Welcome to Part IV of my segment on the Knicks offseason of optimism. The Knicks made some interesting moves in this years 2021 NBA draft. The Knicks came into this draft with the 19th, 21st, 32nd, and 58th pick. They ended up with the 25th, 34th, 36th, and 58th. The Knicks saw the players they scouted were no longer on the board and instead of settling, they made some moves to set themselves up for the future.
The 2021 Draft class
The draft: 19th pick
The Knicks were looking at Florida point guard Tre Mann but he ended up going to the Thunder with the 18th pick. The Knicks in turn traded this pick to the Hornets for a future protected first-rounder. Given the fact that the Hornets are well on their way to growing into a playoff team, this pick may never see the light of day. For now, it gives the Knicks $2.3 million of cap relief this offseason.
The draft: 21st pick
The Knicks obviously didn’t see anyone on their board at the 21st pick so they decided to also move this selection for assets as well. This pick was sent to the Clippers for the 25th pick and a future second-round selection. I like this move as the Knicks were able to flip one asset into two.
The draft: 32nd pick
The Knicks weren’t done for the evening yet. They decided to swap the 32nd pick to the Thunder for the 34th and 36th overall picks. This was indeed a busy evening for the Knicks as they picked up two assets for one here. In my perspective, this was the best move of the evening.
Evaluating our choices
We ended up drafting four interesting pieces. Two of them could be rotation pieces this year, one of them I believe could be a rotational player down the line. The other is an international stud who could be something special down the line if properly developed. Let’s break down the Knicks’ newest acquisitions.
The 2021 Draft: Quentin Grimes: 25th overall
Quentin Grimes is an exceptional defender and comes in the mold of a Thibodeau-type player. Hailing from the University of Houston, Grimes was one of three players to hit over 100 three-pointers, one of just two players to rank in the top ten in both offensive and defensive rating and he’s only 21 years old. My concerns with Grimes are his shot selection and inability to create for himself. Grimes also struggles at finishing at the rim. It will take time for him to develop but I feel Grimes has the potential to be a rotational piece this year with his defensive acumen. Selection Grade: 8/10.
The 2021 Draft : Rokas Jokubaitis: 34th overall
Rokas Jokubaitis, from Lithuania, is a 6’4 combo guard whose game is reminiscent of Jose Calderon in some ways. Jokubaitis was the 2021 Euroleague Best Young Player winner voted on by the Euroleague Players Association. Jokubaitis is a crafty player who is efficient in the pick and roll, he has superior court vision and is a solid mid-range and three-point shooter. Last season he shot the three at a 37% clip. Defensively, he has some deficiencies, he needs to continue to work on his footwork to make up for his lack of athleticism. The NBA is chock-full of athletic guards and if he wants to make it to the next level, he will need superior footwork. Given that he’s going to be behind so many other point guards, we likely won’t be seeing him this season. Selection Grade: 5/10.
The 2021 Draft: Miles McBride: 36th overall
Miles “Deuce” McBride, drafted out of West Virginia University, fits the mold of the Knicks system perfectly. At 6’2. He’s undersized at shooting guard but makes up for his lack of size with his tenacious defensive prowess. McBride has the ability to create his own shot and has both the midrange jumper and three-pointer as part of his arsenal. McBride has shined in his opportunities in the summer league this year. He helped the Knicks close out the Lakers on Wednesday night finishing with 22 points on 7/9 shooting (6/6 for three) 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Knicks summer league coach Dice Yoshimoto is impressed with his work ethic. I wouldn’t be surprised if coach Thibodeau found minutes for the neophyte this year. McBride may very well end up the steal of the draft. Selection Grade: 9/10.
The 2021 Draft : Jericho Sims: 58th overall
Jericho Sims draft out of Texas University boasts an incredible 44.5″ vertical and has a nice combination of athleticism and offensive prowess around the rim. He’s an excellent finisher in the pick and roll and already has developed some nice chemistry with guard Immanuel Quickley. Sims also is the type of player who does all the little things on the floor. He sets solid screens and boxes guys out. Albeit, Sims is still a raw talent. He has a lot of aspects of his game that need to be worked on. Sims has some defensive lapses when he’s forced to switch onto a player on the perimeter, he’s also not the shot-blocking presence Mitchell Robinson is. Given Sims’ athletic ability, I feel that is something he can develop with the proper tutelage. Sims is also a horrendous free throw shooter. In four years of college, he barely made 52% of his free throws. I don’t expect to see Sims as a rotation guy and will most likely be headed to the G-league unless someone gets injured. Otherwise, look for him to continue to develop. Selection Grade: 7/10.
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