Listen up, Knicks: Why NBA scouts say Okafor no lock for No. 1

From about the time the Knicks ended their first double-digit losing streak — the 10-game one, not to be confused with the later 16-game skid — their diehard followers have plotted a lottery plan of action.
Lottery aficionados produce three prominent names: Duke center Jahil Okafor, Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns and Ohio State all-purpose guard D’Angelo Russell. A fourth name, Congo-born point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, in China after forgoing SMU, also receives consideration.
But a quick survey of some NBA scouts and executives on what the Knicks should do repeatedly pointed to Okafor, Towns or Russell. All three are freshmen and as underclassmen, the NBA prohibits any of its members from discussing them — in case any are driven to million-dollar paydays over English Lit degrees.
If the Knicks, who play the Clippers at the Garden Wednesday, finish with the worst record, they can draft no worse than fourth, where Mudiay, a big point guard at least “would fit the triangle,” one exec said. But given the choice, the consensus up top is to go big and as that same exec stated, “When I have a choice between big and small, I go big.”
So why Okafor?
“He’s really good now. Young, but he has it all. One thing he might lack is lateral quickness,” said one scout. “But he’s tough, he can score inside, he can take you out a little bit. He’s a good kid, works hard. I think he’s a major star when the time comes. A year with Mike Krzyzewski helps. He’s pro ready.”
For all his praise of Okafor, the scout also raved about Towns, especially his development from last year. So if the Knicks think big, and it’s not Okafor, then Kentucky’s Towns comes into play.
“For me, right now it’s 1 and 1A,” said one exec, “and No. 1 is Towns. I’m not saying Towns is clear cut and I think the Knicks will have to do a lot of homework and studying. But both have great potential and high upside. Okafor is good offensively, you know he’s going to score. Towns will get better offensively but he could be really good on the defensive side of the ball.
“Towns could be a Tyson Chandler-type but with more offense. He’s already shown more offense at an early stage than Tyson did,” the executive said.
But as one opposing player personnel guy said, “They had Chandler and gave him away.”
And that guy likes Russell for the Knicks. Even over a big?
“Everybody thinks bigs but it’s a point guard-driven league, [with] the way those guys get to the foul line with the ball in their hands,” he said. “I think it’s easier to find a big to give you a defensive presence than it is to find a guard who can break people down. This is really tough. It comes down to Towns, Okafor and Russell. It all depends on what they [Knicks] want to do, what their mindset is going forward.
“Towns is a great defender, great shot blocker. Has some offensive skills but he’s defensive minded. He moves his feet well, great size. Okafor is not really an athlete. He’s a basketball player. He smart as anything, has huge hands, makes good passes. Russell’s a real athletic guard.”
And just as quickly, that talent evaluator said the triangle could negate Russell’s point-guard play, though he is a combo type.
“The triangle has never had a point guard. It’s always had spot-up shooting, defense point guards: Derek Fisher, B.J. Armstrong, Steve Kerr. There’s never been a point that really breaks down defenses because the ball is in the shooting guard’s hands,” he said.
The scout who put Okafor atop his list cautioned about Russell.
“He’s a real good player but he’s a little too cute for me for the NBA game right now. I like a little ****iness — but he might be a little too ****y,” the scout said.
“Defensively, he could be a problem. Still, he is a heck of a talent. Has skills from the perimeter. He is a great passer and a willing passer. On the break, he finds people. I like him, just not No. 1 or 2.”

The comments on Russell and the triangle were significant, and there was a little more criticism of him as a person.

“The triangle has never had a point guard. It’s always had spot-up shooting, defense point guards: Derek Fisher, B.J. Armstrong, Steve Kerr. There’s never been a point that really breaks down defenses because the ball is in the shooting guard’s hands,” he said.

The scout who put Okafor atop his list cautioned about Russell.

“He’s a real good player but he’s a little too cute for me for the NBA game right now. I like a little ****iness — but he might be a little too ****y,” the scout said.
“Defensively, he could be a problem. Still, he is a heck of a talent. Has skills from the perimeter. He is a great passer and a willing passer. On the break, he finds people. I like him, just not No. 1 or 2.”

Expect you could find scouts/execs with other opinions, so you can't say any of these are necessarily correct, but its interesting to see the different views of these players.

yellowboy90 wrote:It will get hard for the knicks if they draft at #1 or #4. I think drafting at the #2 and # 3 positions make things easier. Then again this is all based on OK4, Towns, and Russell being the clear top 3 choices. If they view Russell lower or on the same level as Mudiay then it gets very hard.

Oh my! Mudiay is not on the same level as russell

There is a good chance if the pick pans out, he will be here long after the triangle has been put back on the shelf. I don't want to pass up on someone like Russell just because he isn't a perfect fit for the triangle, or any other player for that matter.

GustavBahler wrote:I really don't like this idea of drafting based on how a player would fit in the triangle. This more than likely will be the highest pick the Knicks have had in decades, maybe the best pick we will see for a long time.

There is a good chance if the pick pans out, he will be here long after the triangle has been put back on the shelf. I don't want to pass up on someone like Russell just because he isn't a perfect fit for the triangle, or any other player for that matter.

Knicks1969 wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:It will get hard for the knicks if they draft at #1 or #4. I think drafting at the #2 and # 3 positions make things easier. Then again this is all based on OK4, Towns, and Russell being the clear top 3 choices. If they view Russell lower or on the same level as Mudiay then it gets very hard.

Oh my! Mudiay is not on the same level as russell

Based on what exactly? Reports out of Philly seem to indicate that they like Mudiay over Russel. Defense matters.

GustavBahler wrote:

TPercy wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:I really don't like this idea of drafting based on how a player would fit in the triangle. This more than likely will be the highest pick the Knicks have had in decades, maybe the best pick we will see for a long time.

There is a good chance if the pick pans out, he will be here long after the triangle has been put back on the shelf. I don't want to pass up on someone like Russell just because he isn't a perfect fit for the triangle, or any other player for that matter.

everyone in the top 3 can really benefit us in the triangle.

To what degree remains to be seen.

It is not just about the Triangle,
it is also about who can fit well with Melo as well so that it dosen't mutaully hinder thier abilities. Hypothetically speaking, you can say that Okafor is the best player in the draft; However, how could he do well playing next to someone who has a really close game to his. It is not like he can shoot(that could change)or play defense, so without getting his touches in the post he is useless.
Different situation with Russell. Russell shoots 3s, is a floor general, and has great vision and elite passing ability;therefore, that would compliment Melo since he can have someone who can command the plays and if his one on one dosen't work he has a 2nd option to kick out too(if he feels like it).