Knicks · Draft Update - 6/8/2011 (page 1)

Per ESPN

• With the recent announcement that Donnie Walsh is leaving the Knicks, a legitimate question has arisen among other NBA GMs: Who is running the draft for New York?

I spoke to several sources inside the Knicks organization this week, and they've all said the same thing -- Walsh is. The Knicks aren't expected to hire their new GM until after the draft. Walsh and his team have spent all year scouting, and it's too late to change course now.

The Knicks are essentially looking at five players at No. 17 -- Klay Thompson, Fredette, Selby, Brooks and Faried.

Thompson and Fredette are unlikely to be on the board when the Knicks pick -- which means this could be a three-way race between Selby, Brooks and Faried. Selby and Brooks both impressed in their workouts with the Knicks last week. Faried is scheduled for later this month.

The direction in which the Knicks appear to be leaning is clear. It looks like they are in the market for a scoring guard -- which is a bit odd considering that Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and, to a lesser extent Chauncey Billups, Toney Douglas and Bill Walker are all scorers, too. Faried is the only guy in that group who brings something to the table that other Knicks aren't already bringing (motor, defense, rebounding, shot-blocking).

More likely, the Knicks are looking to hit a home run. Selby and Brooks are scorers with major upsides. Both present risks (which is why they're in the Knicks' range and not in the lottery), but both offer them a chance to get a potential lottery talent in the mid-first round.

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I am very happy with this draft strategy. I really hope Klay Thompson is around when the Knicks pick because i think he is the perfect fit at SG, but i wouldn't be too disappointed with any of these picks. All of these options should be instant rotation players with reasonable upside.

I've been saying since Feb Faried is the best fit for right now. I think Selby represents the biggest upside of the group. Brooks represents the safest choice, but likely the smallest upside.

Glad Donnie is still responsible for the draft.

On Klay Thompson:

Draft Express has him going 11th. Definitely don't want to trade up for him.

I think we have a lot of options and we are keeping the league guessing by working out damn near every player. lol.

Faried is a rich man's Balkman. The dude cannot shoot and he is undersized. While he might have Ben Wallace's game, he does not have Ben Wallace's size. The only way you can draft a Faried is if you believe he can play center, which he simply cannot do. I like both Brooks and Thompson, but I would add Reggie Jackson and Darrius Morris to our potential pick list.

TheGame wrote:Faried is a rich man's Balkman. The dude cannot shoot and he is undersized. While he might have Ben Wallace's game, he does not have Ben Wallace's size. The only way you can draft a Faried is if you believe he can play center, which he simply cannot do. I like both Brooks and Thompson, but I would add Reggie Jackson and Darrius Morris to our potential pick list.

Yup.

He's a warrior, but at 6'6" or so (barefoot), he's simply too small. Add 3 inches and I'd take him, offensive issues and all.

Playing him at the 4, which seems to be where he should play, would mean Amare would have to play at C, which is not something I think we should be doing.

Paladin55 wrote:

TheGame wrote:Faried is a rich man's Balkman. The dude cannot shoot and he is undersized. While he might have Ben Wallace's game, he does not have Ben Wallace's size. The only way you can draft a Faried is if you believe he can play center, which he simply cannot do. I like both Brooks and Thompson, but I would add Reggie Jackson and Darrius Morris to our potential pick list.

Yup.

He's a warrior, but at 6'6" or so (barefoot), he's simply too small. Add 3 inches and I'd take him, offensive issues and all.

Playing him at the 4, which seems to be where he should play, would mean Amare would have to play at C, which is not something I think we should be doing.

What he brings to the table is exactly what the Knicks need. Melo and Amar'e won't play all 48 minutes every night

Paladin55 wrote:

TheGame wrote:Faried is a rich man's Balkman. The dude cannot shoot and he is undersized. While he might have Ben Wallace's game, he does not have Ben Wallace's size. The only way you can draft a Faried is if you believe he can play center, which he simply cannot do. I like both Brooks and Thompson, but I would add Reggie Jackson and Darrius Morris to our potential pick list.

Yup.

He's a warrior, but at 6'6" or so (barefoot), he's simply too small. Add 3 inches and I'd take him, offensive issues and all.

Playing him at the 4, which seems to be where he should play, would mean Amare would have to play at C, which is not something I think we should be doing.

There are NO effective 6'6 rebounders in the NBA who occupy the four spot. None. The Barkley comparison is flawed because Barkley was a tank. Same with the muscular Ben Wallace, who had more strength in his afro than Faried has in his legs.

Faried, if he does not rebound like a demon, becomes a liability on both ends of the frontcourt. He plays a position where the Knicks already have talent, the four spot and the three. He is NOT the best fit available.

If Faried plays center he gets squashed like a bug.

misterearl wrote:There are NO effective 6'6 rebounders in the NBA who occupy the four spot. None. T

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Chuc... Hayes is 6'5.5" without shoes and is a mighty effective rebounder. Ever see him play?

Another scorer is needed, we are seeing that in the Finals now but the kid out of USC is good offensively, can rebound, block shots, has good size and is from basketball family. Vucevic. That is my pick for the team at this time. If they can get him later buy buying a pick then fine but this team still needs size.

The Knicks are essentially looking at five players at No. 17 -- Klay Thompson, Fredette, Selby, Brooks and Faried.

is it me or does this sound like a total smokescreen?

Just feels like it.

martin wrote:

The Knicks are essentially looking at five players at No. 17 -- Klay Thompson, Fredette, Selby, Brooks and Faried.

is it me or does this sound like a total smokescreen?

Just feels like it.

Every year the world knows who the Knicks are drafting a month in advance. Before it was Stephen Curry. Before that Gallo.

AnubisADL wrote:

martin wrote:

The Knicks are essentially looking at five players at No. 17 -- Klay Thompson, Fredette, Selby, Brooks and Faried.

is it me or does this sound like a total smokescreen?

Just feels like it.

Every year the world knows who the Knicks are drafting a month in advance. Before it was Stephen Curry. Before that Gallo.

Add Wilson Chandler to this list of known well in advance

martin wrote:

The Knicks are essentially looking at five players at No. 17 -- Klay Thompson, Fredette, Selby, Brooks and Faried.

is it me or does this sound like a total smokescreen?

Just feels like it.

I was thinking the same thing.

There are other players that should be in play at the 17 spot. This draft is deep and has points.

Morris is likely. So is Iman Shumpert.

martin wrote:

The Knicks are essentially looking at five players at No. 17 -- Klay Thompson, Fredette, Selby, Brooks and Faried.

is it me or does this sound like a total smokescreen?

Just feels like it.

it SHOULD be a smokescreen. why that really hasn't happened after the Steph Curry fiasco is beyond me

SupremeCommander wrote:

martin wrote:

The Knicks are essentially looking at five players at No. 17 -- Klay Thompson, Fredette, Selby, Brooks and Faried.

is it me or does this sound like a total smokescreen?

Just feels like it.

it SHOULD be a smokescreen. why that really hasn't happened after the Steph Curry fiasco is beyond me

does seem like Knicks are easy reads, but I'm not sure about the Curry thing. Almost any monkey who was paying attention could have picked that off: Knicks needed a PG, Curry kept saying how nice it would be to play for Knicks especially if LeBron was going there. <shruggs>

Moz slipped by everyone. Wonder if it's also cause NY has the baddest media staff to deal with. Who knows.

I have to tell you, Draft Express seems to get like 80% of the picks right (and especially 1-15'ish), which suggests it's just not NY who tips their hand but rather everyone does. I guess it's not hard to mesh need with draft # with workouts.

Draft Express has Selby going 27th to the Nets. I'd take him before the project they have us drafting at 17.

martin wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:

martin wrote:

The Knicks are essentially looking at five players at No. 17 -- Klay Thompson, Fredette, Selby, Brooks and Faried.

is it me or does this sound like a total smokescreen?

Just feels like it.

it SHOULD be a smokescreen. why that really hasn't happened after the Steph Curry fiasco is beyond me

does seem like Knicks are easy reads, but I'm not sure about the Curry thing. Almost any monkey who was paying attention could have picked that off: Knicks needed a PG, Curry kept saying how nice it would be to play for Knicks especially if LeBron was going there. <shruggs>

Moz slipped by everyone. Wonder if it's also cause NY has the baddest media staff to deal with. Who knows.

I have to tell you, Draft Express seems to get like 80% of the picks right (and especially 1-15'ish), which suggests it's just not NY who tips their hand but rather everyone does. I guess it's not hard to mesh need with draft # with workouts.

I know (1) this is tangential and (2) a lot of people prefer dx, but I can't stand that site. Maybe it was because they seemed to get everything wrong when I first started checking the web for my basketball fix, or maybe it's because they focus on trying to get who picks who right... but I find them to be a poor judge of which players are truly decent prospects. It really is evident when you look back on who they have as lotto talent in January versus how it all plays out

martin wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:

martin wrote:

The Knicks are essentially looking at five players at No. 17 -- Klay Thompson, Fredette, Selby, Brooks and Faried.

is it me or does this sound like a total smokescreen?

Just feels like it.

it SHOULD be a smokescreen. why that really hasn't happened after the Steph Curry fiasco is beyond me

does seem like Knicks are easy reads, but I'm not sure about the Curry thing. Almost any monkey who was paying attention could have picked that off: Knicks needed a PG, Curry kept saying how nice it would be to play for Knicks especially if LeBron was going there. <shruggs>

Moz slipped by everyone. Wonder if it's also cause NY has the baddest media staff to deal with. Who knows.

I have to tell you, Draft Express seems to get like 80% of the picks right (and especially 1-15'ish), which suggests it's just not NY who tips their hand but rather everyone does. I guess it's not hard to mesh need with draft # with workouts.

I think it also came out after the draft that the Knicks really wanted Evans if he was available, something you didn't hear alot of prior to the draft.

Moonangie wrote:Draft Express has Selby going 27th to the Nets. I'd take him before the project they have us drafting at 17.

One site has him going to Boston with the 25th pick. DE has him going to the Nets. I'm gonna be real pissed if he goes to either of these teams

misterearl wrote:

Paladin55 wrote:

TheGame wrote:Faried is a rich man's Balkman. The dude cannot shoot and he is undersized. While he might have Ben Wallace's game, he does not have Ben Wallace's size. The only way you can draft a Faried is if you believe he can play center, which he simply cannot do. I like both Brooks and Thompson, but I would add Reggie Jackson and Darrius Morris to our potential pick list.

Yup.

He's a warrior, but at 6'6" or so (barefoot), he's simply too small. Add 3 inches and I'd take him, offensive issues and all.

Playing him at the 4, which seems to be where he should play, would mean Amare would have to play at C, which is not something I think we should be doing.

There are NO effective 6'6 rebounders in the NBA who occupy the four spot. None. The Barkley comparison is flawed because Barkley was a tank. Same with the muscular Ben Wallace, who had more strength in his afro than Faried has in his legs.

Faried, if he does not rebound like a demon, becomes a liability on both ends of the frontcourt. He plays a position where the Knicks already have talent, the four spot and the three. He is NOT the best fit available.

If Faried plays center he gets squashed like a bug.

Barkley could also knock down a open 3..If MDa wants any hope in keeping his job beyond next season, they better draft a pg with the highest IQ, and NOLAN SMITH, who already plays in a MDA like system( at duke), is probably the safest pick.

Faried is ok, his just to short..I have no doubt in my mind that any player who can't shoot a jumper and we draft them, will develope a decent jumper in no time..(amare.. david lee)

Nbadraftnet on Knicks:

New York Knicks

Needs: PG, SG, C

Picks: 17

Darius MorrisWith four roster spots to fill and no money to spend, the Knicks better make this pick count. Preparing to acquire either Deron Williams, Chris Paul or Dwight Howard next summer, the Knicks will not want to make the same mistake as the Heat and should try with all their scouting might to add a productive player with their mid first round pick. Seeing as Billups and Douglas have just one year left on their contracts, and nabbing Williams or Paul isn’t a certainty, they might want to consider every PG that could conceivably be picked in that region. Darius Morris would be a good fit and beat Jimmer Fredette head to head in their workout in front of the Knicks.

Apparently the Knicks are enamored of Kenneth Faried, who would be a handy defensive specialist for a team that currently doesn’t have any. Landry Fields looks to be a very satisfactory role player (assuming they add a big name in 2012), so they can afford to look at more one-dimensional players. It might be hard for them to pass on Jimmer considering how well he fits into D’Antoni’s system.