In a crazy turn of events, the New York Knicks turned the 27th overall pick into the 25th overall pick, exchanging draft capital with a number of teams. After taking Obi Toppin with the 8th overall selection, a big power forward who is an elite scorer in transition, general manager Leon Rose realized that his team needed a pure shooter.
With the 25th overall selection, which was sent over by the Oklahoma Thunder, the Knicks landed Immanuel Quickley, a 6-foot-4, 188-pound point guard. He emerged as one of the top guards in college basketball, winning SEC Player of the Year honors. This past year, Quickley averaged 18.4 points and 4.6 rebounds, shooting 48% from three and 92% from the free-throw line.
Quickley is a legitimate shooting guard, and the Knicks desperately needed a player of his magnitude on the roster. While most didn’t have him pegged as a first-round pick, he fills an essential need for the Knicks, someone that can you can kick the ball out to an expect three-pointers from. He also was one of the best defenders at the college level, having the ability to slow down guards, wings, and forwards. He’s an excellent perimeter shooter, and the next will hopefully insert him into their lineup alongside RJ Barrett.
Extending the floor is what you should think of when Quickley comes to mind — a long guard who will pair well with Toppin on transition.