Ira wrote:This is a very interesting thread - especially what's been said about Smith. He's not as nba ready as Mikal, but may end up being the better player.

If he was 6'4"/6'5" without shoes I might have done a "The Case For..." thread, but he is 6'2.5" w/o shoes. The DraftNet review below calls him a "swingman," but I doubt if he can play the 3 in the NBA.

I just see him as a more intriguing player than some do...the type of guy you want on your side in a big game.

Watched a number of videos where he really moved well without the ball, the type of stuff you see on GS.
He is also a tenacious defender, who could probably guard a PG, or maybe a 3 against a small lineup.

Not sure he played to his ability in terms of taking over in certain moments, but that might be more out of respect for veterans on his team than anything else.

Would like to see how his jumper is developing.

Have never been one who was excited about athletic ability, but he is the best athlete in the draft, from what I have heard. As I mentioned at one point above...I'm one who also missed seeing the potential Donovan Mitchell had, and I believe this guy is the same kind of player. His freshman stats were equal to or superior to Mitchell's by the way.

Don't think there is any chance we take him...but much of the draft is about speculation, anyway, and I think Smith will eventually be a winner in the NBA.

Strengths: Has an underrated feel for the game … High basketball IQ … Versatile swingman … Exceptional athleticism and bounce … 45-inch vertical … Has great leaping ability off of two feet … Quick feet … Possesses a combination of fluidity and explosiveness … Powerful build … Excellent length for his size (6’9’ wingspan) ... Plays with high energy … Developing jumper … Knows how to read the floor and makes smart passes … Passes up good looks for great ones … Has quick decision-making ability, especially in transition as he finds his teammates … Great cutter and finisher at the rim … Active as an off-ball screener … Looks for different ways to get his teammates open … Shows great awareness in traffic/in the paint … Doesn’t look to force tough shots over bigger defenders … Makes good use of up-fakes to creates shots for himself and his teammates … Gets after it on the defensive end on and off the ball … Displays great defensive instincts and effort … Good shot blocker for a wing player … Can guard multiple positions 1-4 at college level … Shows tenacity in fighting through screens … Great offensive rebounder … A constant threat for putbacks … Has knack for being the right position to make plays on both ends of the floor … His athleticism allows him to cover ground quickly, which makes him a threat to block shots from the weak side … Leaves shooters little to no airspace … His length (and hops) is a huge problem for the opposition when he’s contesting shots … Has great anticipation as a shot blocker … Has a knack for chase-down blocks are routine for him … Has a promising shooting form with touch ...

WaltLongmire wrote:Just saw this on another thread...had not seen it before...Not a good look for Mr. Knox, if you are looking at him to play at the 3.

I'n missing something. This guy is 6'9", 18 years old and has played one season. He's going to grow more, has decent shooting ability, and his handle can be improved. What's missing?

Sangfroid wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:Just saw this on another thread...had not seen it before...Not a good look for Mr. Knox, if you are looking at him to play at the 3.

I'n missing something. This guy is 6'9", 18 years old and has played one season. He's going to grow more, has decent shooting ability, and his handle can be improved. What's missing?

Heck...I put him out there as a possible pick in this thread...Very loose handle in this video...In the draft thread I mentioned that maybe they were just having him do things he's not done before in the video. He doesn't seem to be a fancy ball handler, which is fine with me, but if he wants to be a SF he has to have a solid handle, no?

I trust our team to have scouted him and work him out the right way.

WaltLongmire wrote:Don't think there is any chance we take him...but much of the draft is about speculation, anyway, and I think Smith will eventually be a winner in the NBA.

To get some kind of actual value out of the 9th pick, IF and this is for the sake of discussion and theory, IF the Knicks felt Knox and/or Smith were the best player(s) in this draft, they'd be better off trying to trade down from 9. Is a trade like that going to be there? Hard to say.

Taking Knox or Smith at 9 would likely be a poor use of the draft slot ( this is independent on if the player or players will actually pan out or not)

It would be like the Jets having the 20th pick in this years NFL Draft and selecting a free safety. That pick might end up being a great player, but the draft slot is simply worth more at other critical positions ( QB, LT, DL, NT, CB, etc)

My guess is Mikal Bridges moves with the 5th or 6th pick. I don't think he falls to 9th.

TripleThreat wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:Don't think there is any chance we take him...but much of the draft is about speculation, anyway, and I think Smith will eventually be a winner in the NBA.

To get some kind of actual value out of the 9th pick, IF and this is for the sake of discussion and theory, IF the Knicks felt Knox and/or Smith were the best player(s) in this draft, they'd be better off trying to trade down from 9. Is a trade like that going to be there? Hard to say.

Taking Knox or Smith at 9 would likely be a poor use of the draft slot ( this is independent on if the player or players will actually pan out or not)

It would be like the Jets having the 20th pick in this years NFL Draft and selecting a free safety. That pick might end up being a great player, but the draft slot is simply worth more at other critical positions ( QB, LT, DL, NT, CB, etc)

My guess is Mikal Bridges moves with the 5th or 6th pick. I don't think he falls to 9th.

For the sake of argument...& I've speculated that Smith could be the Donovan Mitchell of this draft (Any anecdotal reports on his team workouts...are we even going to work out, Smith?),if he is this drafts sleeper, and we were to take him at 9, how would that be a reach?

Again, I don't even know if the Knicks are interested in Smith or Knox at #9, but if they see things in either of those guys that we don't see, I don't see either of them being a reach until we know what kind of players they eventually turn out to be in the NBA.

You trade down knowing that the player will be there when you pick, and depending on who your partner is, you don't know if that player will be there.

And if you take a Smith or Knox at #9, and they "pan out," of course they are worth the use of the draft slot, because, as you say yourself

IF and this is for the sake of discussion and theory, IF the Knicks felt Knox and/or Smith were the best player(s) in this draft, they'd be better off trying to trade down from 9. Is a trade like that going to be there? Hard to say.

You have no idea how other teams value this or that player...so trading back can be tricky without the right partner, and you can also be manipulated by another team if they discover who you are really interested in

Look at what Philly did with Orlando a few years ago when they knew the Magic were in love with Payton.

June 26, 2014: Traded by the Philadelphia 76ers to the Orlando Magic for Dario Saric, a 2015 2nd round draft pick (Willy Hernangomez was later selected) and a 2017 1st round draft pick (De'Aaron Fox was later selected).

If you like a player, and you don't think you can trade back for them, or you don't want to risk not getting them, you take the player, IMO.

Value is a crap shoot...and you always do redrafts a few years down the line.

I understand where you are coming from, but what you or I consider to be the value of a certain player in the draft is changing as we speak...who knows what the actual GM/Scouting team ranking of players will be in 2 weeks?