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I think everyone was surprised about the approach the Knicks took. It wasn't a bad one, it was just different. And different is okay. If you don't trust Leon Rose at this point, then why are you a fan? The only way is up right now, and I'll trust this man captioning the ship. He made some crafty moves at the draft and snagged some real talent. I couldn't keep track of what went down, especially with the MLB trade deadline and Olympics going on, but overall the haul was a nice one for the Knicks.
The Trade Haul
Instead of trading up, the Knicks traded around. A questionable move, but a smart one. Leon Rose is at it again. He turned three picks into five. Instead of reaching for straws, the team got players that will fit the system that's in place. Is Leon Rose stashing to make a monster trade? LFG.
- No. 19 pick: Traded to Hornets for a future first-round pick
-No. 21 pick: Traded to Clippers for No. 25 pick and 2024 second-rounder
- No. 32 pick: Traded to Thunder for picks No. 34 and 36.
The Selections
Quentin Grimes
- No. 25 Pick
- SG, University of Houston
Lowkey LOVE this move. Why? Well ESPN was ranked a five-star prospect coming out of high school in 2018. He was ranked 8th behind some major NBA talent. RJ Barrett, Zion, Bol Bol, Cam Reddish, and Nassir Little. NOT A BIG DEAL. His journey started in Kansas but he led Houston to a final four this past tourney.
Thibs and Company were impressed by Grimes' workout this month. His size, shooting, and steller defense are what made him an easy pick. He also has an impressive three-point range. He was one of three NCAA players this season to hit 100 3-pointers. He shot 40.3 percent from deep and averaged 17.9 points. He looks like a player who could come in and help the Knicks defensively right away. The word on the street is that he could've been grabbed in the second round, but they said that about IQ too, and look at his success? I mean look at his rankings, the kid is going to shine.
84th percentile in overall offense
92nd percentile in transition
86th percentile P&R ball handler
70th percentile isolation
72nd percentile off screens
81st percentile on hand offs
Rokas Jokubaitis.
- No. 34 Pick
- PG, Lithuania + FC Barcelona
I'll say this right now on record, Rokas will be the best Lithuanian the Knicks ever drafted. Smell ya Kristaps! The 6'4 guard has crazy skill at just 20 years old. He has played pro and is already lighting it up. He signed a four-year deal with EuroLeague powerhouse FC Barcelona, so he might be a draft-and-stash asset.
Miles McBride
- No. 36 Pick
- PG, WVU
I have a feeling this is going to be one of the steals of the draft. McBride is really good. The former quarterback has the court vision that will have Knicks fans loving his play. He was a probable first-round pick that fell into the laps of the Knicks in the second. McBride led West Virginia in scoring last season with 15.9 points per game, which tied him for fourth in scoring average in the Big 12 Conference. He also led the Mountaineer roster in assists (140) and steals (55). I am already dreaming of a 2nd team lineup of him, IQ, and Obi.
Jericho Sims
- No. 58 Pick
- F, Texas
Slap it on a T-Shirt right now, "The Wall of Jericho". He won't be a flashy scorer, but he offers a traditional big man approach. He has high rebounding and block percentage, which just screams Thibodeau's defense. Sims averaged 9.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in his senior season at Texas. He also is just a freak athlete.
There were other names I was more impressed in, but at the end of the day Thibs got the guys he was impressed with and Rose created more draft capital. Let's go Knicks baby, now get those big-name free agents.