeff Hornacek wants. He plays uptempo and gets everyone involved. Slotting him alongside Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez would be fun to watch. All three are skilled passers and would turn MSG into a passing clinic. Knicks fans deserve to watch fun basketball and adding Lonzo to the core of KP and Willy would be the best show on Broadway.