Knicks need guys who can shoot long range. As later draft possibilities and/or possible UDFA reaches, there might be some value here. Obviously they have more flaws implied but that's the trade off for possible availability. Maybe the Knicks can buy another 2nd round pick at some point.
Thoughts?
*****
Sam MerrillPosition: Guard
Height: 6-5
Weight: 205
School: Utah State
Perhaps the most cold-blooded shotmaker in college basketball this season, Sam Merrill was an offensive monster for Utah State, scoring 2,197 points in four seasons for the Aggies. In his senior season, he averaged 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists..... shooting 42.0 percent from the three-point line and 89.1 percent from the free throw line over his four seasons at Utah State. He has deep range on this three-point shot and can make them in a variety of ways. He has a nice crossover and step-back combo .... He’ll also run around screens and execute dribble-handoffs ... He doesn’t need much room to get his shot off and can make shots with a defender in his face, which makes that 42.0 three-point percentage even more impressive.
He’s not just a shooter, though, which makes him such a tantalizing prospect. Merrill is also an impressive passer and has tremendous potential as a pick-and-roll ball handler because teams will have to honor his three-point shot. When he drives, he generally makes good decisions and gets teammates the ball in optimal scoring positions. He had a better than 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in each of the last two seasons, which is excellent for a player who was the fulcrum of the offense. He’s skilled, he’s heady and he plays in control. He also has good height for an NBA ball handler at 6-foot-5.
********
Immanuel QuickleyPosition: PG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 188
School: Kentucky
Immanuel Quickley - SEC Player of the Year honors....For the season, he shot nearly 43 percent from three-point range, and during SEC play, that number ballooned to nearly 48 percent. From his freshman to his sophomore season, he doubled his perimeter shooting volume, taking almost five threes per game this past season. One thing that always shows me a player is a good natural shooter is free throws. Quickley was No. 3 in the nation in free throw percentage and the No. 1 power conference player at over 92 percent.
He's also an excellent defender. Quickley's 6-foot-8 wingspan, rangy form and speed allow him to stay in front of both quick guards and crafty scorers. He uses his strength, which is deceiving given his slight frame, and can absorb contact on a driver in the lane as well as when he's going to the hoop to finish.
********
Doolittle is a 6’7”, 232-pound forward, who averaged 13.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per 36 minutes over his collegiate career. His shooting splits indicates some ability from range at 45.5/37.4/78.0 shooting percentages from two, three and the free throw line...... As a career 37% shooter from deep, he possesses some ability to stretch the floor like a natural wing, however this performance was on a small sample size (just over one attempt per game).
Doolittle has a pretty solid handle of the ball in space, displaying a range of crossover dribbles and instant change of direction for someone his size. He has a smooth mid range game, wherein he can face up and dribble sidestep to either side, allowing him rise up and fire over just about anyone.
Everything from 18 feet and in is his primary territory of attack. Doolittle finished well around the rim, posting a mark of 1.2 PPP (points per possession) inside the restricted area. He plays well in narrow spaces on both ends of the floor, getting skinny to fight around screens and dribble through tight spaces.....
Cutting is one way that Doolittle is able to collect easy points when the defense is caught sleeping. At 1.31 PPP in possessions ending in a cut, he picks his spots well and finishes at the rack with authority.
Doolittle grabbed over 20% of all available defensive rebounds and 7% on the offensive end, both strong marks. He doesn’t just go through the motion when a shot goes up, always finding a body to back down before grabbing boards. He has good lower body strength and balance too, which allows him to secure his position while waiting for the ball to come off the rim.
Shot selection is a major worry for Doolittle, as he’s either running hot or cold, and he too often allows an irrational confidence to dictate when and where he lets shots fly...... wasn’t overly efficient in any play type. He only ended 18 possessions with a catch-and-shoot opportunity his senior year in 942 game minutes, for a PPP of exactly 1. Additionally a minus creator for himself, with both his isolation possession and his pull up jumper possession coming in at below 1 PPP..... under two assists per 36 minutes and an assist-to-turnover ratio below 1.
Age is definitely a factor here, as he’ll be 23 by draft night. Additionally, Doolittle was suspended for the fall semester of his sophomore year due to academic issues. That’s not a major concern in itself but that season was clearly his worst of his four on campus, possibly taking a period to get adjusted after missing the majority of the Sooners’ out of conference schedule.
*****
Bonus from another thread -
https://www.thestepien.com/2020/03/30/killian-tillie-scouting-report/
Killian TilliePosition: Forward
Height: 6-10
Weight: 220
School: Gonzaga
... In four years at Gonzaga, he dealt with knee surgery, a torn ligament in his foot, a stress fracture in his ankle, numerous sprained ankles, a broken finger and a hip pointer. The long list of injuries forced him to miss a total of 38 games during his college career.
..... He's 6-10 with exceptional three-point shooting ability. He can handle the ball, pass and generally has terrific instincts on the offensive end of the floor.
Tillie averaged 13.6 points and 5.0 rebounds and shot an even 40 percent from long range during his senior season. He was one of the best players on a Gonzaga team that had a 31-2 record. Tillie finished his college career as a 44 percent three-point shooter and enters the NBA Draft as a proven winner with a track record of solid production for one of the premier programs in the country.
At 22 years old, he's a polished offensive player with an excellent basketball IQ. Tillie was also very efficient in the pick-and-roll at Gonzaga, whether it was rolling to the basket or popping out to the perimeter for an open jumper. He will likely be utilized as a pick-and-pop forward in the NBA.
Tillie won't be confused for a slasher who gets to the basket, but he does have the ability to score in the paint. His solid footwork and soft touch make him an effective scorer on the low block. He'll do most of his scoring from the perimeter, but he's versatile enough to exploit size mismatches inside.
Tillie is also an above-average passer for a big man. Gonzaga often ran its offense through Tillie, who served as a facilitator from the top of the key or in the high post. He sees the floor extremely well, a trait that figures to translate well to the pro game.
... Given the extent to which Tillie struggled to stay healthy in college, it's fair to wonder whether his body can withstand the rigors of an 82-game NBA season. His knee, ankle and foot problems are especially concerning. Those are the type of injuries that tend to derail careers, especially for big men like Tillie.
His lack of elite foot speed and strength limits his defensive ability. Will stronger, more athletic forwards take advantage of him? His size and understanding of the game should make him a passable defender, but he'll never be great on that end of the floor.
8/19/2020 6:15 AM
