New York Knicks fans will want to know the names and study the games of these floor generals once the NBA Draft is around the corner.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this, well, at least in theory. Knicks fans were expecting a positive step towards consistency and relevance in the Eastern Conference playoff picture and instead are closer to diving headfirst into a pool that features ping-pong balls and daily Tankathon simulations.
The good news is that this is a pretty deep draft class that will feature depth at many different positions. Unfortunately, there won’t be a franchise-changing lead guard available regarding the point guard position. However, there will be talent upgrades when the Knicks are ready to select. Furthermore, this year’s crop of point guards includes players that will immediately impact the rotation.
Point guard is such a sore subject for Knicks fans. After dealing with Elfrid Payton for two seasons, the Kemba Walker homecoming (which was supposed to be positive) ultimately ended up being an underwhelming experiment with a few flashes in December. This year’s crop of guards fit the mold of the modern NBA in the sense that positional versatility is critical.
As of right now, these are my top three point guards in this draft. However, with the remaining college, g-league, and overseas schedules, this list may change in the future. Regardless, it’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll be hearing plenty about all three of these players over the next five months.
3. Jean Montero – G, Team Overtime
Jean Montero is an 18-year old, six-foot-three guard playing with Team Overtime in the Overtime Elite league — he is currently a loan to the team. Montero signed a contract with Gran Carania of the ACB league back in 2019 and then worked his way through the reserve team, eventually playing with the senior team in 2020. He’s also featured on the Dominican Republic national team — his home country — and played with the senior team during the qualification rounds for the 2022 FIBA Americup.
Montero first gained notoriety when he won MVP of the Basketball Without Borders camp in Columbia. This camp also featured Arizona Wildcat’s Benedict Mathurin and Purdue’s Zach Edey. But in all honesty, it’s challenging to assess Montero’s play. The level of competition at Overtime Elite doesn’t seem significant, and you’ll be hard-pressed to see any level of consistent defense in these matchups.
Also, it isn’t easy to find reliable statistics for any of Montero’s games. However, he did drop a triple-double versus Colorado Prep back in November, where he appeared to be the most talented player on the court. When Montero played for Gran Carania during the 2020-21 season, he averaged 18 points, 42.5 field goal percentage, 30.1 three-point percentage, 4.4 assists, and 5 rebounds per game.
NBA ready skill:
In all honesty, the only semi-elite skill I see from Montero is his ability to navigate really tight spaces with a bounce pass on the pick and roll. He has excellent vision; however, it’s difficult to tell if he would convert the same passes while playing against better talent. The highlight LaMelo-Esque passes are there, but there are also plenty of times where he forces it when he shouldn’t, takes an ill-advised shot, or gambles unnecessarily on defense. On top of that, his shot mechanics are decent, and he’s a pretty decent help-defender. Yet the only problem is that he sometimes seems more focused on helping, which causes him to lose his man completely.
Fit with the Knicks:
I’m not super high on Montero. He has talent but needs to become a more polished player and work on his decision-making. Regardless of where he gets drafted, I see him spending a reasonable amount of time in the G-league, which is probably best for him. I considered placing other point guards at the third spot, but I’ll keep Montero here for now.
2. TyTy Washington – G, Kentucky Wildcats
TyTy Washington Jr., a former top 15 high school recruit, is the group’s elder statesman at 20 years of age. The Kentucky freshman is a six-foot-three combo guard who has held down the lead guard responsibilities for Kentucky this season, and he is a big reason why the Wildcats are ranked fifth in the country. Washington is averaging 12.9 points, 48.6 field goal percentage, 35.2 three-point percentage, 4 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. Washington lit it up towards the end of December and through January. He dropped 28 points in a blow-out versus Tennessee and had 17 assists in a win against Georgia.
NBA ready skill:
It’s a tired cliche, but Tyty is a jack of all trades and a master of none. Yet, as the season has progressed, he has become a more well-rounded player, which is why his draft stock has risen. Washington’s most impressive attribute is probably his crossover and transition into a mid-range pull-up jumper. It may not be the sexiest shot in today’s NBA, but Washington is more than adept at getting this shot off against most defenses. Although he doesn’t go to the rim much, he finishes at a high clip. Per HoopsMath.com, Washington finishes 68.1 percent of his shots at the rack, which is better than players like JD Davison, James Akinjo, Andrew Nembhard, Kennedy Chandler, and Benedict Mathurin.
The issue with Washington is his overall ceiling, given his skill set. When I watch his game, I see that he distributes well enough, drives the ball decently (conversion rate is excellent but not frequent enough), shoots it okay, but nothing stands out. If that’s the case, what is the ceiling for a six-foot-three combo guard that doesn’t have blow-away speed, great size, or better than average three-point shot? Add on the fact that he has a 54 true shooting percentage, you then start to feel like many things would have to break right for Washington to have a significant impact in the NBA.
Fit with the Knicks:
Drafting TyTy would mean we’ve added another combo guard to the mix without a guard who is guaranteed to score consistently on a night-in-night-out basis. Again, I think Washington can develop into a good player, but not sure he would reach that potential wearing the orange and blue. One little tidbit that does interest me is that Washington soared in rankings his senior year — from being ranked 73rd in the nation to 11th, and then ultimately finishing at 15th by the end of the season. So although his potential and work ethic are there, he still might be a longshot to turn out better than the player ranked at number one.
1. Dyson Daniels – G, G League Ignite
Dyson Daniels is an 18-year old, six-foot-six lead guard with a six-foot-seven wingspan. A native of Australia, Daniels plays for the stacked G-League Ignite team, which will have four of their starting five drafted in June. In 14 games, Daniels averaged 11.3 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 4.4 assists per game. He shot 44.9 percent from the field and 25.5 percent from the three-point line. Daniels also converted a respectable 73.7 percent of his free throws.
NBA ready skill:
Daniels has demonstrated that he has court vision, defense, and poise. If you’re a fan of passes that split two defenders or wrap-around passes that hit the bigs right in the chest, Daniels has that in his bag. He can also manipulate the pick and roll, make advanced reads, and pass his teammates open. Granted, he’s no superior athlete, Dyson has no problem getting to his spots on the court.
Regarding Dyson’s handle, he may not have the array of moves similar to a player like Hardy or James Akinjo, but it doesn’t hold him back. Also, he’s adept enough at using the hesitation dribble to create space.
On defense, Daniels can ice a pick-and-roll, blow up dribble-hand offs with his activity, and he knows where to move when the opposing big comes up to set a screen. Additionally, despite not being the most laterally quick athlete, he has good length and knows how to keep guards in front of him. And if he does get beat, he’s more than capable of recovering and challenging or altering the shot.
And while I know that poise is not necessarily a skill, Daniels’ confidence and calm demeanor are extremely impressive for his age. There’s probably no better example of this than the game-winner Daniels hit in overtime versus Salt Lake City in December. ESPN’s Mike Schmitz called Daniels the best player on the court that night.
Fit with the Knicks:
I’m high on Daniels. Most consensus mock drafts will have Washington ranked higher, but I love Daniel’s current skill set and upside. Of course, the shot is a concern, but I’m betting on the guy that has to guard Jaden Hardy, Scoot Henderson, and gets switched on Michael Foster Jr. in practice every day. As we’ve seen this past season, the Knicks still have their perennial need for a better-than-average point guard, and they’re certainly not in a place where they can pass up the best talent available in the draft. If you’re a rookie, and you’re playing for Tom Thibodeau, you’re only getting minutes if you can shoot, defend, or drive to the rim. Daniels has one out of three, and I’m willing to bet he can get to two by the end of his rookie year.
Honorable mentions
If you’re around Draft Twitter enough, you’ll see plenty of praise for guys like JD Davison and Kennedy Chandler because they’re very good at basketball. But a little off the beaten path, you’ll find me cheering for guys like Baylor’s James Akinjo and Houston’s Marcus Sasser. Both Akinjo and Sasser are talented shot-makers who can carry their team’s scoring if needed. Unfortunately, Sasser is out for the rest of the season after breaking a bone in his left foot in late December. Nevertheless, I expect both players will move up draft boards as we get closer to June.
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the 2021-22 NBA season. And in case you missed it, make sure to check out CP on SNY, where he discusses whether or not Mitchell Robinson is part of the Knicks’ future.
