NBA Draft 2021: Mock Draft 1.0
player. 27. . PF. New York Knicks. Jalen Johnson. 19
2021 NBA Draft — 19. Jalen Johnson, New York Knicks
A 6-foot-8 forward with impressive athleticism, great passing instincts, a desire to play in transition, and very little offense to speak of in the halfcourt. If you’re a Sixers fan, you may want to skip past this slide. Jalen Johnson is no Ben Simmons, but the surface-level similarities are comical, if not anything of substance.
The Knicks will be active in free agency and may view the likes of Derrick Rose — who can be re-signed — and Immanuel Quickley as sufficient options at point guard. If so, Johnson probably represents the highest ceiling left on the board, and it couldn’t hurt for him to foster behind another pass-happy power forward in Julius Randle.
Johnson’s ability to push the tempo and create on the fast break is a sight to behold. It’s genuinely rare for players in his mold, with his skill set to exist. If he can become a more willing shooter, and do what it takes to become a passable halfcourt player offensively, the sky is the limit. Not every tall playmaker is deathly afraid of the free-throw line.