New York Knicks need to avoid drafting Trae Young

Trae Young is on top of many team’s lists as the 2018 NBA Draft inches closer, but the New York Knicks shouldn’t be one of the clubs interested in his services.

It’s no secret that Oklahoma point guard Trae Young is a talented young player with plenty of potential in the league. The freshman standout has drawn college comparisons to Golden State Warriors All-Star Stephen Curry, creating an immediate buzz as individual team workouts continue leading up to the 2018 NBA Draft.

The New York Knicks — already stocked with various options at the point guard position — are in a prime spot to take Young if he’s still available. The No. 9 pick in the draft has seen the name Young, along with another point guard in Colin Sexton and Villanova forward Mikal Bridges, come up in recent mocks.

Each player is highly touted to make an impact in the league, but it will be more of a toss-up if the other eight teams ahead of the Knicks start to go off script from what is projected to happen.

Young worked out for the Knicks on Monday and gave immediate feedback from the session that included newly hired head coach David Fizdale assessing the former NCAA star. Young revealed to reporters his excitement to workout for the Knicks and first impression of Fizdale during the session.

"“They really wanted me to come out and get a workout in. I wasn’t doing too many workouts, but I wanted to do this one.“He’s a great dude, great coach. Everything I’ve heard about him, he’s amazing. He’s very energetic. He’s a guy who keeps it real with you. Me as a player who wants to be great, you want someone like that who’s going to push you, who’s going to make you better, who’s going to keep it real with you. I really like Coach Fizdale.”"

The Knicks already drafted a point guard in the first round last season in Frank Ntilikina and made a trade deadline deal for 22-year-old Emmanuel Mudiay to also compete for playing time. Ron Baker was lost for the season due to injury, but just recently exercised his option to return while G League call-up Trey Burke is also expected to be in the mix to start training camp.

The chances of the Knicks making a deal to move one or two of these young guards is unlikely, especially with Fizdale showing great confidence in Burke and Mudiay. Both guards were on hand for Fizdale’s introductory press conference with Fizdale calling out Mudiay, proclaiming he was going to “get him right.”

Mudiay responded to Fizdale’s support with some praise for the coach of his own, gushing about the future possibilities in an interview with the NY Post.

"“I’ve heard nothing but positive things, Just excited. Nobody has played with him yet over here except Troy Williams. But I’m not the only one excited. Everyone else is, too. He’s an unbelievable guy, he studies the game, loves the game of basketball. You can tell he’s well-prepared. I think he can help me out a lot. Not only him, but the coaching staff he brings in. I’m looking forward to it.”"

It would be ridiculous to draft another young point guard with so much work already expected to be put into the current crop on the roster. Fizdale’s blatant support of the current guards on the roster limit the possibilities of this happening unless a surprise trade is secretly in the works.

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There are going to be plenty of people buzzing once the Knicks are officially on the clock and Young is still on the board. It would once again be in the franchise’s best interest to allow Fizdale to work with his guys and see if the risk is worth the reward to go in another direction.