The Knicks are scheduled to host Oklahoma point guard Trae Young for a private workout at the organization’s practice facility on Tuesday, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. We relayed earlier this week that the Knicks were one of a “handful” of teams Young will work out for privately.
Young has long been linked to the Knicks, but the chances of him being available when the team picks ninth are unlikely. Nonetheless, Berman wrote a feature in which Young’s style of play and attitude are highlighted as a match for the bright lights of New York City.
“After two years,’’ said Sooners assistant Chris Crutchfield, “he’ll be an NBA All-Star. One, he’s quick with the ball. Two, he can really, really shoot it. And three, he can pass it. Based on the way the NBA is designed with defensive rules, it’s ideal for a guy like Trae to have success. If you don’t guard him at 35 feet he may shoot it. If you do, he’s going to go by you.’’
Berman compares the Knicks’ interest in Young to the team’s 2009 interest in Stephen Curry, who was selected by the Warriors one spot before New York picked. There is concern that comparisons to Curry may impact Young’s career early, but he appears to be welcoming the pressure.
Check out more Atlantic Division notes:
- Frank Ntilikina returned to the United States from his native France this week with a new look inspired by his desire to improve as part of the Knicks future, Berman writes. “I’ve added some weight and muscle,” Ntilikina said. “I spent a lot of time working on my body in France. I’m getting better and more comfortable with my skills and body. I had the chance to maximize my time and work on my body, which I didn’t have time to do during the season.”
- Nets forward Caris LeVert spent time in India this week working with young kids as part of the Basketball Without Borders program, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. LeVert said he enjoyed going to Taiwan last year for a camp hosted by teammate Jeremy Lin and that he wants to see more of the world.
- Speaking of Lin, his season ended on opening night when he ruptured the patella tendon in his knee. Lin reflected on how faith helped him overcome the grief of an injury ending his season, Net Income of NetsDaily writes. “The injury was like the last straw for me. This was the biggest setback in my life. It took place at the moment of my life’s most anticipated and highest peak,” Lin said. “I’m 30 years old. As a basketball player, I’m 30 years old already entering the end of the line.”
Ntilikina>Trae
Play them together.
No
Definitely not true
No way!!! Trae can shoot from anywhere is very fast & has a great vision when it comes to passing, personally I think he is at his age a better passer & shooter than Curry was, so I think his ceiling is really high, also is very fast, which is another bonus, & so far his ankles are not made of glass… maybe he is not great defending, but who cares, the superstars of a team are not meant to be the best defenders, if he can half-defend when he can be bothered or needed, is all it takes, while he delivers high octane, fast balling in the offensive half. All in all I think he will be a star of the league, & I am afraid Ntilikina will never ever be one, at the most a starter, if he improves a lot, Trae is way better now & into the future.
That is ridiculous! Trae Young is not better than Trey Burke. He is smaller than Steph and unlike Steph faded when the spotlight went on in College. Unlike Steph, He will never be an adequate defender in a team defensive scheme and therefore will be at best a bench player on a Playoff team. He would be a Knick wasted pick!
Kid isn’t even 20 yet and the amount of people that think they know how good he will be….laughable. Led the nation in scoring and assists as a freshman.
The ceiling is the roof.
Ntilikina needs to get comfortable dribbling with his left hand.
Jimmer Fredette would be a better comp than Curry. Young lacks the athletic profile of an NBA player. His upside is being a good guy off the bench for a good team, or a guy who scores a lot at low percentage for a bad one. Superstar in the G-League.