“PROSPECT OF THE WEEK: Rokas Jokubaitis, SG, FC Barcelona, (rights owned by Knicks)
…this week I wanted to highlight the torrid start by the Lithuanian guard the Knicks drafted with the 34th pick in the 2021 draft.
At this point, European teams have already played several games, so we’re already getting an impression of who is off to a great start and who isn’t. The most notable outlier from the previous year’s performance might be Jokubaitis, who has exploded in the early going in his first season in Spain. Most notably, he’s been able to convert both frequently and efficiently inside the arc despite moving up to a more difficult league, hitting 20 of his 31 2-point attempts while drawing fouls at roughly double the rate of a year ago.
Some athletic limitations will always be there for Jokubaitis — he’s stuck on zero blocks for the season and has a grand total of nine in his six seasons of international basketball. But as a savvy midrange and paint scorer whose 3-pointer should be good enough, he looks like a really interesting rotation guard for next year and beyond. We’re still working in small-sample territory — he’s played 12 games — but his start is really encouraging sign for Knicks fans.“
martin@ 10/18/2021 10:38 PM
^ thanks for posting
Knixkik@ 10/19/2021 7:49 AM
The Athletic gives great coverage of all things basketball. Far better than ESPN.
As for Jokubaitis, it’s great to hear. That deal trading down 32 to get Jokubaitis at 34 and McBride at 36 was impressive. Instead of just taking one of them at 32, talk about finding a trade to milk every last drop from an asset.
It’s very possible that Rokas and McBride can become 2 future rotation players for a bargain. This is what separates the great teams from the good ones; finding good players under rocks to have fill the rotation once players/draft picks are consolidated for bigger stars. If the Knicks finally get a #1 guy, these are 2 players who will either be difference makers in a trade or end up as maybe 9th and 10th men in the rotation.
Nalod@ 10/19/2021 8:09 AM
Knixkik wrote:The Athletic gives great coverage of all things basketball. Far better than ESPN.
As for Jokubaitis, it’s great to hear. That deal trading down 32 to get Jokubaitis at 34 and McBride at 36 was impressive. Instead of just taking one of them at 32, talk about finding a trade to milk every last drop from an asset.
It’s very possible that Rokas and McBride can become 2 future rotation players for a bargain. This is what separates the great teams from the good ones; finding good players under rocks to have fill the rotation once players/draft picks are consolidated for bigger stars. If the Knicks finally get a #1 guy, these are 2 players who will either be difference makers in a trade or end up as maybe 9th and 10th men in the rotation.
Good take. Aller and Perry seem to be working pretty good in making little moves which the aggregate is needed to make big ones. Having tradable assets is something we failed miserably for years and contributed to us not putting a team around Melo that was deeper. when JR smith is your #2, its gonna be thin I don’t know if Joku ever makes it here but if another covets his talents that helps trade up in a draft.
BigDaddyG@ 10/19/2021 11:04 AM
I keep telling u people, Roka is no joke you biters Seriously, it's good he's doing this in such a physical league. The competition in Barca is playing is probably higher than the G-League and Rokas is taking the challenge head on. His north-south speed might still be a question, but he's answered any question you might have surrounding his toughness.
CanItGetAnyWorse@ 10/19/2021 11:46 AM
Quality player. I hope he works out on the defensive side of the ball though. He seem's VERY clever as he doesn't have a ton of athleticism to work with. Developing an excellent shot in and out. If nothing else we have a decent asset with no cost right now.
KnickDanger@ 10/19/2021 11:48 AM
A few years ago it seemed we had virtually no assets other than wasted draft picks. Slowly, and now more quickly thanks to the current FO, the Knicks have a good roster with multiple future draft picks, G League vets and prospects, and Eurostashers. Some pan out, maybe most do not. But I love that the bushes are beaten with due diligence to go with superior cap management. It's a brave new world.
martin@ 10/19/2021 2:51 PM
Javascript is not enabled or there was problem with the URL: https://twitter.com/TommyBeer/status/1450529695343185927?s=20
The biggest gripe is that he's not recording blocks? Sounds good!
PassTheBall@ 10/20/2021 6:09 AM
He will be back next summer to show the league where he is at and if Kemba doesn’t really work out and or we trade one of the rooks he will be there for us.
SupremeCommander@ 10/20/2021 10:19 AM
I love this. Either he gets a shot here, or he’s an attractive trade piece
Caseloads@ 10/20/2021 11:27 AM
SupremeCommander wrote:I love this. Either he gets a shot here, or he’s an attractive trade piece
doubt his game will ever translate to the nba. if the spurs or mavs had any pieces that we could use, they could be attractive trade partners, other than the spurs hating the knicks fo
xblvdels3@ 10/20/2021 5:49 PM
He looked good in summer league. Better than vildoza.
He already showed me he can run the court with nba bodies.
BigDaddyG@ 11/1/2021 2:43 PM
NYKMentality@ 11/1/2021 2:58 PM
I wouldn't trade away this kid for future assets. I'd love to see our front office continue to watch his development overseas (while holding onto him).
He's only 20 years of age and with Kemba Walker being 31 years old and Derrick Rose being 33 years old; Rokas Jokubaitis could develop into our next starting PG.
He's beginning to look really promising.
martin@ 11/1/2021 3:47 PM
BigDaddyG wrote:
Dude looks strong and just uber confident
Nalod@ 11/1/2021 4:11 PM
NYKMentality wrote:I wouldn't trade away this kid for future assets. I'd love to see our front office continue to watch his development overseas (while holding onto him).
He's only 20 years of age and with Kemba Walker being 31 years old and Derrick Rose being 33 years old; Rokas Jokubaitis could develop into our next starting PG.
He's beginning to look really promising.
Why stop there, he can be the Next "Doncic"............43 second video got me sold!!!
NYKMentality@ 11/1/2021 4:55 PM
Nalod wrote:
NYKMentality wrote:I wouldn't trade away this kid for future assets. I'd love to see our front office continue to watch his development overseas (while holding onto him).
He's only 20 years of age and with Kemba Walker being 31 years old and Derrick Rose being 33 years old; Rokas Jokubaitis could develop into our next starting PG.
He's beginning to look really promising.
Why stop there, he can be the Next Doncic;............43 second video got me sold!!!
Who said anything about Doncic?
Wanting to develop a future starting PG (potentially) and talking "Luka Dončić" is an extreme difference.
jrodmc@ 11/1/2021 5:27 PM
NYKMentality wrote:I wouldn't trade away this kid for future assets. I'd love to see our front office continue to watch his development overseas (while holding onto him).
He's only 20 years of age and with Kemba Walker being 31 years old and Derrick Rose being 33 years old; Rokas Jokubaitis could develop into our next starting PG.
He's beginning to look really promising.
He could just as easily be our next Frankie too. Was nothing learned about drooling over yoots with FIBA highlights?
BigDaddyG@ 11/1/2021 5:38 PM
jrodmc wrote:
NYKMentality wrote:I wouldn't trade away this kid for future assets. I'd love to see our front office continue to watch his development overseas (while holding onto him).
He's only 20 years of age and with Kemba Walker being 31 years old and Derrick Rose being 33 years old; Rokas Jokubaitis could develop into our next starting PG.
He's beginning to look really promising.
He could just as easily be our next Frankie too. Was nothing learned about drooling over yoots with FIBA highlights?
His Euro highlights, outside of defense, against older men look far more impressive than Franks. Also, this is a much higher level of Euro ball than what Frank played at.
Nalod@ 11/1/2021 6:25 PM
NYKMentality wrote:
Nalod wrote:
NYKMentality wrote:I wouldn't trade away this kid for future assets. I'd love to see our front office continue to watch his development overseas (while holding onto him).
He's only 20 years of age and with Kemba Walker being 31 years old and Derrick Rose being 33 years old; Rokas Jokubaitis could develop into our next starting PG.
He's beginning to look really promising.
Why stop there, he can be the Next Doncic;............43 second video got me sold!!!
Who said anything about Doncic?
Wanting to develop a future starting PG (potentially) and talking "Luka Dončić" is an extreme difference.
Lighten up Francis, nobody is ruining your cheer. We just having fun. Yes, he could be our next PG, or next trade throw in. Nobody knows. We know our guys ages. We practically memorize there salaries too. Your on with guys that know a lot more than you give credit for.
Seriously, it's good he's doing this in such a physical league. The competition in Barca is playing is probably higher than the G-League and Rokas is taking the challenge head on. His north-south speed might still be a question, but he's answered any question you might have surrounding his toughness.