New York Knicks: Time to grade Obi Toppin and the 2020 rookie class

New York Knicks 25th overall pick: Immanuel Quickley

Immanuel Quickley is perceived as a head-scratcher with the 25th pick because he was projected as a second-rounder (the New York Knicks traded the 23rd pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves to receive the 25th & 33rd pick). Players such as Desmond Bane, Malachi Flynn, and Tyrell Terry were still on the board, and experts considered these players better than Quickley. However, if draft night proved anything, it’s that no one knew where anyone was supposed to go.

For example, draft experts thought there was a smokescreen with Patrick Williams being drafted in the top 10 because he is such a raw talent. Yet, the Chicago Bulls selected Williams with the 4th overall pick, which was a shocker. Jalen Smith going to the Phoenix Suns was another puzzling move because mocks had him going in the late teens or earlier twenties of the draft (we’re talking about the Suns, though, so we shouldn’t be that surprised).

It was even a shocker to see Flynn, Bane, and Terry all go 29, 30, and 31, respectively, when they were all projected to go much sooner. With mock drafts all over the place, it was justifiable for New York to take Quickley with the 25th pick.

But there are other reasons why selecting Quickley was a solid move. For one, he was SEC player of the year and First Team All-SEC, and it’s no wonder why he got that award. He averaged 16.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 41.7 field goal percentage, 42.8 three-point percentage, and 92.3 free throw percentage within 33 minutes per game.

Adding a lethal shooter from three – who ranked in the 89th percentile – will help generate floor spacing for RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson to thrive down the line (we shouldn’t expect Quickley to play many minutes or make a significant impact this season).

And for those of you who are wondering if Quickley is a top-notch shooter, rest assured that he is more than capable of shooting the lights out. His form and the fact that he averaged a 92.3 free throw percentage on 5.4 free three attempts per game reaffirms his jumper.

Another reason why taking Quickley so high was acceptable is because he’s a dawg when it comes to on-ball defense. He is capable of staying in front of his defender and switching when there’s a screen set on him. However, his team defense does need some work because there are moments where Quickley either gets lost by ball watching or fails to provide the help defense when necessary.

Now, Quickley will need to improve his playmaking, finishing, and consistency.

As a playmaker, he doesn’t possess the ability to make the pass two to three moves ahead. He’s best while in motion and the defense is always moving to get back into position. So you’ll see Quickley make drive and kick passes, swing the ball around the key, and occasionally find cutters after he has made a move causing the defense to focus on him.

When it comes to finishing, Quickley doesn’t absorb contact well while driving to the basket, which is why he finished 42.4 percent (14-of-33) of his shots around the rim. However, he is still young, so he could put on more muscle, which will help him embrace the league’s physicality later in his career.

Consistency is the last issue that needs to be addressed. Quickley was known for being hot and cold shooter while at the University of Kentucky. Let’s look at his last 13 games at Kentucky:

• (1/25/20) – 41.2 FG%, 7-17 FG, 4-8 3PT
• (1/29/20) – 23.1 FG%, 3-13 FG, 0-2 3PT
• (2/01/20) – 46.2 FG%, 6-13 FG, 2-4 3PT
• (2/04/20) – 27.3 FG%, 3-11 FG, 1-6 3PT
• (2/08/20) – 55.6 FG%, 5-9 FG, 2-3 3PT
• (2/11/20) – 33.3 FG%, 4-12 FG, 3-4 3PT
• (2/15/20) – 26.7 FG%, 4-15 FG, 1-8 3PT
• (2/18/20) – 58.3 FG%, 7-12 FG, 2-4 3PT
• (2/22/20) – 47.1 FG%, 8-17 FG, 4-6 3PT
• (2/25/20) – 57.9 FG%, 11-19 FG, 8-12 3PT
• (2/29/20) – 30.0 FG%, 3-10 FG, 1-5 3PT
• (3/03/20) – 31.3 FG%, 5-16 FG, 2-5 3PT
• (3/07/20) – 62.5 FG%, 5-8 FG, 2-2 3PT

Now this shouldn’t be a terrible concern. Kris Middleton, Klay Thompson, and Duncan Robinson were inconsistent shooters in college, so there is hope for Quickley to become a consistent shooter.

Arguably, the Knicks could’ve gone a different direction, like drafting Bane, because the Knicks could’ve used help at the wing, and Bane was considered a more polished product than Quickley. Nevertheless, New York selecting Quickley was a solid choice, especially since he is a top-tiered shooter who seems to have the personality of wanting to get better each and every day.

Draft Grade: B+