New York Knicks: Allonzo Trier has shown there is value in going undrafted
As the 2019 NBA Draft comes to a close, some players didn’t have the honor of hearing their names amongst the sixty selected. Players such as New York Knicks guard Allonzo Trier.
The special moment for every player that enters the NBA Draft has been documented on so many levels in the league’s history. The allure of being selected number one to a team such as the New York Knicks or Los Angeles Lakers have been glorified beyond every stretch of the imagination.
The emphasis has always been placed on those selected are indeed more superior than others, but history has shown otherwise. An example of the exceptions to the rule is throughout the league today including this season’s NBA champions the Toronto Raptors. Fred VanVleet, Chris Boucher, Malcolm Miller, Eric Moreland and one time Knicks great Jeremy Lin were all undrafted free agents and still managed to make NBA rosters eventually contributing to Canada’s first NBA championship.
The Knicks struck gold recently with the signing of the University of Arizona standout Allonzo Trier shortly after the 2018 NBA Draft. Trier’s stock was low following accusations of him using illegal substances, causing teams to shy away and eventually go undrafted. The Knicks had already selected Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson in consecutive rounds but kept a close eye on Trier’s progress throughout the night.
Trier signed a two-way contract with New York last July after taking full advantage of his summer league invite. His performance during the regular season not only earned him a spot on the roster he was prominently featured in head coach David Fizdale’s rotation. The Knicks eventually made it official in December by signing the rookie to a two-year deal and garnering praise from team president Steve Mills.
"“I’m happy he didn’t get drafted….He had the PED situation in college but we had him come in, he spent 2 or 3 days with us…We felt like there was something beyond the problems he had in college…WE didn’t expect him to move this quickly.”"
1 year ago today i sat and waited for the draft and watched it come and go! One of the loneliest, most embarrassing and disappointing/angriest days of my life. But a day that i will never ever forget and did not want to let define me. This chip on my shoulder will never leave me!
— Allonzo Trier (@ISO_ZO) June 20, 2019
Trier averaged 10.9 points 3.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists during his rookie season playing in 64 games. The Knicks picked up his second-year option further committing to him for the long term and further solidifying the many options teams have after the draft has ended.
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The exciting fact several players that have gone number one in the draft include Michael Olowokandi, Kwame Brown and Anthony Bennett struggled to make impacts on their teams. The selection is just as unpredictable as the lottery that precedes it every year.