The New York Knicks drafted RJ Barrett with the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, but they may have hit another homerun with second-round pick Ignas Brazdeikis.
Most analysts had the Michigan player as a first-round quality pick, but falling to the second allowed the Knicks to grab a player that can be influential for the future. He’s similar to Mitchell Robinson in the sense that he was overlooked and his talent wasn’t valued as high as it should’ve been.
Spending only one season with the Wolverines, Brazdeikis averaged 14.8 points and shot nearly 40% from beyond the arc. At 6-foot-7, Ignas is the perfect fit to be a utility player in the NBA and provide the Knicks with value all over the court. His aggressiveness towards scoring and substantial jump shot make him a threat in multiple facets.
While he will likely come off the bench due to the signings of Marcus Morris and Julius Randle, he can earn minutes and serve a specific purpose. Trusting him on defense is not the ideal scenario head coach David Fizdale wants to find himself in. His offense of production is excellent, and I imagine Fizdale will look to utilize those qualities. During Summer League play, he was the first rookie to score 30 points in a game, coming against the Phoenix Suns.
One of the more positive attributes Brazdeikis can offer the team is in regards to his three-point shooting ability. The Knicks have been one of the worst in that category over the past few seasons, so allowing the rookie to play 20-22 minutes per game isn’t necessarily a bad idea.
If the front office has managed to uncover another gem in Brazdeikis, they will be in good shape moving forward. Similar to what they did with Robinson and Allonzo Trier last season, the youth on the team is compounding and proving to be a positive rather than a negative. Helping the youngsters transition smoothly to the NBA and unlock their potential is the priority.