College/Draft #6 - NCAA Finals + Draft Leadup W/ Knicks In The Top Seed!!!

[Worst_to_First]

This draft is going to be tricky for those having lottery picks from #3 down.

[taj2133]

Hunter is fine player but he is already going to be 22 years old when the season start i think atlanta is the perfect team that could take chance on him and his the best fit for hunter . You don't tank your season and only win 16 or 17 games for player like hunter and he is a small forward , and the knicks already have a small forward in knox. Also if the knicks get durant this summer that will be glut at the small forward position if the knicks draft hunter,knox and durant. If the pick isn't zion and not number 1 pick then you get best shooting guard out there if its rj barret, culver, keldon johnson, nas little, or nick alexander walker.

[robillionaire]

After sleeping on it, personally I like (Zion RJ/Ja) as the set in stone top 3, Cam if he’s still there at 4th/5th and then one of Culver/Hayes/Garland 5th. Gotta go with the younger players with more upside and pray they improve. See who does well in the workouts. Probably pass on the 21 and 22 y/o’s as good as they looked in the tournament

[mpharris36]

Hunter is fine player but he is already going to be 22 years old when the season start i think atlanta is the perfect team that could take chance on him and his the best fit for hunter . You don't tank your season and only win 16 or 17 games for player like hunter and he is a small forward , and the knicks already have a small forward in knox. Also if the knicks get durant this summer that will be glut at the small forward position if the knicks draft hunter,knox and durant. If the pick isn't zion and not number 1 pick then you get best shooting guard out there if its rj barret, culver, keldon johnson, nas little, or nick alexander walker.

With his strength and 7+ foot wingspan I think he could play PF in todays NBA but I do get the concern about his age and limitations.

If we get KD I think Knox becomes irrelevant to the team and Hunter would make sense as the other forward next to Mitch. He can space the floor, defend at an elite level (switch on multiple positions), and he has a nice touch around the rim to develop more than just a shot.

Jonathan Isaac is providing a lot of versatility for Orlando this year and I think Hunter is a better defender and a better outside shooter.

We have 48% chance at #5 and he would be in play for me at #5 because I know what I'm getting and that will be important when we get KD/Kyrie.

[Deeeez Knicks]

Age is also why players like Donovan Mitchell and Kuzma slip. Sometimes its an advantage because they are more developed and ready. Younger players can get lost and buried if they are not ready.

[dakomish23]

Hunter is fine player but he is already going to be 22 years old when the season start i think atlanta is the perfect team that could take chance on him and his the best fit for hunter . You don't tank your season and only win 16 or 17 games for player like hunter and he is a small forward , and the knicks already have a small forward in knox. Also if the knicks get durant this summer that will be glut at the small forward position if the knicks draft hunter,knox and durant. If the pick isn't zion and not number 1 pick then you get best shooting guard out there if its rj barret, culver, keldon johnson, nas little, or nick alexander walker.

No reason you can’t put two hybrid Fs together in today’s NBA.

[awy]

knicks should care about nba readiness not age. they need to compete soon.

for the knicks age only matters for projected rate of improvement btw, so someone with a lot of experience and high level of prep/coaching like RJ would not benefit from the age stuff as much as a more raw/inexperienced player.

[dakomish23]

Would you trade for a 2nd top 5 pick in this draft?

We have the assets / prospects to possibly get a deal done.

[SmoothLefty21]

I think once Cam gets actual NBA workouts and training he’ll explode. He just needs confidence and work. He has a sweet stroke, plays defense, just needs work, and to work hard.

Agree with you on this... which is why I think a return to Duke would help him tremendously. The worse thing he can do is leave while his confidence is lagging, stock has somewhat gone down and many questioning his validity as a top 5 pick.

The worst thing he can do is return to Duke. If he's given the keys to the car and proves to everyone that he does, in fact, suck at playing basketball, then he's screwed. Nearly every Cam supporter out there says a big reason for Cam's struggles were because of the fit problems this year. If he goes back next year and is the primary playmaker (which I think is a laughable idea, anyway) and has another bad year, his stock is going to plummet.

Right now he has "mystery" and "potential" on his side. He could turn into this, he could turn into that. Right now, it seems he's a lock for the Top 10. Take the money and run.


As for Hunter, I wish we could do FA first because I'd have no problem taking Hunter at #5 if we knew we had KD & Kyrie. An older rookie who's a jack of all trades is a great role player to add to those two.

[Juco24]

Age is also why players like Donovan Mitchell and Kuzma slip. Sometimes its an advantage because they are more developed and ready. Younger players can get lost and buried if they are not ready.

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!

[mpharris36]

Would you trade for a 2nd top 5 pick in this draft?

We have the assets / prospects to possibly get a deal done.

this is not the draft to want to get a 2nd pick in the top 5. It's Zion then a massive drop and I mean massive drop.

[malik959]

Here's my take: Cam in a lot of ways is like Knox with better Defense. I'm saying this for they are kids with a lot of talent, but need somebody to help bring that out. Someone to push them as hard as possible. They seem as if they're not fully in the game but come to play when they're are needed. They have that talent to become stars, but are we patient enough to wait for it. I say the same words about Cam that I was saying before we drafted Knox. I don't question the talent, It's there, I don't question the work ethic, it's there, I question the motor and will he put forth that effort to become the best.

As far as Culver, I don't see anything that screams top 14. Is he talented? Yes, but I kind of see the French Prince in him. He's not the fastest player on the court and he's not the best shooter on the court, and he's not very strong, but when he's off the court you can tell because the flow doesn't run as smoothly. Even if he's not making his shots the overall team looks better when he's playing.

De'Andre Hunter has moved up in this draft in my opinion, he show great Talent, willing to take tough shots when it mattered, and played strong on both sides of the ball throughout the tournament. I see a OG Anunoby type of player in him, will never be a #1 option and possibly #2, but a player that is desperately needed on the court (Wilson Chandler, Noah Vonleh, DeMarre Carroll, Draymond Green,Thaddeus Young, Josh Richardson)

[3toheadmelo]

Would you trade for a 2nd top 5 pick in this draft?

We have the assets / prospects to possibly get a deal done.

Do it next year and get James Wiseman along with Anthony Edwards or Scottie Lewis

[Fat]

I never got the culver hype. Dude is really unimpressive.

Hunter on the other hand just vaulted into the top 5 imo.

The lack of burst and weird shooting mechanics is why I was always hesitant to have him in my top 5 but outside of that he’s a pretty smart and crafty player

[Capn'O]

Would you trade for a 2nd top 5 pick in this draft?

We have the assets / prospects to possibly get a deal done.

No. A late lotto to mid-first would be more interesting, given our free agent aspirations. You can probably pick up an older prospect ready to contribute right away there vs. a higher ceiling with heavy bust factor early on.

[mpharris36]

I never got the culver hype. Dude is really unimpressive.

Hunter on the other hand just vaulted into the top 5 imo.

The lack of burst and weird shooting mechanics is why I was always hesitant to have him in my top 5 but outside of that he’s a pretty smart and crafty player

the funky shot bothers me more than the lack of burst. College bball has no spacing so craftiness can survive in the NBA and he has pretty good strength on drives. The jump shot is kinda weird and I like culver alot. He's a more heady player and better defender than Barrett but Barrets a better athlete and has a more projectable jumper.

[Juco24]

I think once Cam gets actual NBA workouts and training he’ll explode. He just needs confidence and work. He has a sweet stroke, plays defense, just needs work, and to work hard.

Agree with you on this... which is why I think a return to Duke would help him tremendously. The worse thing he can do is leave while his confidence is lagging, stock has somewhat gone down and many questioning his validity as a top 5 pick.

The worst thing he can do is return to Duke. If he's given the keys to the car and proves to everyone that he does, in fact, suck at playing basketball, then he's screwed. Nearly every Cam supporter out there says a big reason for Cam's struggles were because of the fit problems this year. If he goes back next year and is the primary playmaker (which I think is a laughable idea, anyway) and has another bad year, his stock is going to plummet.

Right now he has "mystery" and "potential" on his side. He could turn into this, he could turn into that. Right now, it seems he's a lock for the Top 10. Take the money and run.


As for Hunter, I wish we could do FA first because I'd have no problem taking Hunter at #5 if we knew we had KD & Kyrie. An older rookie who's a jack of all trades is a great role player to add to those two.

While I see your point - I respectfully disagree, if he's as good as almost everyone suggests - then this was just an off year and another year of 'seasoning' will do wonders for him. Personally I look at what another year did for Hunter & Morant and say I'm confident another year could do the same for Cam. Not to mention Donovan Mitchell. Plus, to your point about potential - he'd still be looked at as having upside.

The way I see it, it's like this - I think he'll go #5 or #6... let's say he goes #5, isn't his 3 year rookie salary around 15 million?

But if he stays just one more year and proves he's worthy of let's say the #2 pick, isn't his 3 year salary around 20 mil? Wait just one year for an additional 5 million in total salary... I don't know what his personal life is like - as the money may be needed for him & family. But if money is not an issue - personally, I think a year would do wonders for him.

[Knicksfan1992]

Would you trade for a 2nd top 5 pick in this draft?

We have the assets / prospects to possibly get a deal done.

No value isn't there unless Culver or Barrett slip to 5

[sol537]

I would trade down from 2 or 3 to 5 or 6 if we could get Hunter and additional assets. Mitch + Hunter + KD is a monster front court. Add-in Kawhi and you have the top defensive team in the league. Absolutely suffocating. Hunter was the best defensive player in the tournament. I love me some defense.

[taj2133]

Hunter is fine player but he is already going to be 22 years old when the season start i think atlanta is the perfect team that could take chance on him and his the best fit for hunter . You don't tank your season and only win 16 or 17 games for player like hunter and he is a small forward , and the knicks already have a small forward in knox. Also if the knicks get durant this summer that will be glut at the small forward position if the knicks draft hunter,knox and durant. If the pick isn't zion and not number 1 pick then you get best shooting guard out there if its rj barret, culver, keldon johnson, nas little, or nick alexander walker.

With his strength and 7+ foot wingspan I think he could play PF in todays NBA but I do get the concern about his age and limitations.

If we get KD I think Knox becomes irrelevant to the team and Hunter would make sense as the other forward next to Mitch. He can space the floor, defend at an elite level (switch on multiple positions), and he has a nice touch around the rim to develop more than just a shot.

Jonathan Isaac is providing a lot of versatility for Orlando this year and I think Hunter is a better defender and a better outside shooter.

We have 48% chance at #5 and he would be in play for me at #5 because I know what I'm getting and that will be important when we get KD/Kyrie.

I get what your saying to certain degree but the knicks biggest need is shooting guard if the pick isn't number 1 and the knicks can't select zion. The question do we really over pay for dotson and tier after 2020 they could be asking for salary starting at 12 million.