New York Knicks: Why trading up for Ignas Brazdeikis was worth it

The New York Knicks made the best possible decision after trading for Ignas Brazdeikis late in the second round. Here is why their selection was worth it.

The New York Knicks traded their 55th pick (Kyle Guy) to the Kings for Ignas Brazdeikis (47th pick), a Lithuanian out of Michigan State. Although he was born in Lithuania, Brazdeikis was raised in Ontario and is rejoining his former Canadien (U-17) teammate R.J. Barrett on the Knicks.

The Knicks front office made a crafty decision by choosing to pair two players who were once teammates, which gives them the upper hand in the team chemistry department. In his lone season with the Michigan Wolverines, Brazdeikis averaged 14.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.7 steals, on 46.2 FG%, 39.2 3P%, 77.3 FT%, in 29.7 minutes per game in 37 appearances. Brazdeikis was an integral piece to Michigan’s March Madness run this year, as they advanced into the Final Four before being eliminated by Texas Tech.

The Knicks’ team president Steve Mills was interested in drafting Brazdeikis but felt they had a minimal chance of selecting him. Additionally, Mills praised Brazdeikis’ NBA Draft Combine performance and had much to say about his style of play:

"“We were really impressed with his competitiveness, his toughness, the way he could shoot the ball. We actually said, ‘This guy is going in the first round, we’re not going to have a chance to get him,'” Mills said Friday. “And as we were watching the draft play out, our analytics guys, he rates out really high as a rotational NBA player. When there was an opportunity to go get him we decided that was something that was important for us to do. Because we didn’t expect that opportunity.”"

Although the Knicks have both 19-year-olds Kevin Knox and R.J. Barrett at the small forward position, Brazdeikis (20-years-old) can fill in both forward spots off the bench.

Final thoughts

Brazdeikis’ fearless playstyle on both ends of the floor will get him far in today’s NBA. A combo forward (in my opinion) that can defend well, create his shot, shoot the three, and compete every single night will flourish in today’s fast-paced game.

It is fair to say the Knicks made a great choice by decided to trade for Brazdeikis, as he can become a reliable sixth man for the Knicks. Brazdeikis was a steal late in the second round of this years’ NBA Draft.

Hopefully, Brazdeikis, who was ironically born in Lithuania, the neighboring country of Latvia (Kristaps Porzingis country) will be a Knick for years to come.