Anthony Edwards, the freshman bull of a shooting guard out of Georgia, has officially declared for the NBA draft according to his new agency Octagon.
The 6-foot-5 Edwards poses a dilemma for the Knicks, even if they don’t have the No. 1 pick some feel Edwards will become on June 25.
Edwards plays shooting guard – the same position as RJ Barrett – and did not show to be a superior outside shooting threat.
The Knicks want to improve their outside shooting and will attempt to draft a scoring point guard. With the NBA on hiatus due to the coronavirus, the Knicks currently are expected to have three of the top-38 draft picks.
If the regular season doesn’t resume, the Knicks will have a 9 percent chance of winning the top pick in the lottery.
Edwards has the body of a linebacker at 225 lbs, and is seen by some to have the most upside in the draft despite playing for a Georgia team that was second-to-last in the SEC at 5-15, beating out only Vanderbilt.
“Georgia will always be my home but I am ready to take my game to the next level and have decided to declare for the 2020 NBA Draft,” the Atlanta native stated in a long Instagram post. “I hope I’ve made you all proud but the work is far from finished.”
Edwards averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists a game and is considered as a breathtaking athlete who has a 6-foot-9 wingspan.
“I think Anthony Edwards is ready to step in and play in the NBA now,’’ Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner told The Post Friday. “He has an NBA body, he can guard, and he has great hands defensively. I am a fan of Anthony Edwards and I think he can help a franchise right now.”
However, ESPN’s top college-basketball talent maven, Seth Greenberg, has some reservations on taking Edwards with the No. 1 pick. He also was dubious of the Knicks taking Edwards with a top-5 pick if he were to fall, especially if there’s a solid point guard — the Knicks’ greatest need — on the board.
“I’m not as high on him as other people,’’ Greenberg told The Post. “Because I like guys who have a good feel for the game. He’s more athlete than player right now. He can make 3-point shots but he’s not a 3-point shooter.’’
The Knicks love Barrett’s instincts for the game as a driver and defender – even if his perimeter shooting needs a lot of work. Of course, Edwards could slide into the SG slot and Barrett move to small forward as Kevin Knox endured a rough sophomore campaign.
“He’s much more athletic than RJ Barrett,’’ Greenberg said. “He’s a freakish athlete — long arms, really athletic. He doesn’t have a great feel for the game or instinct off the ball at all. He’s a gifted, powerful athlete that plays basketball.’’
Edwards was voted SEC Freshman of the Year by the coaches and a first-team All-SEC selection. It is not considered a solid draft, so Edwards’ decision to declare was a no-brainer.
“I just feel I got the physical tools,” Edwards told 247 Sports of his choice. “I feel like my body frame is already there and I’m going to stay in the gym and continue to get better.”