NBA Draft 2021: 6 selections from the second round with most potential

No. 36 New York Knicks: Miles McBride, Guard, West Virginia

The Knicks were rumored to be interested in McBride at No. 21, but I’m sure they were more than happy to have him on the board at No. 36. McBride finished at No. 26 on my board, so I liked this selection from a value and fit perspective.

The Knicks needed a scoring guard even before Derrick Rose and Elfrid Payton, and McBride can do just that. He excelled as a pull-up shooter last season and can add an on-ball and off-ball role for New York. McBride needs to develop more as a playmaker before I trust him as a primary, but he can be useful as a secondary creator next to Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett. McBride was in the 92nd percentile in catch-and-shoot jumpers last season.

McBride is also one of the better guard defenders in this class. A former high school quarterback, McBride has great instincts and awareness of what the offense wants to do, and he uses his length and quickness to disrupt plays. He’s got a pitbull mindset on that end, which should mesh perfectly with head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Given he’s undersized, McBride lacks some upside. But, he’s a versatile two-way player who should stick in the league for a long time. The Knicks want to win now and be better on both ends and McBride should do that as a role player from day one. At No. 36, that’s great value.