The Strickland’s 2024 NBA Draft Profiles Part 1: The Potential Steals
With two picks in the 20s and a draft full of parity ahead of them, could a player projected higher than the Knicks take a tumble and end up falling into their lap? Here are some of those players.
This year’s Strickland draft profiles will be broken up into groups to fully encompass the wide range of options the Knicks have with three picks — 24, 25, and 38. We already briefly got into some prospects that are commonly regarded as the top 10 (thus out of the Knicks’ range), but we’re getting a little deeper with this group made up of prospects who tend to be mocked in the 10-20 range. They’d be value gets according to mainstream analysis, players who should have been closer to 10th overall than to 25th. I’d love it if the Knicks snagged one of them – they are a talented bunch. But for whatever it’s worth I have some of the players ranked well below these guys as better prospects for the Knicks specifically. Anyhow, let’s get into the first batch of prospects! Hit me with any questions you have on Twitter @_prezidente or on Reddit at r/NYKnicks!
Cody Williams, Colorado
Position: SF
Age on draft night: 19.6
Height: 6 ft 7 in
Wingspan: 7 ft 1 in
Weight: 190 lbs
The Sales Pitch: The kid barely knows how to play ball but he already was a hyper efficient two-way wing, with a nice looking shot, long arms, and some of the most elite around-the-rim touch we have ever seen. He even garnered initiation reps because of his feel for the game. The league runs on skilled two-way wings who can score inside and out, and even if he falls short of lofty wing initiator dreams he’s a two-way connector with size and versatility.
Questions about their projection: Despite some innate gifts, you can’t help but wonder how much of his projection is theoretical because he didn’t shoot a high volume from anywhere, didn’t dominate statistically as much as you would expect and didn’t show many creation flashes. Finally, he’s not elite at anything. What does Cody hang his hat on as a prospect?
Important Stats:
12 points/three rebounds/1.6 assists on 55/41/70 splits. Low volume for a top pick, but great efficiency
43% on catch-and-shoot (C&S) threes
73% on layups – a VERY good percentage
.40 free throw rate (FTR)
1.7 3-pointers attempted (3PA) per game – a low number
10 assist percentage (AST%), 17 turnover percentage (TOV%)
1.3 steal percentage (STL%), 2.4 block percentage (BLK%)
Isaiah Collier, USC
Position: PG
Age on draft night: 19.7
Height: 6 ft 4 in
Wingspan: 6 ft 5 in
Weight: 205 lbs
By Prez and Adam, @deucemcbrLde
The Sales Pitch: A preseason favorite to be a top-three pick, Collier is built like a fullback and his combo of strength, speed, handle, and passing is rare in any class. His gifts will all play up in NBA offenses: passing he didn’t get to show off at USC, rim pressure built for playing with NBA shooters, and the ability to draw fouls. There are very few high-scoring primary ball handler bets in this class, and he is one of them.
Questions about their projection: Where does he reliably score in the NBA? Getting downhill is great, but he’s a below-the-rim finisher. He has a middling floater, and a jumper that isn’t reliable. As we saw with Scoot Henderson and the Thompson twins Amen and Ausar this season, athleticism alone isn’t enough to make defenses pay in the modern NBA. The other question is his defensive chops: he was frequently checked out at USC. Was that the result of a dysfunctional team, or is he just a bad defender?
Important Stats:
16 PPG on 49/33 splits on the season
17.6 PPG on 47/38 splits in 11 games after returning from injury to end the year
61% at the rim
37% on C&S threes – good, but not great
28% from three off the dribble
1.35 AST/TO ratio – a number you’d want higher for a point guard
.50 FTR – an extremely high number for a lead ball handler. It means when he put it on the deck he was fouled quite often
20 and-ones – a number you’d expect from a center
1.7 stocks per game
Kyle Filipowski, Duke
Position: PF/C
Age on draft night: 20.4
Height: 7 ft
Wingspan: 6 ft 10 in
Weight: 245 lbs
By Prez
The Sales Pitch: Flip is a big who can space the floor and play both the 4 and 5 on defense, and can also serve as a connective passer, finisher, and mismatch attacker. While he may not have one standout gift, his versatility in terms of size and skill will allow him to help out most teams in one way or another. His strength at over 230 lbs and his skill made him close to unguardable 1-on-1 in college. On defense he may not have length, but he has strength and very good hands.
Questions about their projection: Can he shoot enough to make NBA defenses care? Can he dominate the interior in the NBA through brute strength as he did in college if he’s a rare below-the-rim finisher as a 7-footer? What is his best defensive role in the NBA — a brute power forward, or a strong but short-armed center? Is he fast enough to keep up with shorter 4s, and are his rim protection instincts good enough as a 5?
Important Stats:
16.4 points/8.3 rebounds/2.8 assists/1.1 steals/1.5 blocks on 57 TS%
Box plus-minus of 11.1 - any BPM of double digits is excellent
2.2 STL%, 5.3 BLK%, pretty crazy numbers for someone with a negative wingspan
34% from three, 36% C&S threes. Good, not great
39.6 FTR
AST% went from 11% to 18% from freshmen year to sophomore year
22.5% of his plays were post-ups, the biggest share of his possessions. 20% of his plays were pick-and-roll roll man, 16% of possessions were spotting up. He’s versatile
Devin Carter, Providence
Position: G
Age on draft night: 22.3
Height: 6 ft 3 in
Wingspan: 6 ft 9 in
Weight: 195 lbs
By Prez
The Sales Pitch: Devin Carter is a combo guard who rebounds like a forward, has range beyond the 3-point line, a boundless motor, and truly explosive athleticism. He’s a top defender in this class as well. A two-way scoring guard with dawg-like tendencies and athleticism is a recipe that has worked for the Knicks multiple times already, so why not go back to the well if you’re Leon Rose?
Questions about their projection: If Devin can’t be a lead ball-handler, he’d be an undersized 2-guard, always a dicey proposition. Additionally, this is his first year as a knockdown shooter off the catch (still a work in progress off the bounce), and his first year as a NBA-level scorer, so picking Carter is also a bet that his awkward but effective rim forays and slightly funky shot will continue being effective vs. pros.
Important Stats:
19.7 points/8.7 rebounds/3.6 assists/1.8 steals/one block on 47/38/75 splits. Pretty insane counting stats
60 TS%
BPM of 12.3 – an incredible number
2.9 STL% 2.8 BLK%, great for a 6-3 player.
Defensive rebound percentage (DRB%) of 24%, insane for a guard.
40% on C&S jump shots
66% at the rim
89th percentile efficiency as a pick-and-roll ball handler
25 dunks
Carlton “Bub” Carrington, Pittsburgh
Position: PG
Age on draft night: 18.9
Height: 6 ft 5 in
Wingspan: 6 ft 9 in
Weight: 195 lbs
By Adam
The Sales Pitch: Carrington is a very adept pick-and-roll operator for his age and is one of the most effective self-creators in the class. He can get to his spots in the mid-range seemingly at will, and won’t miss much from there. He has also showcased some ability to play off the ball, although his shooting numbers are significantly better off the dribble. He’s a risk-averse passer who makes the right play more often than not. He possesses good positional size and plus athleticism, and is a good rebounder and a good enough defender for his age.
Questions about their projection: He’s pretty streaky/inconsistent and lacks an inside game. His volume and efficiency at the rim are very low, and he tends to opt for mid-range pull-ups rather than driving all the way to the basket, which may or may not be sustainable against NBA defenses. And although his defense is passable, it’s nowhere near good enough to render him a net positive when his shot isn’t falling.
Important Stats:
18.9: his age on draft night, making him likely the youngest first rounder
11 3PA/100, which means he shoots A LOT of threes
1.072 PPP PnR Including Passes (90th percentile)
53% TS, below average
50% on pull-up twos, a bonkers number
2.2 AST/TO
51% at the rim
Tidjane Salaun, Cholet (France)
Position: PF
Age on draft night: 18.9
Height: 6 ft 10 in
Wingspan: 7 ft 2 in
Weight: 205 lbs
By Prez
The Sales Pitch: Tidjane is a legitimately huge forward with a great motor and a reliable jumper, which is a pretty great place to start for someone who will be one of the youngest players in the NBA. He’s also, pardon my french, a motherfucker. His confidence in his role is always sky high. If the skills grow to match the vibes, if he even develops a little bit as a driver or cutter, a decision maker, and event-creator…. his size and motor will pair with any new skills to make him a solid role player with size.
Questions about their projection: He might have the most manic game of any prospect in this class, even adjusted for his (very) young age. His game, right now, is often a bundle of misdirected energy. On top of that, his athleticism is not particularly functional. What I mean by that is his athleticism doesn’t make him some elite defender, an above average finisher, or a big scoring threat in any way. He might be the worst finisher we have seen in the draft for someone above 6 foot 6 in ten years (though last year’s Tari Eason may give him a run for his money).
Important Stats:
9.5/3.9/0.8 on 40/31/74
38% on unguarded C&S jumpers
64% at the rim, but 52% on layups. The rim % is good and buoyed by dunks, the layup % is pretty terrible given his height.
40 dunks
15% on runners - his touch has been extremely lacking.
Zach Edey, Purdue
Position: C
Age on draft night: 22
Height: 7 ft 4 in
Wingspan: 7 ft 11 in
Weight: 300 lbs
By Prez
The Sales Pitch: You know Zach Edey. He’s gigantic, with great touch in the post, and enough strength to move most players – NBA ones included. Rebounds are his, post buckets are his, and he can hit his free throws when he inevitably gets fouled. On top of being the most dominant college player in years, he also has shown that he can play more complementary roles in his play with Team Canada focusing on rolling, screen-setting and rebounding. He has real touch around the rim and doesn’t depend solely on dunks and offensive rebounds (though he gets more of those than anyone else, too).
Questions about their projection: His defensive feel and mobility remains a big question. Camping out near the rim and defaulting to deep drop as a pick-and-roll defender are untenable in the NBA. If he wants to be a true defensive anchor in the NBA he will need to seriously improve his pick-and-roll technique, which was a mess in college and ultimately exposed in the championship game by one of the few NCAA teams who had pick-and-roll operators resembling NBA players.
Important Stats:
16.8 BPM, a historically elite number in the realm of players like Steph, Zion, and AD
25.2 points/12.2 rebounds/two assists/0.3 steals/2.2 blocks on 66 TS%. All insane numbers
.80 FTR, 11 FTA/g. The last big man prospect with a comparable FTR was Joel Embiid
71% FT% — very solid for a big
18% OREB% — an insane number
75% at the rim
116 dunks
1.5 PPP as a pick-and-roll roll man, an elite scoring rate
Yves Missi, Baylor
Position: C
Age on draft night: 20
Height: 6 ft 10 in
Wingspan: 7 ft 2 in
Weight: 235 lbs
By Prez
The Sales Pitch: Missi is a physical marvel, despite being a young freshman center. He has an NBA body that might get even stronger. As a result, he has elite athleticism. In terms of skills, though primarily a play finisher, he has already shown flashes of being able to use his agility to make one or two dribble drives followed by layups, fakes, and power dunks. The athleticism and size also give him a floor of a prototypical rim runner and rim protector, as well as a menace on the glass. If a coach can coax some finesse out of his defense, or a tiny bit of scoring or passing skill on offense, he’ll blow through his perceived ceiling. Daniel Gafford and Mitchell Robinson’s playoff successes show there’s still a place for great-at-fundamentals defensive 5s in the NBA.
Questions about their projection: He’s not particularly skilled, can’t really shoot, and does not pass. So do the other center skills – anchoring a defense, rim running, and rebounding – rise to the level of truly elite to justify taking a less skilled big? In the first round, in 2024? Daniel Gafford and Mitchell Robinson were both had in the second round, after all, and for every one of those guys there’s a skilled Myles Turner, Naz Reid, Al Horford, or Isaiah Hartenstein you can point to.
Important Stats:
61% FG%. Good!
62% FT%. Bad!
7.3 BLK%, 1.3 STL%
14.6 OREB% — a ridiculously high number
BPM of 7.4 — great for a freshman
FTR .605 — it means when he went up for a shot, more likely than not he was getting fouled. A very high number
AST%: 3.4. Dude never passes
Kyshawn George, Miami
Position: Wing
Age on draft night: 20.4
Height: 6 ft 8 in
Wingspan: 6 ft 10 in
Weight: 205 lbs
By Prez
The Sales Pitch: Kyshawn is a gigantic Swiss wing with a splashy jumper that he is happy to unleash off the catch or off the bounce from NBA range. He also has great feel as a passer and driver. The outlines of a high-ceiling wing scorer who can also use his length on defense are there for a team who wants to invest in his development.
Questions about their projection: His raw-ish skillset, despite the shooting and feel, are the sort of high-ceiling gamble you associate with teenage prospects, and not 20-year-olds. Should he actually be further along developmentally? He only played a bench role in Miami, so he was far from dominant in college despite some solid statistics. His usage was minuscule, his scoring rare, and his impact often muted and limited solely to catch-and-shoot threes. Finally, he’s not particularly athletic.
Important Stats:
7.6 points/three rebounds/2.2 assists on 43/41/78 splits. Tiny volume, good splits
10.4 3PA/100 possessions — a high number
43% on C&S 3-point jumpers. He’s money
35% on pull-up 3-point jumpers
16.3 AST% — sneaky high
2.2 STL% 1.8 BLK%. OK numbers, but you’d expect more from an NBA wing
17 USG%. A tiny number — he was a role player off the bench for Miami
23 MPG. A low number for a potential top-20 pick
Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor
Position: SG
Age on draft night: 19.8
Height: 6 ft 5 in
Wingspan: 6 ft 10 in
Weight: 198 lbs
By Prez
The Sales Pitch: Ja’Kobe profiles as a classic, 2000s-style off-ball movement shooter who also has enough speed to attack a panicked defense with rim forays. Despite his young age, he was the main perimeter weapon of a strong Baylor team, so even if the stats waxed and waned his role shows proof of concept. Defensively, with some physical development he may be able to deliver on defensive promise which only occassionally was shown at Baylor. After all, he was only a freshman.
Questions about their projection: His reputation as an elite shooter wasn’t reflected in his actual distance shooting accuracy, and he rarely took pull-up jumpers (and when he did, they looked extremely uncomfortable). He was more of a movement shooting specialist, killing off of screens and handoffs. On defense, his promise was entirely theoretical as a skinny 2 guard who was not agile enough to stay in front of many ball-handlers or strong enough to keep them off their spots, despite his long arms.
Important Stats:
14.5 points/4.4 rebounds/1.4 assists on 38/34/79 splits. The percentages were bad, but the volume shows Baylor trusted him despite him being a freshman, for better and worse
11.6 3PA/100 possessions. That means he took a ton of threes
.478 FTR. Surprisingly high for a perimeter-based skinny guy, he has some foul drawing sorcery skills
43% on unguarded C&S threess. He’s automatic when open
42% on runners — anything over 40% is great
47% at the rim — a low number
41% on threes off screens, a great number. This, along with shooting off handoffs, is his signature skill
46% on threes off handoffs
Jared McCain, Duke
Position: G
Age on draft night: 20.2
Height: 6 ft 3 in
Wingspan: 6 ft 4 in
Weight: 195 lbs
By Drew Munley, @Drew_Munley14
The Sales Pitch: McCain may be the most appealing shooting prospect in this draft. He is a fundamental scorer on all three levels, and most likely will be drafted to play a spacing guard role. McCain is a very smart player that applies his high basketball IQ both on and off-ball. He knows when to cut to open up space, and when to side along the 3-point as the shake or opposite side spacer, when to get a defender on his hip in the pick-and-roll, and more. A team would draft McCain to be a long-term rotational piece that will help bolster their shooting output.
Questions about their projection: Size and poor on-ball defensive ability make him more of a situational player, though will be drafted to be a rotation-player and it may be tough for him to exceed that role. Hasn’t shown the speed and ball handling ability that would propel him into a ball-dominant (Coby White/Quickley/Maxey) scoring guard in the NBA coming out of school, and he doesn’t have the defensive acumen to be an impactful role playing combo guard.
Important Stats:
Duke’s highest PPP (1.104) on Synergy qualifying possessions. Being the most efficient scorer on a very good team as a freshman is pretty good
8.5 bpm — very strong for a non-top-10 pick freshman.
1.45 AST/TO
11 3PA/100 possessions. He puts ‘em up
42% on C&S threes
61% around the rim, a great number given his size