The New York Knicks failed to land the first overall pick in the draft lottery and instead will be selecting third this June. While it is expected that they will be selecting Duke's R.J. Barrett, there are also rumors that they might not be 100 percent locked on him.
According to a report by Sean Deveney of SportingNews.com, the Knicks are considering another top prospect with the third overall pick: 6-foot-4 guard Jarrett Culver from Texas Tech.
Rumors have even cropped up about the Knicks considering Culver over Barrett with the No. 3 pick. At the least, the Knicks will weigh the option.
Most mock drafts have Culver being selected within the top 10. His appeal to the Knicks may have something to do with his size as he has a 6-foot-9 wingspan. His defense and awareness are also two of his biggest strengths. Culver stood out as an above-average perimeter defender in college, both on and off the ball. Additionally, his offensive skill set has drawn comparisons to Philadelphia 76ers' Jimmy Butler.
Culver averaged 18.5 points on 46 percent shooting from the field this season, making him one of the best options at guard in this draft. However, he has been struggling to shoot 3-pointers throughout his career. His shooting percentage dropped from 36 percent during his first year with Texas Tech to 30 percent this year. If he can hit 3-pointers on a consistent basis in the NBA, then he might be worth the third overall selection.
The Knicks already have combo guard Dennis Smith Jr. in the lineup and adding Culver isn't a bad choice. It will all depend on their needs this coming season, and they could use a backup point guard, especially since former lottery pick Frank Ntilikina has been severely underwhelming.