The Knicks were once deemed by a prominent NBA reporter to be “rudderless.” In 2021, the team seems to finally have found its rudder, with Leon Rose’s front office braintrust.

The dust has settled on an active 2021 NBA Draft for the Knicks. How did they do? Were the moves they made prudent ones? Will the new Knicks get playing time? Our staff tackles the tough questions.

Tonight, 60 young basketball players will see their dreams fulfilled and make it to the National Basketball Association. That means there’s no better time for the 2021 Disrespectful Draft Comparisons, completely tossing out the prospects’ unique traits (jokingly) to compare them to guys that’ve already played, good and bad. Sit back and enjoy.

One of the more intriguing players in the draft, Kai Jones has the physical tools to do whatever he wants at basically any level of basketball. But will he harness those gifts properly in the NBA?

A talented shot creator who finished them at a high rate, Tre Mann profiles as a very useful player in today’s NBA. But will being an undersized combo guard that’s not particularly good at defense limit his ceiling in the NBA?

Once projected to be a top-five pick, a very underwhelming freshman season saw BJ Boston drop into the second round conversation. Could he be a bet worth taking for the Knicks?

The playoffs showed that the Knicks crave playmaking, creation, and point of attack defense. Could a late first round point guard give them all three?

A trade-up candidate for the Knicks, Moses Moody has shown himself to be a jack of all trades and a lethal shooter. Could he be attainable for New York?

If early reports are to be believed, this year’s draft might be full of movement around the league. The Knicks find themselves well-positioned, with two first round picks, an early second, and loads of cap space to make moves. Who are some of the teams New York could target to try to move up in the draft?

Chris Duarte will be older than a number of multi-year NBA veterans on draft night… but could he also provide an extremely valuable skillset on an affordable contract as a mid-late first round player, seamlessly plugging into an NBA lineup?

Could Isaiah Jackson be the latest University of Kentucky player to show more in the NBA than he did in college? Should the Knicks even care with Mitchell Robinson already in place, or is there no limit to getting good players on your basketball team regardless of position?

A small point guard and one half of the 2021 NCAA Champion backcourt for Baylor, Davion Mitchell has shot up draft boards as a potential plug-and-play option. But could he actually be less NBA-ready than advertised?

Every draft cycle, outside of the top 10 there are always players considered “polished” and “safe” compared to those considered “raw” and “risks to bust.” But via discoveries through data, could drafting a raw player actually be the safer bet by the numbers?

A likely trade-up candidate for the Knicks, Corey Kispert is a sweet-shooting upperclassmen from the national title runner-up, Gonzaga. Will his offensive repertoire offset his potential defensive shortcomings in the NBA?

A long, defensive-minded 3-and-D player, Trey Murphy III could be a great role player fit for the Knicks in this draft. But will the fact that he’s basically only 3-and-D limit his ceiling?

The Knicks have been linked to Collin Sexton in trade talks in recent days as a potential trade target. Should he end up on the Knicks, would he be a good fit? Is the price right? Should the Knicks extend him for north of $20 million next year? A panel of Strickland writers discuss.

A tall, extremely talented passer, is Josh Giddey the next mold-breaking NBA unicorn, or a non-shooting player who’s not a good enough ball handler or shooter to take advantage of his gifts?

A defensive mastermind in the EuroLeague, will Usman Garuba’s offense come around and help him find his way in the NBA as a stretch big or wing?

A young guard that was one half of a very talented freshman duo at Tennessee, could Jaden Springer’s “jack of all trades, master of none” profile hold him back in the NBA, or will he be a steady contributor?

An extremely thin wing who vastly underwhelmed in his freshman year after being a highly-touted recruit, Ziaire Williams might be a chance for the Knicks at finding star upside later in the draft.