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The New York Knicks took a notable step back this season after their promising playoff performance in 2021. Despite the disappointing season, the Knicks remain in the mix of offseason rumors. The franchise will certainly be looking to make a splash and rise into the contender category. While the trade market and free agency are certainly a priority, the Knicks also must be sure to capitalize in the NBA Draft.
New York holds the 11th and 42nd pick in the upcoming draft. While most of the priority will be on the 11th pick, the Knicks must be sure to take advantage of both selections. Here are three prospects to watch with the team’s second-round pick.
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3 sleeper prospects for Knicks to target in 2022 NBA Draft
Patrick Baldwin Jr. – Wing Wisconsin-Milwaukee
One of the biggest question marks in this year’s draft; when will Patrick Baldwin come off the board. The 6’10” forward once looked like a surefire first-round pick. But, he is seemingly one of the biggest fallers as the draft inches closer. The Wisconsin-Milwaukee standout played just 11 games this season which left a very small sample size. A lingering ankle injury ultimately ended his season early and kept teams from getting a true evaluation. Baldwin averaged 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 0.8 assists in his sole year in college. There is a concern with his efficiency as he shot just 34.4% from the field and 26.6% on three-point attempts.
While many teams appear scared off by this poor percentage, this is an incredibly small sample size to judge. Baldwin has good size and moves well on the court. He shot 40% on three-pointers on 6.3 attempts per game on the Nike EYBL circuit in 2019. The 19-year-old was also a McDonalds All-American in high school.
Baldwin was being called the best prospect in Illinois as an 8th grader. He was set to go to Loyola Academy before his father went from Northwestern assistant to Milwaukee head coach.
You need to go back to the beginning to understand why PBJ was so hypedhttps://t.co/9FLOz8VU0N
— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) June 7, 2022
Baldwin turned down big-time college offers in order to play for his father at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. That should show the Knicks the character of this player. While it is a swing for the fence selection, it could pay off for the Knicks. It's entirely possible that he had a cold streak during the 11 games he played and is capable of much more.
Trevor Keels – Guard Duke
Trevor Keels failed to stand out this season. This is a common occurrence among college teams with a lot of talent. Keels is a well-built 6’5” guard who teases impressive shot creation. In his sole season at Duke, he averaged 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 steals. His efficiency was the largest concern as he shot 41.9% from the field and 31.2% on three-point attempts.
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He is only 18-years old and defends physically. Keels is a capable spot-up shooter who has the potential to score on all three levels. He also attacks the basket in an aggressive fashion and gets to the line at a high rate. Unfortunately, the Duke product only connected on 67% of these free-throw attempts.
His shooting ability is his biggest swing skill at the NBA level. The Duke product will be looked at to knock down shots and if he cannot do this reliably he will not stick. Trevor Keels also is not a true fit as either a point or shooting guard. His playmaking skills are not great and he at times could be too passive. This is once again a swing for the fences with the hope he can return to the pedigree he has teased. He was a highly regarded recruit coming out of high school and still is a very intriguing prospect. Getting a guy who was once pegged as a surefire first-round pick at the 42nd selection could end up an impressive selection.
Caleb Houstan – Wing Michigan
A little bit more of a safe selection is Caleb Houstan. Houstan is a versatile wing player who spent his one-and-done season at Michigan. He has an advanced skill set and is a high IQ player. At 6’8”, Houstan has ideal size and had solid production in college. He averaged 10.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game this season. He also shot 35.5% on three-point on 5.0 attempts per game.
The ceiling of Caleb Houstan is somewhat limited. He doesn’t move fluidly and lacks the elite athleticism one would hope for. The Michigan product is an average shot-creator and projects best as a catch-and-shooter. His efficiency numbers were not great and he also disappeared for notable stretches at a time.
While he may not produce the number of turnovers teams would hope, Caleb Houstan plays with great defensive intensity. He has a high motor and sticks to his man well. The 19-year-old graduated a year early after originally being ranked as the number three prospect in the 2022 class.
Caleb Houstan up to 25th in latest @DraftExpress mock. Moussa Diabate undrafted.
Withdrawal deadline is tomorrow. https://t.co/WdiegPc6Pb
— Dylan Burkhardt (@umhoops) May 31, 2022
Houstan struggled much less than some of the other prospects who reclassified and has an impressive maturity to his game. He may lack the upside, but checks about every box you could look for in a rotational wing.
