8. New York Knicks – Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC
The New York Knicks will be hoping that one of the top guards falls to them at No. 8, but with the way this draft board has fallen this selection should be a no-brainer for this franchise. Onyeka Okongwu should be the selection with the eighth pick and I don’t think many fans would have an argument against it.
Okongwu has some similarities to Bam Adebayo, who has been showing out in the NBA playoffs this season. Like Bam, Okongwu will be expected to play all over the floor for the Knicks. He has the athleticism and potential to guard multiple positions and be one of the most versatile defenders to emerge from this draft class.
Assuming Mitchell Robinson can extend his jump shot to the 3-point line, there’s no question that Okongwu will be able to play alongside the breakout big man. While the next would love to land one of the top guards to emerge from this draft, taking a big as talented as Okongwu is too good to pass up at this point in the draft.