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2018 NBA Draft: New York Knicks Mock Draft 2.0

By Matthew Travis

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 17: Collin Sexton #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide dribbles against the Villanova Wildcats in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 17, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 17: Collin Sexton #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide dribbles against the Villanova Wildcats in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 17, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Keita Bates-Diop #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Keita Bates-Diop #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

With the 37th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks select…

SF. Ohio State. Keita Bates-Diop. 37. Pick Analysis. player. 27. Scouting Report

Keita Bates-Diop, the small forward out of THE Ohio State University, who helped lead the Buckeyes back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015. Bates-Diop was one of the best players in the nation last year averaging 19.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.

To show you just how good he was last year, here Bates-Diop is stacked up against Duke’s Marvin Bagley III and Arizona’s Deandre Ayton who are both expected to go top three in this year’s draft.

Player                             Points           Rebounds           Assists             Blocks           Steals

Keita Bates-Diop          19.8                    8.7                      1.6                   1.6                  0.9

Marvin Bagley III           21.0                  11.1                     1.5                    0.9                 0.8

Deandre Ayton              20.1                  11.6                     1.6                    1.9                 0.6

Look how similar those stats are. Within 1.2 points and 2.9 rebounds of players who are expected to go in the top three. The only reason Bates-Diop is not going to be a lottery pick is that he stayed all four years in college. Had he been a one-and-done like Ayton and Bagley, Bates-Diop would be a sure-fire lottery pick.

Next: New York Knicks Mock Draft 1.0

If the Knicks do end up picking Keita Bates-Diop, they would be getting a huge steal. They’d be getting a lottery talent who has been overlooked because he went to college for four years instead of one. They’d be getting a guy who is ready to start right away and help Kristaps Porzingis bring the New York Knicks back to the playoffs.

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