New York Knicks first round mock: Jack of all trades is the solution

With the NBA draft coming up, it is only fair to begin formulating mock drafts for the New York Knicks. They could go several different directions in this draft with holes all over.

This has been one of the more interesting draft periods in recent memory, mainly due to the effects of COVID-19. With just days away until the Knicks find out who their selection will be with the 8th pick, they have turned to a virtual setting to decipher which players might fit their mold and culture. Relying on film studies primarily, things have been a bit tumultuous the past few months in terms of working out prospects.

The Knicks have a number of different holes they are trying to fill on their roster, and one player stands out as a potential gem on the wing.

The New York Knicks get lucky:

There are a number of different prospects the Knicks are looking at, but one of the best on the board is Deni Avdija, who represents one of the highest upside players in this draft class.

At 6-foot-9 and 210 pounds, Avdija is a small forward from Israel. His best traits are his passing, ballhandling, jump shot, and leadership abilities. Intangibly, Avdija offers plenty for the Knicks or whatever team takes a chance on him, but his potential is what makes him so intriguing.

Most mock drafts have Deni being selected before the eighth pick, but nothing is impossible, and the Knicks could even elect to move up a few slots and acquire him. He has solid size for a wing, and his versatility as a shooting guard and power forward makes him adaptable.

He is simply a jack of all trades that has the potential for above-average defensive play and is also a fantastic shooter from the floor. He’s capable of connecting from downtown and going on a hot streak’s. His primary issue is consistency, and doesn’t have the length you desire from a player of his size.

This past season with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Avdija averaged 13 points with 2.7 assists and one block per game. He hosted a .526 field goal percentage and .353 percentage from downtown. He’s not the best free-throw shooter by any means, but it’s something he can work on at the NBA level.

As a two-way player with upside, Avdija should be one of the Knicks’ top targets on the board, and if he falls into their lap, we should expect them to take the Israeli national without hesitation.