Official Draft Discussion Thread

Well we lost 15 of 17 are at the bottom of the Atlantic division, and are in danger of missing the playoffs. But don?t get down everyone I have some good news. I just saved tons of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico! Na, I was just kidding seriously don?t get sad everyone, look at this years draft! Shapecity made me feel much better when he said that our 1st round pick that originally went to Phoenix, is lottery protected. I guess you can always make the best out of your situation. I remember going to team boards and seeing threads like who can we get, if anything we should be making a thread like that. The way the Knicks are playing now, it looks like we might very well go into the lottery. We are 10 games below .500 and have been playing miserable basketball. The way it looks today, we will go 11 games below and have a worse record than Milwaukee. The way it looks now, we will have the 7th pick in the draft. I have not really followed college basketball. I watch it but, I really don?t understand everything. From my research and from what I have heard from people this looks like a pretty decent draft. I?m not saying a repeat of 2003 but, it looks pretty decent. These are some names that we have in Mock Drafts and things like that.

Fran Vazquez
[imgl]http://www.draftcity.com/headshots/franvazquez.jpeg[/imgl]
From: Spain
Height: 6'10
Weight: 229 lbs
Positions: PF/C
Age: 21
Isiah Thomas was scouting him in Spain. From what I read from him, he is a very athletic player with great quickness and great dunker. He also has a nice Kurt Thomas range from 12-14 feet, and works well without the ball. He has a good wingspan which might intimidate some players trying to take it inside. He is also a solid rebounder. Probably his best asset is his work ethic and attitude. He is just like Ariza and Sweetney in his work ethic, and he is a good leader. I think he looks good and might be a good player in the league but, I don't think we need that type of player at the 4 now with Kurt Thomas. We also have Mohammed as a center. Perhaps a backup might do us some well. I don't think he is one of the more talented players though. It will be interesting to see what he can do. Either way he is a lottery pick. I heard the optimistic point of view from him is a poor man?s Marcus Camby, while the pessimistic side was a Francisco Elson.



<div align="right">Hakim Warrick [imgr]http://www.draftcity.com/headshots/hakimwarrick.gif[/imgr]
From: Syracuse
Height: 6'8
Weight: 210
Positions: SF/PF
Age: 22</div>
I have heard a lot of good things about him. I have watched him occasionally but, I really do not follow college basketball too much. From what I read, he is extremely quick and runs the floor very well. He is extremely athletic and has serious leaping abilities. He throws down stuffs. He seems to be very mature to stay through college all 4 years. Rarely you see players taking the time to stay all 4 years. The only thing I am concerned about is his weight. He can play college 4 but in the NBA at 210, you can easily get out muscled. Sure he can use his quickness but what happens on the other end of the floor. It should be an interesting battle to see whether Trevor Ariza and him get at it. Once he puts on some more muscle, I can see him playing the power forward. The optimistic view was an Antawn Jamison, while the pessimistic one was a Lee Nailon.

These are only two names I could find and once the high schoolers start coming in, we will have more available options. It should be interesting who we draft with a lottery pick from Isiah Thomas who has drafted, Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire, Tracy McGrady, Trevor Ariza, and now hopefully he can do the same with someone here in this draft. Maybe it wont even come down to the lottery but the way we are playing now, it seems like we will. Anyone who really follows college ball have any suggestions?

I really hope we stay homegrown, our experience with overseas players has not been pleasent.

For real. But we do have Isiah and not Layden so it might be different. I really do think international players are riskier though. It's almost like a gamble.

I like Hakim Warrick think he would be a good sf for our team but we need to get rid of tim thomas or ariza if we get him and I'm not sure who to give up. Ariza is young and could become a great player but Tim Thomas is almost a lock for the Hall of Fame and is still in his prime.

Do you guys think we should test our luck on a highschooler?

^In a pressure cooker such as New York I think the consenus pick for management would be someone who could come in and play a role on the team immediatley. Picking a high schooler would take a lot of patience and as far as I see it, there are no Lebron's, Dwight Howards or Amare's that are in this draft.

Yeah, thank God that was a conditional pick. My favorite guy in the draft for the Knicks is Warrick. The more I watch him the more interested I get in seeing him with Marbury. I love his game and pray we miss the playoffs and somehow snag Warrick.
Yes. I said I hope we miss the playoffs so we can snag Hakim. You might want to write that down. That's how much I love this guy.

Pass on Warrick. He's too small to play the powerforward and we already have a developing small forward. We need to draft a center. They take longer to develop than any other type of player. If we draft one now hopefully he'll be fully developed around the same time as Sweetney and Ariza. I say get someone from overseas. Usually overseas players(particularly Europeans) have good fundamentals and wont crack under the pressure of playing in New York since they probably have some international experience.

I know you guys are in love with Ariza, as am I, but it's really really risking it to depend on him becoming anything more than a role player. Seeing as there are no real proven centers in the group, it'd be great to grab a proven player, someone who has the potential to turn into a Grant Hill.

I would like Crawford for a 1st round pick pick or something. We need to rebuild and we don't need to do it around Crawford. Does anyone think we can get a lottery pick for Marbury?

Anyway, KA I thought I was being silly. I thought about it and I thought would be good if we miss the playoffs too. What good is it barely making it and getting eliminated in the first round without a pick? I don't see the point.

Andrew Bogut


DO NOT PASS UP ON HIM!


Much like myself, Andrew Bogut is from Australia. I have been following him since he led Australia to Gold in the Junior World Championships.
He averaged 26.3ppg and 17rpg over eight games in the Junior Worlds and scored 22 points and took 18 rebounds in a <font color="darkblue">106-85</font> win over the USA in the quarter-finals of the medal round.
He will be the <font color="darkblue">best Australian player of all time</font> and will flourish in the NBA. Top 15 pick for sure, that's if he decides to come out this year.

Bogut's star on the rise
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NBA talent scouts are going gaa-gaa over budding Australian superstar Andrew Bogut.
The Athens Olympian has been on a tear this season for the University of Utah men's basketball team. On Monday he was named Mountain West Conference player of the week, his third such award in the space of seven weeks.
He leads all US college players in double-doubles, posting double figures in both points and rebounds in 12 of 16 games.

The 20-year-old, in his second year at Utah, is averaging a conference-best 20.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, leading the Utes to a 13-3 win-loss record, including wins in their last eight games.
Bogut's play has caught the attention of NBA talent scouts amid speculation he will forego his final two years of college and declare himself available for this year's NBA draft.

In a recent win over Louisiana State University, a staggering 22 NBA scouts turned up to watch Bogut go up against highly touted big man Brandon Bass.
And he didn't disappoint.
Bogut scored 24 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, while holding Bass to 17 points and nine rebounds in a 69-55 win for the Utes.
</div>
<font color="darkblue">Link</font>

I know not many have heard of him, but keep a look out, he is a great player. He plays for the <font color="darkblue">Utah Utes</font> in the <font color="darkblue">Mountain West Conference</font>

<font color="darkblue">Andrew Bogut Profile</font>


<u>Penny's Six Degrees of separation</u>
The player in which Andrew Bogut trained against at the Australian Institute of Sport, his younger brother has played against me.

I knew about him Penny I just thought we will have no chance in getting him. He'll probably be a top 3 pick while we might have 7 or higher. I don't think we'll do that bad Penny

I think we should go for Warrick, We already have sweetney and Kurt thomas get a small forward or center. If we get this guy though Knick fans might be angry because Isiah might give up Tim Thomas who is in his prime and is a lock for Hall of Fame.
And theres need to waste your time hoping that we'll miss the playoffs, Because at this rate we'll get the number 1 draft pick.

Excuse my ignorance but I don't understand the following

"our 1st round pick that originally went to Phoenix, is lottery protected."

I totally dont know what that means. Is it that we are guaranteed a lottery spot or something?

It means that the Knicks can keep it if they have a lottery pick I think.

Keep what?

If the Knicks don't make the playoffs, we can keep our first rounder.

I saw Warrick today and I never realized how skinny he was. Maybe because almost everyone in college is. Looking at it now, I really don't think we should get Warrick. We have Ariza and Warrick at his weight will not be playing PF anytime soon in the NBA.

What do you guys think if we trade our pick for a star. Kind of what like Washington did to acquire Jamison? Interesting. Perhaps we should use it in acquiring Webber

Also do you guys think we should trade someone for a higher pick in the draft? Marbury looked really good against Phoenix, but call me crazy but would you trade Marbury for a first round pick with the Hawks? Of course it will never happen because Isiah but, that is interesting though right?

If we manage to go into the lottery, let's do everything in our power to get Bogut. I'd trade anyone on the team for him. Except Ariza

whew

whew. I didnt knwo the pick was lottery protected. (sigh of relief)

From: Wake Forest
[imgl]http://www.draftcity.com/headshots/chrispaul.gif[/imgl]
Height: 5?11-6?0
Weight: 168
Positions: PG
Age: 19

I would also like Chris Paul. Yes, I know we have Marbruy but, who here really wants Marbury? I mean he is nice and I wish I even had at least half of his skill but Marbury is a loser he said it himself. We don?t need Marbury really running the floor general for us. Chris Paul is a natural born leader and believe it or not a site I was at the other day said he could develop into the next Isiah Thomas, the other one said a Kenny Anderson. Marbury is a great guard but he isn?t the leader we need him to be. Unless Marbury has another person leading the team, then it?s cool but we simply don?t have that. Marbury is a role player and we need him to do that. Something that I wouldn?t mind at all is a top draft choice for him and maybe a future 1st rounder for him. He is a little small and needs to bulk up. This could lead to possible injuries. He hasn?t shown his range that much and he relies too much on his quickness. He is a good defender who just like Ariza, steals those bad passes but, he does take many risks. That?s similar to what Iverson does a lot.

Overall he is a great player and will only get better. He has a great work ethic and him along with developing Sweetney and Ariza, will only make the Knicks a great team for the future. I have watched a couple of Wake Forest games and he is nice. His handle is serious. He is ambidextrous with both hands, no joke. He is an excellent passer and is a good creator. I am very confident he will develop to a great player and possibly hall of famer, that?s how good he is.

Please let's get a big man. No guards pretty please. If we get a center that can block shots, rebounds, has a jumper and a reasonable amount of potential I will be deliriously happy. But enough of the smalls. Guards are a dime a dozen whereas quality big men are hard to find these days. So let's pick up a center that can compliment Sweetney in the future. I really do wish we still had Lampe I think they could have been a great duo.

^We need a good point guard though. Marbury is more of a scorer that can pass pretty well. We need someone who can distribute the rock.

I think that if we get a shot blocker wouldn't that make our perimeter defense even weaker? I mean they already have a bad attitude on defense but, now that they have a shot blocker, it will make them play even lazier. We don't want to see that, especially putting so much pressure on a young rookie. Nazr has been playing well too. Also a decent big man can be picked up in the second round too.

We DONT NEED A BIG MAN WITH A JUMPER!!!!! We need a brute that we could just throw the ball to and he'll bang it. Not take it back out and hit a jumper, thats what Kurt Thomas is for. I wouldnt draft anyone from over seas. They almost always turn out to be over rated and have subpar carreers in the NBA. We need to go after warrick and trade crawford/Ariza

^Well if he could step way out and drain 3's like Nowitzki, that'll be cool too but, I get what you're saying. If we are getting rid of anyone it ought to be Crawford. Too many bad habits that prove very costly down the stretch. There are mad European prospects. I'll give you a couple but, I've never saw them play or heard of them.

I heard that...
Martynas Andriuskevicius is projected by some to be like Zdrunas Ilguaskas
Tiago Splitter is projected by some as the next Pau Gasol
Nemanja Aleksandrov I never heard of this guy but he is supposed to be a lottery pick.
Maybe we should stay here. I want a decent pick not any risk.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BobbyEscobar:</div><div class="quote_post">We DONT NEED A BIG MAN WITH A JUMPER!!!!! We need a brute that we could just throw the ball to and he'll bang it. Not take it back out and hit a jumper, thats what Kurt Thomas is for. I wouldnt draft anyone from over seas. They almost always turn out to be over rated and have subpar carreers in the NBA. We need to go after warrick and trade crawford/Ariza</div>

I didnt say a big man with just a jumper. I said a big man that can rebound, block shots, has potential and a jumper. We're talking about the future here Kurt Thomas probably wont be here at the start of next season let alone for another four or five years. Sweetney will be the guy that we feed in the low post. We dont need two low post threats. We need someone that will compliment Sweetney well. Why would waste a lottery pick on a small when quality big men are so hard to find? Warrick will at the most become another high flying scorer that you cant build your team around. Wouldnt you rather have two good young big men as a solid foundation and build around them?

It would be smarter to keep the nucleas we have now(Sweetney, Ariza and Crawford) and add to it. I'm guessing you wouldnt have drafted Dirk, Big Z, Pau Gasol, Yao, Sabonis, Mutumbo or Tim Duncan. Overseas players arent the only ones overrated and have subpar careers, we have plenty of homegrown players that are overrated and go on to have subpar careers.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">I heard that...
Martynas Andriuskevicius is projected by some to be like Zdrunas Ilguaskas
Tiago Splitter is projected by some as the next Pau Gasol
Nemanja Aleksandrov I never heard of this guy but he is supposed to be a lottery pick.
Maybe we should stay here. I want a decent pick not any risk.</div>

You want to hear something funny, that guy we traded to get Marbury, Lampe, he was projected to be the next Dirk Nowitzki and he dominated the summer league along with Sweetney although I dont know how he's doing now. Last I checked he was stuck on the Suns' bench. Overseas big men are better than our own big men. Our big men bang, their big men do everything else. They have the fundamentals pat down, can shoot, can pass and will learn new tricks. You dont want to take a risk, you just want a decent pick? Sounds kind of like what the Knicks are doing. Playing not to lose instead of playing to win. I'd rather take a chance and draft a potentially great player that will make a huge different in the future then a player that will be maybe a little bit better than average and wont be huge difference maker. So buy American but draft overseas.

Dirk- You got me on this one.
Big Z-No i would not have Drafted Him.
Pau Gasol- No i would not have Drafted him.
Yao- No i would not have drafted him.
Sabonis - Yes i would have drafted him. (Wasnt he like the G.O.A.T of Europe?)
Mutumbo - Geroge Town I dont know about this guy.
Tim Duncan - Wake Forrest Yes i would have drafted him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">So buy American but draft overseas.</div>
That is now my favorite quote.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BobbyEscobar:</div><div class="quote_post">Dirk- You got me on this one.
Big Z-No i would not have Drafted Him.
Pau Gasol- No i would not have Drafted him.
Yao- No i would not have drafted him.
Sabonis - Yes i would have drafted him. (Wasnt he like the G.O.A.T of Europe?)
Mutumbo - Geroge Town I dont know about this guy.
Tim Duncan - Wake Forrest Yes i would have drafted him.</div>

I know I got you on the Dirk one. Big Z is one of the best centers in the league. He's a true, blue, traditional center that can shoot. How can you not like him?? Pau Gasol is a great powerforward and if I remember correctly outplayed Duncan in the Olympics(Team USA should have lost against Spain). Mutumbo is one of the greatest shot blockers in NBA history. As for Yao...I dont know what to say. Yao is the second best center in the league and lately it looks like he's gotten his act together because he's doing a great job. Oh yeah I forgot about Kareem Abdul Jabbar. You wouldnt draft him?

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">I know I got you on the Dirk one. Big Z is one of the best centers in the league. He's a true, blue, traditional center that can shoot. How can you not like him?? Pau Gasol is a great powerforward and if I remember correctly outplayed Duncan in the Olympics(Team USA should have lost against Spain). Mutumbo is one of the greatest shot blockers in NBA history. As for Yao...I dont know what to say. Yao is the second best center in the league and lately it looks like he's gotten his act together because he's doing a great job. Oh yeah I forgot about Kareem Abdul Jabbar. You wouldnt draft him?</div>
See the thing is I would dratf a player if he played in the U.S and had the same stats. But players who've only played over seas I wouldnt draft. Just look at that guy who used to be on the suns. They clamed he was the Japanese Jordan..... Where is now? Yao was amped up to be the next shaq. IMO Eddy Curry will be better than him. Illgaukus is good but not really my type of player.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">You want to hear something funny, that guy we traded to get Marbury, Lampe, he was projected to be the next Dirk Nowitzki and he dominated the summer league along with Sweetney although I dont know how he's doing now. Last I checked he was stuck on the Suns' bench. Overseas big men are better than our own big men. Our big men bang, their big men do everything else. They have the fundamentals pat down, can shoot, can pass and will learn new tricks. You dont want to take a risk, you just want a decent pick? Sounds kind of like what the Knicks are doing. Playing not to lose instead of playing to win. I'd rather take a chance and draft a potentially great player that will make a huge different in the future then a player that will be maybe a little bit better than average and wont be huge difference maker. So buy American but draft overseas.</div>
Yeah I know. He's with the Hornets now though. I heard that he was supposed to be a lottery pick but, he had problems with his contract and stuff. I liked him too but, we all know Isiah Thomas

I understand about their fundamentals but, there are tons of European busts out there. I guess we owe it to them to actually take a look at them I doubt any of us here have seen them play but, just depend on the opinions of others. Once June rolls around, I think we can start making a more accurate analysis though.

Guards are a dime a dozen but, hall of fame guards aren't really. This Paul guy has some serious potential. I mean real point guards are very rare. Nowadays, point guards look to score more and create for themselves rather than others. Now that we have one with some serious potential, I think we ought to take a look at that. He is really good, he will make the other players around him look like stars. Also these guards that we have don't play any defense whatsoever. I think Mohammed is a decent center but, how frustrating is it when he has to switch up on someone else?s man because of the constant mistakes from the guys on the perimeter. There are tons of legit big men in the that are projected to be drafted in the second round. Many GM?s want what you were just talking about?a home grown player so that will leave us with more opportunities to draft overseas. Also international players tend not to really have a knack for playing the way you were talking about. A lot of them from what I have seen are more offensive oriented and don?t really have a knack for shot blocking.

I would want a decent big man too with a nice little jumper that will compliment Sweetney well too. I think Marbury distributing for us is not good. We need a point guard. The only reason why we made the blockbuster last January was so we can get a 1guard but, we still don?t have one?we have an undersized shooting guard with some good passing skills. The point guard is the most important position in basketball and after seeing point guards like Nash and especially Kidd work Magic on teams, I think that?s what we need. Ariza, and Sweetney will flourish because of the distribution of the ball and even more importantly, the whole team will flourish. New York is a mediocre passing team at #16 in the league and it?s such a shame because we have so many great options.