The New York Knicks drafted Duke combo guard Trevor Keels. His fit and role with the Knicks will be something to watch.
Figuring out what the New York Knicks did on draft night felt like reading the DaVinci Code. As usual, initial reactions tend to mask the overall picture. But even as the storm calmed down and the clouds began to pull back, fans were still reasonably upset and had questions regarding the franchise’s direction. Below is a layperson’s version of Thursday night’s events looks something like this:
The Knicks have a bevy of first-round picks – albeit with some serious protections. Nevertheless, this deal gives the Knicks flexibility and more draft capital to use in trades or build through the draft. However, one of my major issues with trading out of the lottery was that they might regret passing on AJ Griffin and Jalen Duren. This team is very guard-heavy, and Griffin’s age, size, and skillset fit a significant need on this team.
That said, the Knicks did draft Duke guard Trevor Keels with the 42nd pick of the second round. And while I could go on about the complexities and mixed reactions from the draft night, Keels does deserve his shine.
Trevor Keels is an 18-year-old, six-foot-four, 225-pound combo-guard with a six-foot-seven wingspan. Keels played his lone year of college basketball for Duke, who finished their season in a loss to long-time rivals UNC during a riveting Final Four matchup. At Duke, Keels averaged 11.5 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 2.7 assists per game. On top of that, he averaged a .419/.312/.670 shooting split.
Coming out of high school, Keels was a top 25 national recruit known as a shooter. He was awarded Mr. Basketball from the state of Virginia and played with Jeremy Roach (former Duke teammate) in high school.
NBA ready skill: Keels’ best NBA skill is using his strength to drive downhill because he can shred defenders off of him. He’s also a good passer in the pick and roll. Specifically, Keels does an excellent job of finding cutting bigs and setting up bigs with good entry passes to the post.
Another great aspect about Keels is that he is a high-IQ player who makes quick decisions when he has the ball. He will not waste time on the perimeter with unnecessary dribbling. If Keels has an open lane, he will grab and go, and if he has an open shot, he will take it.
Furthermore, Keels is a connector, meaning he is someone who can help facilitate plays, clean up missed shots, and will not be a liability on defense.
On the flip side, it’s hard not to focus on Keels’ abysmal shooting numbers. In addition to his less-than-stellar counting stats, Keels averaged .83 points per jump shot in the half-court, ranking him within the 37th percentile (YIKES!). Yet, some scouts believe Keels’ shooting can improve, but it will take some work. I think he can develop into an efficient shooter from the corner-three, but he would need to be more consistent with his form.
Outside of shooting, he doesn’t finish well around the rim for a player whose strength is driving. Per Hoop-Math, Keels finished 59.5 percent of his shots at the cup. On a team that already features RJ Barrett (55 percent efficiency at the rim), Keels would need to improve in this area.
Fit with the Knicks: Keels’ fit with the Knicks is questionable at best. For starters, there are currently five players ahead of him at the guard position, including Evan Fournier, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, Alec Burks, Derrick Rose, and Miles “Deuce” McBride. Sure, the Knicks may move one or more of the guards mentioned in a move to bring Jalen Brunson to the team. However, that creates an uphill battle for Keels at the guard positions. Even with teams deploying multiple ball-handlers in lineups, head coach Tom Thibodeau has been hesitant to start multiple guards under six-foot-five in the same lineup due to defensive limitations.
I’m not against Keels as a player. I think he can be a decent player, and time is certainly on his side. However, if the Knicks wanted a guard with upside, Toledo’s Ryan Rollins was a better choice. Or, if they wanted to add more wing depth to the team, Memphis’ Josh Minott was a solid option.
The Knicks currently have 13 players signed to contracts for the 2022-2023 season. And we know about the reports that the Knicks are interested in re-signing Mitchell Robinson to a long-term deal and acquiring Jalen Brunson (which likely means an exit for Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, or Cam Reddish). So as a result, it’s unclear how much time Keels could get in the professional ranks, meaning he could spend time in the G-League, which might help his development.
The former Duke Blue Devil should mesh well with the Knicks’ culture while adding versatility to a growing young core. After all, he fits the mold of a “gym rat” and can be a swiss-army knife on the court. But while playing time with the main club appears to be an uphill battle for Keels, we should have more context as to how he fits on this roster with free agency around the corner.
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, check out Alex Trataros, Geoff Campbell, and Alex Wolfe discuss Trevor Keels and Jean Montero!
