Knicks pick Texas' Jones at No. 19, reportedly send forward to Hornets

With the No. 19 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks have selected Texas power forward Kai Jones, who will reportedly be traded to the Charlotte Hornets for a future first-round pick, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The future first-rounder heading to the Knicks will apparently be protected:

Though Jones started fewer games in 2020-21 than he did the year prior in his freshman season at Texas, the Bahamas-born big man impressed with 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in just under 23 minutes per game to earn conference Sixth Man of the Year honors.

Jones only started playing basketball at age 15, setting aside his aspirations of being a long-jumper once he began to tower above his peers. Jones still gets the opportunity to showcase his leaping abilities, of course; there were few bigger lob threats in the Big 12 this past year.

Bio

Position: PF/C
School: Texas
College experience: Sophomore
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 221 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot-2
Max vertical: N/A

Strengths

• Explosive leaping ability
• Profiles as a good shot-blocker; possesses formidable second jump
• Decent ball-handler for his size

Weaknesses

• Suspect shooting mechanics; hit just 67.7% of his free throws in college - but connected on 20-of-58 (34.5%) of his threes
• Needs to bulk up without impacting his vertical abilities
• Must balance power with patience in the paint; often struggled with foul trouble as a sophomore