Strongly in the race for No. 1 on my personal board, Killian Hayes in a steal at this point in the draft. The Knicks desperately need a point guard, and while New York doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to their reception of lesser-known foreign prospects, Hayes would turn negative press around fairly quickly.
At 6-foot-5, Hayes fills a strong athletic profile at the point guard position. He can operate as the solo playmaker or slide to more of a two-guard role if needed. The Knicks, of course, don’t have a ton of playmaking firepower to lean on at the moment.
Hayes is a quick-twitch athlete and a demonstratively intelligent passer. He has produced well overseas, and at a young age, there’s still room for Hayes to improve as a perimeter scorer — his shot mechanics are a tad inconsistent. He’s one of the better playmakers in this class, full stop. The Knicks could use that.