The 2013 NBA draft will be getting under way in just a couple of days and being a New York Knicks fan, I would be ecstatic to see the Knicks draft Jeff Withey, C, out of Kansas.
Why him you ask? Let me explain.
Age: Tyson Chandler is 30 years old and he does have some good years left. But behind him, you have Marcus Camby, who has got to be pushing 40. OK, not 40, but he’s getting on up there in years. And then you have Kenyon Martin, who is really a PF but can play the C if needed. He’s not so young, either. So you see, drafting Withey would be ideal here. He would be a perfect fit to come in and help out the old guys.
Attributes: First and foremost Withey is the perfect size for an NBA center. He’s 7-0 and weighs in at about 230 pounds. He is also a fantastic shot-blocker. In fact, he averaged right at four blocks a game last year at Kansas. Speaking of shot-blocking, Withey is the Big 12 and Kansas career shot-block leader with a total of 31.2 blocks. Wow!
Not only is Withey a great shot-blocker and a total giant, he is also a very efficient rebounder and a pretty good scorer as well. Last year Withey averaged 13 ppg and 8.5 rpg. The Knicks won’t really need him to score the ball but those 8.5 rebounds will no doubt come in handy. Remember the Indiana Pacers? Remember what they did to the Knicks in this year’s playoffs? Yeah, rebounds are important.
Accolades: Last year, Jeff Withey closed out his college career like a beast. He was a consensus second-team All-American, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and a first-team all-conference pick. And one more thing, he also had the second most blocked shots in the nation. With all this said, I’m telling you, this would be the perfect guy for the Knicks to draft.
Downside: OK, for every upside, or strength, every player has a weakness or a downside. Withey is not any different. But his weaknesses aren’t anything that I really worry about it. And most all of it is totally fixable.
Maybe his low-post offensive skills need some work. Eh, no big deal. That can be coached up. Spend a couple of hours in the gym and problem solved. Another thing, scouts say that Withey needs to get stronger. Again, that’s nothing that a few extra hours in the weight room won’t cure.
To sum it up, I would really be happy to see my Knicks draft this guy. The center position is a very important position and the Knicks really could use some help in that area. I think Withey could make an immediate impact going forward and would be just the type of player that could help the Knicks in their quest for an NBA title.
Dylan Davis is a New York Knicks fan and has been since he was old enough to dribble a basketball. Dylan Davis hopes to see his Knicks win a title in his lifetime.
Sources:
NBA.com
CBS Sports.com