The New York Knicks are a few games into the season, but Knicks fans should know these names before the 2023 NBA Draft.
The conversation surrounding the Knicks has been centered on Tom Thibodeau and his management or mismanagement, depending on how you look at it, of the young players on the team.
Far be it for me to steer the conversation away from Obi Toppin and how many minutes he should be playing a night, but a long-term view of this team and its future assets can sometimes put things into perspective. The Knicks are 9-10, with a roster that most people, before the start of the season, felt would not compete for a championship or snag a top-five seed in the east.
The Knicks will likely have two first-round picks for the upcoming 2023 NBA draft. In addition to their 2023 pick, the Knicks also own a top-10 protected pick from the Dallas Mavericks via the Kristaps Porzingis trade in 2021. Barring injury to Luka Doncic, it’s not likely that the Mavs’ win-loss record will sit in the bottom third of the league.
The Knicks also own a top-18 protected pick from the Detroit Pistons and a top-14 protected pick from the Washington Wizards. The Pistons’ pick is not likely to convey this season. However, fans should watch the Wizards and their win-loss record. More wins for the Wizards means that the Knicks might get a third first-round pick added to this year’s arsenal.
Last season I wrote a “three-names to watch for” article, and both Bennedict Mathurin (drafted 6th by the Indiana Pacers) and Nikola Jovic (drafted 27th by the Miami Heat) were drafted in the first round. With that said, here are the three names fans need to watch for ahead of the 2022-2023 NBA draft:
Anthony Black – G, Arkansas
Anthony Black is an 18-year-old, six-foot-seven, 195-pound point guard from Duncanville, Texas. With 22 Division 1 offers, Black chose the University of Arkansas to play his freshman year of college basketball. Via 24/7sports.com, Black was ranked as a top-two point guard and 15th in his recruiting class.
Black may be out of the Knicks’ reach on draft night. Some mock drafts have Black listed within the bottom half of the lottery. But it will be interesting to see how he stands out compared to the rest of Arkansas’ top-five recruiting class — one that also includes Arkansas native, Nick Smith Jr.
During his senior year at Duncanville, Black averaged 13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game (in 15 games) and helped lead his team to a state championship. Black also garnered honors as a Mcdonald’s All-American selection and was a part of a gold-medal winning squad for the U-18 USA Basketball.
As with most young players, scouts and general managers are trying to find versatile athletes that can play amongst the best in the world. And while Black does not strike me as an elite athlete, his size and length, at his position, are huge indicators for success if he can improve on some of his swing skills.
Based on his high school tape, Black appears to flourish in transition and makes good decisions regarding when to drive to the hoop or set up his teammates for easy shots. In addition, Black has good vision and can execute cross-court passes with decent accuracy.
He has an array of step-throughs and euro-steps that allow him to create space when driving to the rim. That being said, it will be interesting to see what his efficiency at the rim looks like in college when he’s faced with bigger and stronger opponents. Furthermore, his shot will be a swing skill. He doesn’t shoot off the dribble much, but his form is decent – repeatable mechanics and good follow-through.
Overall, Black is a do-it-all combo guard that can fill up the stat sheet but hasn’t developed that killer instinct that talent evaluators expect to see in top recruits.
Terquavion Smith – G, North Carolina State
Terquavion Smith is a nineteen-year-old, six-foot-four, 195-pound guard who plays for the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Anyone who followed the draft closely last year is no stranger to Smith. As a freshman, the North Carolina native averaged 16.3 points and shot 36.9 percent from the three-point line on 6.2 attempts per game.
Smith jumped onto the scene during the NBA combine before last year’s draft. Smith had a strong showing in one-on-one drills, to the point where some scouts were comparing him to Jordan Poole. Despite this, Smith ultimately returned to school for his sophomore season.
Smith’s main attraction is that he can pull up from anywhere on the court. He has a solid mid-range game, excels in catch-and-shoot situations, and can shoot with a hand in his face. Last season, Smith shot 41.4 percent on catch-and-shoot jumpers. However, Smith is not very accurate from the free-throw line for such a talented scorer. Smith shot 69.8 percent from the charity stripe, which is pretty poor for a guard.
I also wonder how Smith’s shooting will translate at the next level. While Smith can drive, hit the runner, or finish at the rim, it’s not super efficient (48.2 percent). We don’t see many guards at his height getting significant playing time if they can’t counter six-foot-five defenders without driving to the rim and finishing at a decent clip.
Jarace Walker – F, Houston
Jarace Walker is an 18-year-old, six-foot-eight, 220-pound forward who plays for the Houston Cougars. Walker was a top-15 recruit and a McDonald’s All-American coming out of Florida, where he played for IMG Academy.
During his senior year at IMG, Walker averaged 16.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. Walker is not the quickest athlete, but he is fluid with the ball in his hands and can throw down thunderous dunks when he gets in the air.
The Houston freshman is a bit of a throwback in the sense that he’s most efficient from the mid-range. He can turn around and fadeaway and looks comfortable 10-15 feet from the basket. If you watch his shooting form, Walker can shoot it from deep, but the sample size isn’t there yet, and something he’ll need to improve on at Houston. Walker also shot 68 percent from the free-throw line during his senior year at IMG, which is another area he will need to improve.
Staying on the offensive side of the ball, Walker also makes his mark by grabbing offensive boards. He can track the ball in the air and use his size and vertical leap to out-hustle other players. Regarding finishing at the rim, while Walker is not yet efficient in that area (41 percent on layups), he’s very smooth and adept at navigating past defenders and exploding to the hoop.
Defensively, like most young players, Walker will have to adjust to different coverages and guarding more athletic forwards. Still, he’s in a great situation with a head coach like Kelvin Sampson. The Cougars are one of the favorites for an NCAA title this season, and if they get there, I bet that Walker will have a significant role to play.
With almost an entire college basketball season to play, you’ll hear a lot more about these three players as the season progresses. However, regardless of what happens during the NBA season, the Knicks will be positioned to make a move up in the draft if they choose to, and chances are one of these three players could be in play.
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out Knicks Weekly, where CP, JD, and Alex give their takes on the previous week!
