NY Knicks: Should Fans Feel Excited by Iman Shumpert's Summer Play?

When Iman Shumpert was announced as the No. 17 overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 2011 NBA draft, there was a split opinion on the selection.

Shumpert was one of the class's fastest-rising prospects in the weeks preceding the draft, and after watching him play this summer, it's easy to see why so many teams were intrigued.

At 6'6", 210 pounds and dripping with elite athleticism, Shumpert has the potential to really make a large impact from the onset. Although he wasn't originally evaluated to be a high-end draft pick, Shumpert's stock rose so high that several mock drafts had him going in the lottery just before draft day.

According to Alan Hahn Newsday, prior to making Shumpert the pick, head coach Mike D'Antoni cast a tie-breaking vote to cement the intriguing backcourt prospect as the newest member of the Knicks.

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The Knicks still had a choice between two of their main targets, Iman Shumpert and Chris Singleton and Walsh said the decision was to go with Shumpert, the 6-6 guard, because he filled an area of need in the backcourt.

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Shumpert's value largely lies in his athletic abilities and the ability to apply those on the court, as his 36.5" standing vertical leap measured third-best at the draft combine.

Shumpert's "meteoric" rise up the prospect rankings had ESPN's Chad Ford "stunned," he was pegged as a plus-defender who needed work on his offensive game but held a ridiculous amount of upside.

Thus far, that description seems accurate to an extent. But his offensive abilities have come with much more polish than had been previously reported.

He's been a standout performer in Impact Basketball's Competitive Training Series, and it was evident from the onset that he deserved a place in the league.

USA Today's J. Michael Falgoust was on hand when Shumpert was putting on an impressive display, and gave Knicks fans a reason to smile when evaluating his play against DeMar DeRozan on Twitter.

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Iman Shumpert is draining the mid-range jumper over DeRozan. Good handle. Good elevation #nbalockout@impactbball#knicks

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Shumpert's plus-defense was already an element that made him valuable to teams, but it appears as if he's turning himself into a legitimate offensive contributor as well.

The biggest determinant of his progress this summer will be when he suits up for the Knicks and occupies a spot in the backcourt, as Shumpert has yet to prove that he's capable of taking the reigns of the point guard position.

To impress with mid-range jumpers and flashy throw-down dunks is great and it's nice to see that he's clearly working on his offensive approach, but he has shown nothing to indicate that he's capable of facilitating the flow of an offense at this time.

The Knicks are hoping that Shumpert provides answers in the backcourt for the long-term picture, but it's far too early to consider him the point guard of the future.

Having said that, the early returns have certainly been promising about his value to the club.