DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 19: Cam Reddish #2 and Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils look on during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 19, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
New York Knicks: 4 way-too-early 2019 NBA Draft targets
Photo by Lance King/Getty Images
4. Cameron Reddish
Cameron Reddish could easily become a superstar in the NBA. He is a relentless scorer, both at the rim and from behind the arc. His great first step dribble could shape New York’s offense into a high paced offense, something that is often missing from the team’s style of play.
In a draft class full of freakishly athletic players that dominate the game with their size and muscles, Reddish might be considered as the most talented player about to enter the draft.
He is a 6’8’’ player with a 7’1’’ wingspan that is mostly used as a shooting guard, but the word “versatile” could really easily be used to describe him. Due to his length, he would be a perfect stretch-4 whenever coach David Fizdale wants to run a small-ball lineup.
Now Reddish is a part of an extremely exciting and entertaining Duke team that could find themselves NCAA champions at the end of the season. The combination of Reddish, his teammates and coach Mike Krzyzewski could show the basketball world that Reddish is a wild pick for a franchise player for every team entering the draft.
@IndianaMBB steals, two dunks. And yes, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/yeahyeah_22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@yeahyeah_22 played a role in both plays. <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://t.co/Djstvq4zeb">pic.twitter.com/Djstvq4zeb
<p>— Indiana On BTN (@IndianaOnBTN) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/IndianaOnBTN/status/1058139253115420672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 1, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Now we are finally going to be able to see what this top-five prospect can do at a collegiate level. If his game transitions smoothly over from high school, Indiana fans should be in for a treat.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 2 </a>
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<img class="size-large wp-image-329455" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1052619226-850x560.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Lance King/Getty Images</p>
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<h3>2. R.J. Barrett</h3>
<p>Getting the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery is about to be both a blessing and a curse. On the bright side, teams will be making their selection among a group of excellent and very promising players that could end up in the record books when it’s all said and done.</p>
<p>But then again, having to choose between R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson is not an easy task. Certain to be the No. 1 asked question throughout the entire collegiate season, no one can actually make a strong case as to who goes first, and who follows as a close second.</p>
<p>In the opening game of the season against Kentucky, Barrett tallied 33 points along with six assists to kick off what is about to be a very exciting season for the Canadian guard. Even though he is not exactly a sharpshooter from 3-point range, all of his other offensive qualities outweigh that small anomaly.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just give Duke the championship now<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/zionwillamson?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#zionwillamson</a> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/rjbarrett?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#rjbarrett</a> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/marvinbagleyIII?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#marvinbagleyIII</a> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/duke?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#duke</a> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/basketball?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#basketball</a> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/college?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#college</a> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/ncaa?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#ncaa</a> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/bluedevils?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#bluedevils</a> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/freshman?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#freshman</a> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://t.co/oWCUd0IwGa">pic.twitter.com/oWCUd0IwGa
<p>— Jarrett Spence (@_jiggyjarrett) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/_jiggyjarrett/status/1060184718094802945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 7, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Anybody who has watched Barrett play is already familiar with what he brings to the floor. As a 6’7’’ shooting guard with natural athleticism and a great skill-set that is set to segue into the NBA, Barrett is someone the New York Knicks should look really closely into.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 1 </a>
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<img class="size-large wp-image-328283" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1052855610-850x560.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Lance King/Getty Images</p>
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<h3>1. Zion Williamson</h3>
<p>Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s just that kid from Duke again.</p>
<p>Writing a piece about Zion may seem like an easy thing to do after all that hype he has received, but the thing is, you can’t really put into words what this kid is doing every time he touches the basketball.</p>
<p>The year is 2015. You log into Facebook and check your timeline while jamming to Kendrick’s “To Pimp a Butterfly,” only to find a video posted by your favorite basketball-related fan page titled “Zion Williamson from Spartanburg insane dunks!”. Life’s good.</p>
<p>Probably the most hyped draft prospect of all time, Zion is considered by a wide audience as the next LeBron James. The similarities are uncanny. Both have been hyped since middle school. Both possess freakishly unnatural athleticism and both have the ability to turn a franchise around.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">NAH WHAT!!! ZION WITH THE BLOCK AND DIME!</p>
<p>Just send this dude to the NBA already, enough is enough. </p>
<p>(via <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/clippittv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@clippittv) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://t.co/M7jWcTrMzx">pic.twitter.com/M7jWcTrMzx
<p>— Basketball Society (@BBallSociety_) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://twitter.com/BBallSociety_/status/1060028928516075522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 7, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Entering the NBA, Zion is about to be the second-heaviest player in the league, only losing the crown to <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/marjabo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Boban Marjanovic</a>, who happens to be eigh inches taller than Williamson. Weighing 285 pounds and having this kind of unprecedented athleticism make up the “once in a generation” type of player that is Zion.</p>
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<p>Similar to <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/antetgi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Giannis Antetokounmpo</a> and <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/08/new-york-knicks-4-way-too-early-2019-nba-draft-targets/2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/simmobe01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Ben Simmons</a>, there is no telling as to what Williamson can accomplish if he develops a solid and reliable 3-point shot. Even though he is a much better shooter than the aforementioned NBA stars, his shot is not quite at an NBA-level just yet.</p>
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<p>Zion Williamson is a big-time player specifically designed for a big-time city. He has already proved that he is not afraid of being in the spotlight and that he is a showtime type of player. Maybe the New York Knicks should have their eyes set on the 6’7’’ forward to pair up with their superstar, Kristaps Porzingis, and form a dynamic duo that could signal a dynasty.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
