HEIGHT: 6’9″
WINGSPAN: 6’11.5″
WEIGHT: 210 lbs
https://94feetreport.com/the-2018-nba-draft-guide-version-1-2-af49f178b1ff
STRENGTHS
Great size for a perimeter player at 6’9, 215, good frame and solid length. Able to shoot right over the top of smaller defenders. Didn’t get a lot of opportunity in Kentucky but has some post game
Great measurements for a modern playmaking 4, which should be his best position at the next level. Played mostly as a wing and even as a two-guard at Kentucky, will benefit from the added spacing and potential mobility advantage he’ll have over many defenders his size,
Not crazy quick but very smooth for his size, capable straight line driver that showed flashes of euro steps. Very good floater/runner game.
Combination of size and mobility makes him a potentially valuable defensive player. Covers lots of distance on rotations thanks to long strides. More effective on the defensive end then numbers suggest.
Incredibly young, won’t be 19 until more than a month after the draft. Improved leaps and bounds as a jump shooter. May develop physically at a faster rate than other players in the class; age is suitable for a class of 2018 high school player.
WEAKNESSES / QUESTIONS
Really disappointed with his quick twitch athletic ability or lack thereof this year. I misevaluated his athletic ability coming into season and he lacks the burst and vertical pop to consistently get to and finish at the rim.
Hasn’t shown the ability to create his own offense, at least not efficiently. Post ups are probably the best bet for that but teams will likely want him for the space he can provide as the nominal 4 and using him as a post player would take away that advantage.
Low to mid 30s on 3s this year, is a big step forward and the 77% FT is promising but still far from a sure thing as a jump shooter. Has some flashes of decent vision but looks for his own shot the majority of the time, not a great playmaker.
Not comfortable handling outside straight line drives. Often struggled creating off the dribble in half court and didn’t always show the best awareness and shot selection: dribbling into crowds, committing unforced turnovers and taking highly contested mid range shots off the dribble.
Far from consistent on defense, and while his physical tools should allow him to not be a huge liability defensively, he hasn’t exactly shown the proclivity to make a big impact on that end of the floor. Effort waned at times and would too often lose focus and “relax” in off ball situations.
Toughness and willingness to be physical is a bit of a question. Some of his inability to create off the dribble could be attributed to disappointing first step and unpolished handle but at times settled for floaters and mid range pull ups when an open lane was available. Does he lack awareness or assertiveness or doesn’t love contact? Not sure but none of those are good.
BOTTOM LINE
Knox has the ideal physical profile for a modern combo forward, and while he isn’t the high level athlete that I had hoped he would be coming into the year, he still moves quite well at his size. Considering his age, there is plenty of reasons to hope that he is able to reach some further untapped potential as he continues to progress in his career. At the same time, Knox’s season has been incredibly inconsistent on a game by game basis, while at the same time nothing about his actual basketball skill set, as it currently stands, is particularly noteworthy. His statistical profile doesn’t match the lottery hype but we’ve seen Kentucky players blossom in the NBA, once they are away from the restrictive roles that Calipari boxes many of his players into.
https://www.thestepien.com/kevin-knox/
OFFENSIVE ROLE:
Floor Spacer
DEFENSIVE ROLE:
Versatile
HIGH OUTCOME:
Off-Ball Versatile Floor Spacers
LOW OUTCOME:
Offensive Skilled Floor Spacers
A raw forward with the requisite athletic traits to be a go-to scorer if he puts it all together.
SHADES OF: Tobias Harris, Al Harrington, Jeff Green
PLUSES
Skilled finisher around the rim; uses either hand, can yam on defenders, and has fluid body control driving around opponents.
Displays pick-and-roll scoring upside; can pull up, get to the rim, or take advantage of smaller players on a switch.
Flashes shooting skills spotting up and running off screens, though his percentages are mediocre.
Savvy scorer without the ball; shows a knack for spacing on the perimeter and when to cut. Runs the floor hard in transition.
Potentially versatile defender if he locks in — he has the athleticism, length, and lateral quickness.
MINUSES
Settles for too many midrange jumpers and floaters early in the shot clock.
Lacks passing instincts.
Average rebounder; teams will be hurting on the boards if they choose to play Knox as a 4 in smaller lineups.
Takes too many naps on defense, fails to contest shots, keeps his hands by his side, and rarely makes high-impact or timely plays.
Versatility is theoretical; he’s not quick enough to contain elite guards and needs to get a lot stronger to defend interior bigs.
https://nbadraft.theringer.com/?_ga=2.65266091.460141885.1526938955-603243819.1526938955
