Following a report that they might make a splash on draft night, the Phoenix Suns did just that by trading up into the first round with the New York Knicks to add University of Arizona forward Koa Peat.
Phoenix surrendered its No. 47 pick in Round 2, along with two additional second rounders to acquire Peat from the Knicks. Draft grades for the move didn’t have a clear consensus in the immediate aftermath.
But who did New York select with the second-round choice that belonged to the Suns?
Knicks add Vanderbilt sharpshooter with second-round pick from Suns
With the No. 47 overall selection after trading out of the first round, the Knicks added Vanderbilt wing Tyler Nickel, who was among the talents mocked to the Suns by The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie ahead of the draft.
Unlike the Suns, who added a player in Peat whose biggest pre-draft knock was his poor outside shooting ability, the Knicks are adding a true 3-point sniper.
Nickel shot 39.9%, 40.5% and 40%, respectively, from 3-point range over his final three college seasons. The sample size with those marks was nothing to sneeze at. Nickel launched more than six 3-point attempts per game during his junior and senior seasons while making at least 40% of his triples. That’s exactly the type of knock-down shooting that should play at the NBA level — especially as a flank to the playmaking skills of both Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
It’s way too early to say whether the Suns will regret trading three second rounders to move up and grab the Phoenix native in Peat. Nonetheless, the Knicks’ newest talent has a chance to make the Suns’ front office look foolish right away if his 3-point prowess translates immediately for the reigning champs.
Nickel made five or more 3-pointers in a game eight separate times during his senior year, including the 72-74 NCAA Tournament loss against Nebraska when he finished with 16 points and five rebounds with five made 3-pointers.
In a presser during the pre-draft process, Nickel cited his “intensity, competitiveness and just fire to compete” in addition to bringing toughness out on the court. He also called himself a “weapon” on offense citing his shooting range and ability to hit shots coming off screens.
Those are all intangibles that should suit Nickel well at the next level, and Suns fans will no doubt be comparing his NBA career to that of Peat in the coming years.
Time will tell if Phoenix made the right call to trade up.
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