ESPN's latest NBA mock draft opens the door for the New York Knicks to select a potential OG Anunoby replacement with their top pick at the June event.
Since arriving in a trade ahead of the 2023-24 trade deadline, Anunoby has been a valuable part of the Knicks roster. He's a reliable three-point threat, an underrated scorer, a talented athlete, but more than anything, he's a tenacious defender who can guard both forward spots.
However, if the Knicks disappoint in this year's playoffs and fail to reach the Finals, the 28-year-old could be used in a blockbuster trade. Furthermore, he still has three years and $135 million left on his massive contract. This is a huge number for a player who has never earned All-Star honors in the NBA.
Maybe that's why Jeremy Wu's new ESPN NBA mock draft predicts the team will use their first-round pick in June on Arizona big man Koa Peat.
Can Koa Pete replace OG Anunoby?
"Pete chose to declare for the draft and has the opportunity to solidify his role on the board with a strong predraft process," Wu wrote. “Some teams see him as an excellent candidate to return to school and improve his stock, an option that is available to him.
"Scouts view his perimeter shooting as a key swing skill that will impact his career path, as he is not particularly effective at scoring outside 15 feet at this stage of his career. But his strength and quickness relative to his size, coupled with a solid offensive feel and ability to defend the perimeter, give him a chance to find a spot at the right position."
The 6-foot-8 prospect isn't quite the same three-point shooter as Anunoby, but he has similar athletic talent and the ability to be a problem for opposing forwards. One area where he is better than the nine-year vet is that he is a better ball handler and passer. The 19-year-old is a project, but he would come at a fairly cheap rate and wouldn't need to be a top scorer or distributor, just a strong defender.
