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Report: Wilkes to sign 2-way deal with Knicks

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After failing to hear his name called in Thursday's draft, UCLA small forward Kris Wilkes will sign a two-way deal with the New York Knicks, league sources told ESPN's Tim Bontemps.

Wilkes has the athleticism and length of an ideal NBA wing, but that hasn't necessarily translated into success on the floor. His team-high 17.4 points per contest and his second-team All-Pac-12 honors don't paint the whole picture of his sophomore campaign.

Wilkes' production in 2018-19 was nearly four points higher than the previous season, but he scored inefficiently, as both his field-goal and 3-point shooting percentages dropped. Still, he did impress at the combine and has potential.

Bio

Position: SF
School: UCLA
College experience: Sophomore
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 209 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-11
Max vertical: 35 inches

What the analysts are saying

  • "Wilkes is a big, strong wing who has always passed the eye test but didn't make especially impressive strides at UCLA as either a 3-point shooter or a defender. That makes him, in essence, an above-average athlete who prefers to hunt shots over anything else." - Sports Illustrated's Jeremy Woo
  • "He's talented and has some physical talents with his body type and all that. I think there are some things to like there long term, but I think he's still trying to figure out how to be a complete basketball player." - ESPN's Jonathan Givony

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