Knicks · Jordan looking to fill void for Knicks - answer at center (page 1)

So imagine how their 2010 second-round acquisition feels about next season, about being the center complement up front to Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.

In an interview from Serbia yesterday, Jordan told The Post: "Being drafted by this team in their situation, they need a big guy and I look forward to helping that need.

"Coming out of college last year, I thought I could play minutes right away. It worked out," he added. "I came over here, got game experience and went up against more physical and skilled players than in college. I played against tough players over here and I'm ready to contribute to an NBA team."

The Knicks obtained Jordan on draft night last June -- an under-the-radar midnight maneuver. The Bucks took Jordan with the 44th pick in the second round and traded him to the Knicks for cash.

The Post has learned James Dolan forked over $1 million for Jordan -- a sizable investment.

Jordan, who played at Tulsa and is nicknamed the "Jamaican Hurricane," underwent surgery three weeks ago after his appendix ruptured and is sitting out the Hemofarm playoff run. Next week, the season will be over, and he will head to New York to meet with the Knicks staff. It is likely he won't work out for the team upon doctor's orders, but the Knicks staff want to get to be around him before the expected July 1 lockout hits.

According to a source, the Knicks are not expected to sign Jordan until after the lockout ends, figuring the new CBA will be more favorable to the team. But plans are in place for him to be in the rotation next season because of his low-post skill, size and ability to block shots -- with Glen Grunwald likely still in place as interim president.

The day after the Anthony trade in February, coach Mike D'Antoni and Walsh held a press conference and, unsolicited, they each mentioned Jordan. That's how desperate the Knicks were for a big guy after the roster-ravaging trade cost them 7-footer Timofey Mozgov.

"In my conversations, they have high expectations for him," Jordan's agent, Todd Ramasar, told The Post. "It's pretty obvious where the Knicks are with players signed in the frontcourt. That plan will carry through [without Donnie]. Donnie's staff all share the sentiment."

The Knicks have not had a lot of success with 7-foot centers named Jerome (see James), but they have had success with a 7-foot center from Kingston, Jamaica -- Patrick Ewing. Jordan is also from Kingston, didn't move to the United States until age 17 when he first took up organized basketball in Melbourne, Fla.

"I never met Patrick before," Jordan said. "Growing up, I heard about him and the older people who watch basketball when he played with the Knicks love him."

The Knicks probably won't get a center in the draft and hope to land a big man during free agency but have no cap space. Jordan saw a lot of Knicks game on the Internet and Serbian TV and knows D'Antoni's offense.

"I do a little bit of everything," Jordan said. "On the defensive end, shotblocking, rebounding. On the offensive end, a low-post scorer who can pick and roll. So I should fit in. They like up-tempo and pick-and-rolls and that's where I score most of my points."

Jordan, who got off to a slow start for Hemofarm, averaged 7.8 points and 4.5 rebound in 15 minutes a game. The Knicks could have signed Jordan and put him in the D-League where he may have played more, but that would have cost them their 15th and final roster spot, which eventually was filled by Shawne Williams.

"It helped a lot to come over, and get game experience which I need for the future," Jordan said. "It was a different route but now I'm ready."

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The Knicks will work out today College of Charleston's sweet-shooting guard Andrew Goudelouck, whom they could take if they buy a second-rounder, which they likely will do. According to a source, Georgia Tech point guard Iman Shumpert, who is very much on radar, will work out tomorrow.

franco12 wrote:If he comes back, he's likely the starter - maybe not initially, but does anyone honestly think Turiaf is going to hold up for more than 5-10 games before his first injury has him out?

Jerome Jordan
Ronny Turiaf
Nikola Vucevic

in no particular order. training camp can sort that out...

but that's two 7 footers! all with shot-blocking ability!

TymeLessKnicks wrote:we should be able to go to war with a front court rotation of:

Jerome Jordan
Ronny Turiaf
Nikola Vucevic

in no particular order. training camp can sort that out...

but that's two 7 footers! all with shot-blocking ability!

I think the that the Knicks should pick Vucevic with the 17th pick. This guy has basketball in his blood. Most glaring weakness is the Center position.

Vmart wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:we should be able to go to war with a front court rotation of:

Jerome Jordan
Ronny Turiaf
Nikola Vucevic

in no particular order. training camp can sort that out...

but that's two 7 footers! all with shot-blocking ability!

I think the that the Knicks should pick Vucevic with the 17th pick. This guy has basketball in his blood. Most glaring weakness is the Center position.

Pick 17 might be a reach (not sure why i think that...mock drafts i guess) but i like his skills.

TymeLessKnicks wrote:

Vmart wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:we should be able to go to war with a front court rotation of:

Jerome Jordan
Ronny Turiaf
Nikola Vucevic

in no particular order. training camp can sort that out...

but that's two 7 footers! all with shot-blocking ability!

I think the that the Knicks should pick Vucevic with the 17th pick. This guy has basketball in his blood. Most glaring weakness is the Center position.

Pick 17 might be a reach (not sure why i think that...mock drafts i guess) but i like his skills.

The main reason I want him on the Knicks is 7' good wing span and his old man had a 24 year basketball career and never missed a game. His Mom played Basketball too. After watching Turiaff get injured celebrating I think I want an iron man at the position. He has good skills.

Vmart wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:

Vmart wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:we should be able to go to war with a front court rotation of:

Jerome Jordan
Ronny Turiaf
Nikola Vucevic

in no particular order. training camp can sort that out...

but that's two 7 footers! all with shot-blocking ability!

I think the that the Knicks should pick Vucevic with the 17th pick. This guy has basketball in his blood. Most glaring weakness is the Center position.

Pick 17 might be a reach (not sure why i think that...mock drafts i guess) but i like his skills.

The main reason I want him on the Knicks is 7' good wing span and his old man had a 24 year basketball career and never missed a game. His Mom played Basketball too. After watching Turiaff get injured celebrating I think I want an iron man at the position. He has good skills.

Read the same about his father. Also read he measured as the biggest big man in the draft.

TymeLessKnicks wrote:we should be able to go to war with a front court rotation of:

Jerome Jordan
Ronny Turiaf
Nikola Vucevic

in no particular order. training camp can sort that out...

but that's two 7 footers! all with shot-blocking ability!

Agree with this. I really think Jerome Jordan can be a contributor. And I think Vucevic would be a great pick.

I'm hoping the Knicks can buy another first round pick or maybe early second rounder to take Vucevic.

Then draft Darius Morris, Marshon Brooks, Josh Selby - one of the those scoring guards at 17.

TymeLessKnicks wrote:

Vmart wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:

Vmart wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:we should be able to go to war with a front court rotation of:

Jerome Jordan
Ronny Turiaf
Nikola Vucevic

in no particular order. training camp can sort that out...

but that's two 7 footers! all with shot-blocking ability!

I think the that the Knicks should pick Vucevic with the 17th pick. This guy has basketball in his blood. Most glaring weakness is the Center position.

Pick 17 might be a reach (not sure why i think that...mock drafts i guess) but i like his skills.

The main reason I want him on the Knicks is 7' good wing span and his old man had a 24 year basketball career and never missed a game. His Mom played Basketball too. After watching Turiaff get injured celebrating I think I want an iron man at the position. He has good skills.

Read the same about his father. Also read he measured as the biggest big man in the draft.

I agree- unless someone slips, we should grab him. He could be Moz 2.0.

Am I wrong to think we'll have more luck finding a PG on the scrap heap that can be effective than a 7 footer?

I think NY should get him with #17. You cannot teach size. He has size and offensive skills and gets rebounds. That is enough for me.

I would love to see Jordan\Vucevic backing up Turiaf to start the year and then one of them taking over when Turiaf goes down.

If the plan is to get CP3 anyway, why draft a PG? They should be looking C and then SG. Billups is good enough at PG (look at Kidd) for now. They need a game changer at C and a SG who can hit the open shot and defend like heck on the perimeter.

My only question is why at his size would he be going so low in the Mock Drafts? Does anyone know anything about him that is not showing up on the stat page? Briggs?

Last year it was Mozgov the "lottery pick".

AnubisADL wrote:Always funny to read fluff pieces on a dude who isnt going to do a dam thing this year in the NBA.

Last year it was Mozgov the "lottery pick".

No one is good enough for you so it really doesn't matter what you think, but it is always funny though.

SupremeCommander wrote:His collegiate career was impressive but I am of the opinion that another year overseas would help tremendously, especially with his economy of movement. It takes some bigger guys a little longer to have complete control of his body. I think he's got talent, and a bball IQ, he just needs to be more fluid

Ira wrote:I hope that somehow we can get an earlier pick and draft Biyombo.

TymeLessKnicks wrote:

Vmart wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:

Vmart wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:we should be able to go to war with a front court rotation of:

Jerome Jordan
Ronny Turiaf
Nikola Vucevic

in no particular order. training camp can sort that out...

but that's two 7 footers! all with shot-blocking ability!

I think the that the Knicks should pick Vucevic with the 17th pick. This guy has basketball in his blood. Most glaring weakness is the Center position.

Pick 17 might be a reach (not sure why i think that...mock drafts i guess) but i like his skills.

The main reason I want him on the Knicks is 7' good wing span and his old man had a 24 year basketball career and never missed a game. His Mom played Basketball too. After watching Turiaff get injured celebrating I think I want an iron man at the position. He has good skills.

Read the same about his father. Also read he measured as the biggest big man in the draft.

I wouldn't have any problems getting Vucevic if we secured a second first round pick. He's skilled, but he will need time to develop and acclimated to the big man's game in the NBA. They're a lot of decent wings and point guards. We could still probably getting a rotation point early in the second round or late in the first.

BigDaddyG wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:

Vmart wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:

Vmart wrote:

TymeLessKnicks wrote:we should be able to go to war with a front court rotation of:

Jerome Jordan
Ronny Turiaf
Nikola Vucevic

in no particular order. training camp can sort that out...

but that's two 7 footers! all with shot-blocking ability!

I think the that the Knicks should pick Vucevic with the 17th pick. This guy has basketball in his blood. Most glaring weakness is the Center position.

Pick 17 might be a reach (not sure why i think that...mock drafts i guess) but i like his skills.

The main reason I want him on the Knicks is 7' good wing span and his old man had a 24 year basketball career and never missed a game. His Mom played Basketball too. After watching Turiaff get injured celebrating I think I want an iron man at the position. He has good skills.

Read the same about his father. Also read he measured as the biggest big man in the draft.

I wouldn't have any problems getting Vucevic if we secured a second first round pick. He's skilled, but he will need time to develop and acclimated to the big man's game in the NBA. They're a lot of decent wings and point guards. We could still probably getting a rotation point early in the second round or late in the first.