After a disappointing year, the Knicks find themselves back in the lottery, picking 11th in the 2022 NBA Draft. The right selection could help turn things around next season and beyond.

Let's take a look at some of the pros and cons of potential draft options for the Knicks, continuing with Arizona guard Ben Mathurin.

The case for drafting Mathurin

Mathurin boasts one of the most NBA-ready skillsets of his class, bringing explosive athleticism and knockdown shooting from day one. The Knicks would happily take both, especially from a guy who will thrive in off-ball action and has huge defensive upside.

A 6-foot-6, 205-pound wing with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, Mathurin is built like a modern NBA wing, with quick and bouncy feet as a kicker. His fluid footwork allows him to set up properly for a wide range of three-point looks, arguably his biggest selling point.

Mathurin made 37 percent of his deep tries on six attempts a game, seemingly only decent until you dig into the film. These came anywhere from just behind the line to several feet behind it, off zero to multiple dribbles, or catching it in motion off numerous NBA-style sets. His form stays constant whether off-balance or on his standstill open looks, which he’s deadly at.

This outside game opens up closeout attacks and cuts that Mathurin thrives at. He’s had a number of poster dunks this past season and is an overall wily finisher using his tremendous hops. Combined with his quickness, he’ll be a major lob and transition threat right away.

You can simply plant Mathurin away from the ball on day one and expect results, which should be valuable to a Knicks team where Julius Randle and RJ Barrett control much of the touches.

Of course, the Knicks aren’t drafting defensive zeroes. Luckily Mathurin, when engaged, shows a lot of potential on that end.

He can move his feet well and his length proves bothersome. He’ll zip into passing lanes and has even shown some shot blocking ability.

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