Knicks · Reading the tea leaves: Donatas Motiejunas worked out for us today... (page 1)

New York had a workout with Donatas Motiejunas today in the Big Apple, and a source says he played well. That wasn't the case in Treviso.

Sam Amick

What does it mean? Due diligence by Donnie, or are we genuinely interested in the guy. Does it indicate that we are really looking for a big man, even though Montiejunas is more Bargnani than bruiser at the position.

I had him on my list of 10 (#2, actually), but have read enough negative things about his lack of intensity to be concerned. He is definitely not the rebounder or shot blocker we need at the position, but the guy is pretty talented, and you can make a case that he has as much BB skill, if not heart, than anyone in the draft.

I can honestly say that I have no f'n idea who we are going to take at this point, but I find this particular workout to be a very intriguing one.

I think it means the Knicks are really trying to go big. Vucevic maybe moving up. To come away with a 7 footer that can play in this draft with the 17th pick would be pretty amazing.

a really really really low motor poor man's Dirk. With no defense.

martin wrote:a really really really low motor poor man's Dirk. With no defense.

Yea I heard the from DraftExpress. Low motor plus no defense = Bad. Would probably look solid next to a Dwight Howard.

Paladin55 wrote:

New York had a workout with Donatas Motiejunas today in the Big Apple, and a source says he played well. That wasn't the case in Treviso.

Sam Amick

What does it mean? Due diligence by Donnie, or are we generally interested in the guy. Does in indicate that we are really looking for a big man, even though Montiejunas is more Bargnani than bruiser at the position.

I had him on my list of 10, but have read enough negative things about his lack of intensity to be concerned. He is definitely not the rebounder or shot blocker we need at the position, but the guy is pretty talented, and you can make a case that he has as much BB skill, if not heart, than anyone in the draft.

I can honestly say that I have no f'n idea who we are going to take at this point, but I find this particular workout to be a very intriguing one.

This sums it up. Totally baffled by the choices and possibilities. Unfortunately, I can't turn off the screen. Praying for another 1st rounder and a 2nd round pick aswell

Did we invite him in? Did the kid's agent contact us? Does Walsh see him differently than some do?

The fact that we probably had people see him overseas, where it would seem he did poorly, and also saw him in a Knick organized workout yesterday, could mean that he has supporters within our organization, or his agent is trying to scramble and make sure his client, who seems to be falling, is picked earlier and not later.

Donatas Motiejunas is intruguing from several perspectives. Ready made? Nope. Few are. But I like his height and the skill set he could build on.

The low motor thing is just an opinion.

Let's see what he can do with the rock in his hands.

I miss Gallo.

The Good - He can shoot.
The Bad - He can't rebound or block shots.
The Ugly - He's 7 ft - 215 lb. He'll get pushed around by point guards.

Ira wrote:The Good - He can shoot.
The Bad - He can't rebound or block shots.
The Ugly - He's 7 ft - 215 lb. He'll get pushed around by point guards.

good summary

The Good - He can shoot.
The Better - Rebounding is technique and desire. They both can be taught.
The Best - You cannot teach height and Whey Protein Fuel comes in a tasty Vanilla Bean flavor.

He has talent. He has height. It is reported he has a bad attitude and he had a bad individual workout at the Euro camp. I think with his skills and age you have to consider him at 17 if he is available. There are other guys I want more but I don't think youjudge a player based on just one workout. I am not locked in on this guy as the Knicks pick but I think if a guy touted as the best euro big has a chance to fall to seventeen the Knicks need to check him out and see if he is a fit and if his talent overrides his flaws.

Pure subterfuge

DA will not play selfish players or stupid players. If he he plays smart and is willing to learn, he will work out just fine. If he has issues taking direction and undertsanding his role (like Anthony Randolph and needs to be mollycoddled) then pass.

misterearl wrote:The Good - He can shoot.
The Better - Rebounding is technique and desire. They both can be taught.
The Best - You cannot teach height and Whey Protein Fuel comes in a tasty Vanilla Bean flavor.

I can't believe you just wrote this!!!! If there's one thing we in NY have come to learn it is that REBOUNDERS ARE BORN, not made. Come on Mistereal, you know better. That's what the last few years have been about. You either are a rebounder or your're not. If you could just TEACH rebounding and desire, no bigman we've had would need to be replaced. If he's not going hard after rebounds now, chances are he won't suddenly change no matter what we do.

loweyecue wrote:DA will not play selfish players or stupid players. If he he plays smart and is willing to learn, he will work out just fine. If he has issues taking direction and undertsanding his role (like Anthony Randolph and needs to be mollycoddled) then pass.

If Walsh follows this philosophy he needs to ignore team needs and go either with the best shooter or the most mature guys that have four years of school, have tremendous character and are ready to be role players right away. I think Walsh recognizes the importance of potential as well as the immediate fit. I don't think this draft can just be about getting guys the coach is most comfortable with because he may not be around that long.

BRIGGS wrote:Pure subterfuge

Perhaps, but to what purpose? What interest of ours does it attempt to hide? Vucevic? A guard we covet?

Might simply be what I suggested, though, the Knicks doing a favor for his agent, who is trying to get the most he can get for his client.

i think they are probably truly considering this kid and thought he might go higher.

it's really a shame we lost mozgov in the melo deal.

nixluva wrote:

misterearl wrote:The Good - He can shoot.
The Better - Rebounding is technique and desire. They both can be taught.
The Best - You cannot teach height and Whey Protein Fuel comes in a tasty Vanilla Bean flavor.

I can't believe you just wrote this!!!! If there's one thing we in NY have come to learn it is that REBOUNDERS ARE BORN, not made. Come on Mistereal, you know better. That's what the last few years have been about. You either are a rebounder or your're not. If you could just TEACH rebounding and desire, no bigman we've had would need to be replaced. If he's not going hard after rebounds now, chances are he won't suddenly change no matter what we do.

to piggy back on this, you can't teach effort. Effort and desire are quite similar

crzymdups wrote:i think they are probably truly considering this kid and thought he might go higher.

it's really a shame we lost mozgov in the melo deal.

He may not be the banger we were looking for, but this kid has too much talent to pass up on if he's there at 17. They HAVE to take him if he's there. He's a very talented 7'er. From what i've seen on him, he's got bigtime quickness and superb footwork. His footwork is worlds better than Gallo's. Just not on the same planet in the post. He's a kid now, but when he's a man that level of ability should translate much better. This kid could end up being a bigtime player one day.

He's only 20 and still growing into his body, but from what I saw NO WAY he's only 215 lbs! He looked more like 235 to me.
He needs to hit the gym, but again he's only 20, but looks to have a good frame. I just really like his quickness and footwork. He's a PF IMO right now, even tho he's 7'. I can't imagine he'd be able to hold off real big C's. I think he'll grow to be a C tho and certainly he can spend some time there. PF/C sounds about right. This would be a big upside pick. He's got way more talent than Vucevic, but will he reach his full potential?

I think this means that a few prospects thought to be lottery bound now are afraid they are falling and want to cover all the possible bases. We've read the same from Burks in the last days.

Don't know anything about him but he does seem like a risk if he can't get amped for a tryout. Sometimes players have bad tryouts but
not showing enough interest is a red flag, so is not showing up in good enough shape. Hope its a smokescreen by the Knicks.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/732352-2011-nba-mock-draft-latest-rumors-and-expert-analysis-for-the-upcoming-draft/entry/94909-2011-nba-mock-draft-donatas-motiejunas-turns-in-unimpressive-workout

2011 NBA Mock Draft Sees Lithuania's Donatas Motiejunas Fail to Impress in Pre-Draft Workout

Lithuanian forward Donatas Motiejunas was considered one of the top international prospects coming into the 2011 NBA Draft, and he still is.

It's just that expectations appear to have dampened a bit as Motiejunas has yet to really stand out thus far in pre-draft workouts.

Moreover, at the adidas Eurocamp during the weekend, for some inexplicable reason Motiejunas' agent decided to set up a workout in front of NBA scouts based on perimeter shooting. Now, Motiejunas has an improving jump shot, but as far as from beyond the arc, he clearly needs some work. It's a clear weakness of his and why his agent didn't highlight his strengths instead is beyond me.

Noted Chad Ford of ESPN:

He missed plenty of shots. He had a number of air balls, got winded at several points and didn't always seem engaged.

Airballs? Not exactly what NBA scouts like to see, regardless of who shoots them. Airballs tend to make a player look bad.

The 20-year-old Motiejunas does appear to be alleviating one concern, however: his weight. Listed at 7-foot, 220 pounds coming into the workouts, Ford noted he looked like he added "15 to 20" pounds to his frame.

Right now Ford has Motiejunas going to the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 20 overall, where Motiejunas has appeared to be stuck for a while.

He's a very athletic big man, and can finish around the rim with both hands. He's also an aggressive scorer who can beat most big men off the dribble and has advanced footwork in the post that could see him make an impact in the NBA earlier than some of the other young international prospects being drafted on potential. He's also a very good passer and appears to know the game very well.

But his results haven't been there recently for NBA scouts and he needs work on the defensive end, which will at least come easier when he adds some more bulk.