Skills -
Great shooter.
Willing and capable passer.
Ballhandling Guard skills for a 2.
Fits in system basketball.
Tries on defense
Athleticism is underrated draft work outs show he was more athletic than percieved

Character.
Good teammate
Willing to play in system basketball
Unselfish
Team first
Hustle guy

Baker/Kennard backcourt will make everyone boo initially, but when they actually play together fans will appreciate the effort and team skills.

It's a rebuild year anyway, and after a year of Melo/Rose, I'm open to anything but I wouldn't be surprised if we went with Luke Kennard in the end over Monk/Nti. Luke has lots of similar things to Dragic, and Hornachek loves players like that. We look at a guy like Baker how he thrived with basically D league talent. I think Phil and Horny are going to see a guy that will do all the things Baker can only with actual starter talent, and much better offense.

Been reading and following this draft plenty, I think we go with Kennard. Lakers want to try and trade into the top 10 to get him. Seems he really did great in his workouts and showed more athleticism than people percieve. Just a hunch and I exepct Kristaps like boos, but I think we go with Luke on draft night if draft order is how I think (Fultz, Ball, Tatum, Isaac, Fox, Jackson all off board). I think we value this guy over DSj, Nti and Monk.

A Dragic type would be great

reub wrote:I can see it happening too and it would be far from the worst thing to add a Dragic type of player.

Dragic? You guys see Dragic in him?

reub wrote:"10. Kings
Luke Kennard, SG, Duke
If Sacramento is going to take a point guard who can't shoot with the fifth pick, it makes sense to take somebody who can with the 10th. So Kennard makes sense here. The 6-6 guard was among college basketball's biggest breakout stars this season while averaging 19.5 points and shooting 43.8 percent from 3-point range for a Duke team that won the ACC Tournament. He's one of the hottest names in this draft right now because of an impressive pro day during which Kennard blew scouts away with his ability to make long jumpers from basically everywhere on the court."
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-mock-draft-2017-fultz-still-goes-no-1-to-sixers-celtics-to-snag-jackson/

If he wasn't being guarded, then its nothing to write home about. I agree Kennard probably could be had lower in the draft. Phil should definitely try to trade down, and get some more picks if thats his choice. Has a flavor of the week feel to this pick though.

Im guessing at least one player we didn't expect will fall to us a 8. Dont want to see Phil pass up a quality player who falls to us at 8, in favor of drafting a reach at 8. Dont want to hear that the offense was the main consideration for such a move.

nyknickzingis wrote:

nixluva wrote:I'm high on Monk and I believe Phil and his scouts are too. Monk is used to moving the ball and cutting rather than holding the. Monk groomed as a Triangle Guard will be very comfortable with Jeff's Early O and also playing Triangle Off the Ball Actions. Monk has better lateral quickness than Kennard so IMO Monk would be better as a defender despite his lack of height.

Both as of today will struggle on defense but of the two I think Monk has more defensive potential.
What concerns me about Monk is that he seems very high on himself. Not that confidence is a bad thing. I just feel he's a guy who will look too much for his own shot instead of making the right team play. A little JR Smith like,

Kennard I feel is the one that will actually adapt and adjust his game. Look for the open man. I've scouted both players extensively and think Kennard is the better fit for what Phil wants to do and Kennard is a better fit with Horny. Talent wise, I don't think Kennard is on par with DSJ, or Monk. No arguments on that. I just think if we really want to be Spurs like, we have to believe in the system 100% and get players that buy in 100%. Kennard will, in my opinion. Monk, I feel especially with the hype in NY will quickly begin to believe in his star power and brand - thus playing selfishly very quickly into his Knicks career.

If I'm looking at players that fit what we want to do I think it's Tatum, Ball, Kennard, Isaac and Lauri of the rumored top 10/12 picks. I'm tired of having Knicks struggle with running a system that won championships and to buy in. I want players that fit and will buy in 100%. I think that's Tatum, Ball, Isaac, Kennard, Lauri of the top 12 picks. Nti and Monk can fit, but it would be a little forced in my opinion. Just look at Baker and Sasha last year how easy it was for them to play. Free flowing. The guys I'm looking at are players that will play like that only with much greater skills and talent. I am sick of watching confusion, ball stopping and lack of commitment to the program. Lets do this right.

I understand this point of view but I would say that the Totally Selfless guys should be added with the LATER picks! I don't want to pick at 8 a guy that's basically a Role Player. Monk has Star potential and you need that at the top of your team. Monk was the PRIMARY scorer for his Kentucky team and that actually opened things up for the other guys who really weren't 3pt shooters or individual shot creators. Monk was able to stretch the floor for them.

On the Knicks Monk can play as a threat with or without the ball to a much higher degree than Kennard. Monk can push the ball in transition better IMO. It's not just about the Half Court. Monk willingly gave up the ball and played off the ball most of the time. He's actually pretty good as a PnR ball handler. He was in the 85th percentile in the NCAA. They didn't use him that way enough but in NY he'd be able to use PnR and Drag Screens much more often.

Vmart wrote:Defense will be the deciding factor to who the Knicks draft.