NBA Draft 2020: Mock Draft 5.0
27. player. 27. . Big (Washington). New York Knicks. Isaiah Stewart
The Knicks’ frontcourt* is a mess outside of Mitchell Robinson. It would make sense for New York to invest in someone who can split the workload at center, especially with Robinson’s foul-prone nature. Isaiah Stewart is the best center left on the board.
While it’s fair to doubt Stewart’s ability to hold up defensively, his physicality and work ethic are traits New York would be wise to bank on. Stewart gets up and down the floor, he’s a bucket in the paint, and he can aptly defend the rim. Even if he doesn’t move well in space, Stewart can do enough in drop coverage to carve out a role at the next level.
New York addresses two sizable needs with Ball and Stewart. For a Knicks team that has struggled to add quality talent via the draft, this is a solid haul. Both are prospects who can feasibly contribute significant minutes in year one — maybe even both as starters, depending on how New York handles Robinson’s unique developmental track.
(*franchise)