It's all about the lottery now and the Knicks want to add a center. Odds are, the Knicks will not be in position to select Yugoslavian center Darko Milicic, expected to go second. However, one college center emerging as a late lottery pick is 7-foot Central Michigan pivot Chris Kaman, a junior, and the Knicks are said to have interest. However, some consider Kaman a project not ready for the NBA next season and the Knicks rarely show patience. Other than Kaman, no other American center is lottery material. One other intriguing foreign center is the Greek "Baby Shaq", Sofoklis Schortsianides, but there are questions about his height. He's been touted at anywhere between 6-8 and 6-10. His agent, Mark Fleisher, said he measured three weeks ago at 6-10 in sneakers. As for power forwards, they are plentiful, though Okafor is expected to stay at UConn. Georgia Tech's 6-10 Chris Bosh emerges as the best and could go fourth or fifth. One scout called him "another Keon Clark." Brazil's 6-10 Anderson Varejao could be top-10 and the defender the Knicks need. "He blocks shots and rebounds but he's not a very good scorer," one scout said.
i would prefer the knicks to draft "baby shaq" but knowing the knicks theyll trade there pick for a someone with injury problems and wase another pick
More bad news for the Knicks: Even before Antonio McDyess' future became darker yesterday, Knicks GM Scott Layden said he would consider packaging his lottery pick again for a proven veteran. Now he may have no choice, with McDyess' third surgery in 18 months leaving him questionable for the start of the season, leaving his psyche battered. Remember, McDyess contemplated retirement after his second surgery. And Layden now must sign a big-man free agent such as P.J. Brown by offering the maximum length on his $4.5 million exception. Layden remained firm that yesterday's dismal news won't change the summer blueprint. "We know Antonio will be back, he's still in our plans," Layden said. "It doesn't change anything. We still look at Antonio as a big part of our team. Nothing changes. We're still going try to make it better and we're going to make it better with him with us." In his three drafts, Layden has yet to use the Knicks' first-round selection. In 2000, he traded the pick - Donnell Harvey - for Erick Strickland. In 2001, he didn't have a first-rounder, having dealt it in the Patrick Ewing deal. In 2002, he swapped his seventh pick, going down to No. 25, in the McDyess deal. Layden admitted he may use his lottery pick - and one of his two second-round picks - as trade assets. "I think we'll go into this draft and see what the best thing we can get out of it," Layden said. "If it means using it in a trade, we've shown we'll do that. And we'll do it again if that improves our team." Layden has two second-rounders, including the 31st pick. The McDyess news makes the Milos Vujanic situation even more depressing. Layden finally confirmed their point guard of the future will play in Europe next season. "It appears he'll play overseas next season but to us we still feel good about having Milos in the Knicks system," Layden said. "When he plays here - and he will play here - he'll be a player with a lot of experience."
i wouldent mind the knicks getting pj brown, he will definitly help at PF( lets e honest the dyess is gone)
To me, its becoming clear that there are 9 prospects in this years draft that stand out above the others. In Random order carmelo anthony lebron james darko milicic tj ford chris bosh anderson varejo chris kaman Maciej Lampe mickael pietrus The other top prospects (i.e. Hinrich, sweentney, wade, Pavel Padkolzkin Leandrinho Barbosa) are great players, but have one of the those catch-alls that seperate the top ten picks from the next 5-8 (i.e. lack of size, can he play (insert position here) in the NBA, nagging injury etc... Provided the Knicks end up in their projected slot of 9th (1.5% at top 3, 3.3% chance someone knocks them deeper), they'll have a good shot at (depending on Chicago camp/workouts) Kaman, Lampe or Padkolzkin. There's a good chance Kaman won't slip past the Bulls and the Bucks and Padkolzkin is a huge injury risk (ankle). So, IMHO,Lampe is probably the best pick here but even though he's big enough to play PF or C (7' 245), his game is more like a 3 or 4. Here's what Chad Ford said about him after seeing him play this week "Lampe is super-smooth for a big man. His stroke is effortless, and he's a better inside player than he is given credit for. Several times he lowers his shoulder into his opponent and takes the ball to the basket with ease. He runs the floor well and works hard to get position on the block. He's great at getting separation for his shot.... "In the second half, Lampe takes up right where he left off. His shot is red-hot right now. He sinks another 3, then takes the ball inside for an easy 2. He makes a great outlet pass on the break and at one point fakes his man on the 3-point line and takes the ball all the way in for another easy 2. Did we mention Lampe is 7-feet and 250 pounds? And that he should be a high school senior this year?..." But the hot streak doesn't last, and things start falling apart . Lampe now has 27 points and nine rebounds on 10-of-15 shooting, but an elbow to the mouth drops him flat. When he gets up, a fan zings a coin through the air, striking him above his left eye and opening a cut. Lampe is furious, and within seconds he picks up a silly third foul...." "He's no Darko Milicic mind you, but his game does bear a distinct resemblance to Dirk Nowitzki's. The big question teams still have with Lampe is his position. He has the size and body of a power forward but the perimeter game of a small forward. Scouts aren't sure just what to think. They all acknowledge he needs to get stronger, but at the same time they think he needs to improve his quickness to play small forward in the NBA." To get this kind of talent at the 9th slot would be rather remarkable. In fact the only reason he'd fall this far is because of his 'tweener' status. But at 7' 250lbs, NBA coaching/Strenth training and conditioning should have him take a similar career pathe to Nowitzki's in that he'll need a year of adjustment, but should be a great player by the time he's in his early 20's with a decade of high-level play in front of him.
Everyone says that Varejo's stock is slipping because he lacks an offensive game. I dont' really understand this, it seems like most teams in the league would love to have PJ Brown, Ben Wallace or Nene Hilario on their teams and they aren't offensive players either. Just last summer the Nets traded away two keys to their championship apperance for Mutombo, who can't score (not that it worked out so great but without mutombo Philly never would have been in the finals the year before new jersey). Also, he did a lot more scoring in Brazil, now that he plays on a better team in Barcelona, he's playing more of a role. Maybe this means he's not skilled enough to be a big-time scorer against top competition but it also means he's willing to play tough defense without being rewarded on the offensive end with the ball. Lots of NBA players go slack on 'D' if they're not getting enough touches, guys like Varejo are nice chemistry guys. So here's a guy who has a chance to average 8ppg 12rpg and 2bpg for his career and people are shying away? I think its ridiculous. If he was a guard that had a chance to be among the league's leaders in points and steals every year (instead of rebound and blks) they'd be raving about him. But there's no doubt that Varejo's buzz has died off lately. So maybe his offense is really hideous or perhaps scouts are liking him more than ever after seeing how he's played in the European championships and are lying/trying to keep the hype down. That's the hard part about being a fan, you cling to every word of every scout, but everyone knows that when it comes to prospects; everyone lies.
