“PROSPECT OF THE WEEK: Rokas Jokubaitis, SG, FC Barcelona, (rights owned by Knicks)

…this week I wanted to highlight the torrid start by the Lithuanian guard the Knicks drafted with the 34th pick in the 2021 draft.

At this point, European teams have already played several games, so we’re already getting an impression of who is off to a great start and who isn’t. The most notable outlier from the previous year’s performance might be Jokubaitis, who has exploded in the early going in his first season in Spain. Most notably, he’s been able to convert both frequently and efficiently inside the arc despite moving up to a more difficult league, hitting 20 of his 31 2-point attempts while drawing fouls at roughly double the rate of a year ago.

Some athletic limitations will always be there for Jokubaitis — he’s stuck on zero blocks for the season and has a grand total of nine in his six seasons of international basketball. But as a savvy midrange and paint scorer whose 3-pointer should be good enough, he looks like a really interesting rotation guard for next year and beyond. We’re still working in small-sample territory — he’s played 12 games — but his start is really encouraging sign for Knicks fans.“

Knixkik wrote:The Athletic gives great coverage of all things basketball. Far better than ESPN.

As for Jokubaitis, it’s great to hear. That deal trading down 32 to get Jokubaitis at 34 and McBride at 36 was impressive. Instead of just taking one of them at 32, talk about finding a trade to milk every last drop from an asset.

It’s very possible that Rokas and McBride can become 2 future rotation players for a bargain. This is what separates the great teams from the good ones; finding good players under rocks to have fill the rotation once players/draft picks are consolidated for bigger stars. If the Knicks finally get a #1 guy, these are 2 players who will either be difference makers in a trade or end up as maybe 9th and 10th men in the rotation.

Good take. Aller and Perry seem to be working pretty good in making little moves which the aggregate is needed to make big ones. Having tradable assets is something we failed miserably for years and contributed to us not putting a team around Melo that was deeper. when JR smith is your #2, its gonna be thin
I don’t know if Joku ever makes it here but if another covets his talents that helps trade up in a draft.

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/TommyBeer/status/1450529695343185927

SupremeCommander wrote:I love this. Either he gets a shot here, or he’s an attractive trade piece

doubt his game will ever translate to the nba. if the spurs or mavs had any pieces that we could use, they could be attractive trade partners, other than the spurs hating the knicks fo

BigDaddyG wrote:

Dude looks strong and just uber confident

Nalod wrote:

NYKMentality wrote:I wouldn't trade away this kid for future assets. I'd love to see our front office continue to watch his development overseas (while holding onto him).

He's only 20 years of age and with Kemba Walker being 31 years old and Derrick Rose being 33 years old; Rokas Jokubaitis could develop into our next starting PG.

He's beginning to look really promising.

Why stop there, he can be the Next Doncic;............43 second video got me sold!!!

Who said anything about Doncic?

Wanting to develop a future starting PG (potentially) and talking "Luka Dončić" is an extreme difference.

jrodmc wrote:

NYKMentality wrote:I wouldn't trade away this kid for future assets. I'd love to see our front office continue to watch his development overseas (while holding onto him).

He's only 20 years of age and with Kemba Walker being 31 years old and Derrick Rose being 33 years old; Rokas Jokubaitis could develop into our next starting PG.

He's beginning to look really promising.

He could just as easily be our next Frankie too. Was nothing learned about drooling over yoots with FIBA highlights?

His Euro highlights, outside of defense, against older men look far more impressive than Franks. Also, this is a much higher level of Euro ball than what Frank played at.