Knicks · Free Agent the Knicks need to look to add (page 1)

Stock is rising for Israeli point guard Gal Mekel

Jun 24

One of the NBA’s sleeper free agents is becoming more and more of a common name.

Point guard Gal Mekel, fresh off leading little Maccabi Haifa to an upset of Euroleague Final Four regular Maccabi Electra Tel-Aviv for the Israeli championship earlier this month, appears to be inching closer to an NBA roster for next season.

Mekel had an eye-opening workout last week with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to sources close to the situation, and will audition Monday for the Dallas Mavericks. Sources told ESPN.com that the Toronto Raptors, meanwhile, are the latest team to express interest in Mekel, who has made major progress since his days at Wichita State from 2006-2008 and increasingly appeals to NBA teams thanks to his size(6"4 200lbs, ability to read the game and, most of all, his pick-and-roll proficiency.
Point guard Gal Mekel, fresh off leading little Maccabi Haifa to an upset of Euroleague Final Four regular Maccabi Electra Tel-Aviv for the Israeli championship earlier this month, appears to be inching closer to an NBA roster for next season.

Other teams to register a level of interest in Mekel, sources say, include Atlanta, Indiana and Memphis. Utah also continues to track Mekel after giving him his first NBA audition last fall and inviting him to training camp, only for visa issues to prevent his participation.

Coached by former Philadelphia 76ers general manager Brad Greenberg with Haifa this past season, the 25-year-old Mekel has likewise begun to convince to NBA talent evaluators that he can immediately become a rotation player in the NBA.

Mekel was named MVP in Israel for the 2012-13 season after Haifa toppled Maccabi Tel Aviv for the Israeli Super League championship. It's his second MVP trophy in four pro seasons in Israel;

The Knicks need to start hacking the Spurs and Thunders scouts computers and getting listening devices inside their meeting rooms. That should be the offseason plan

Jmpasq wrote:The Knicks need to start hacking the Spurs and Thunders scouts computers and getting listening devices inside their meeting rooms. That should be the offseason plan

Cope, Prig.... Knicks scouts seem decent too.

martin wrote:

Jmpasq wrote:The Knicks need to start hacking the Spurs and Thunders scouts computers and getting listening devices inside their meeting rooms. That should be the offseason plan

Cope, Prig.... Knicks scouts seem decent too.

Ultimate blasphemy you forgot Lin. Our problem is we can't keep them.

Vmart wrote:

martin wrote:

Jmpasq wrote:The Knicks need to start hacking the Spurs and Thunders scouts computers and getting listening devices inside their meeting rooms. That should be the offseason plan

Cope, Prig.... Knicks scouts seem decent too.

Ultimate blasphemy you forgot Lin. Our problem is we can't keep them.

Ultimate blasphemy? Sounds like a good name for a sister site.

The Chicago Bulls have a team option for the final year of Richard Hamilton's $5 million contract, with only $1 million guaranteed. Currently, they've been unsuccessful shopping him, but with no takers, its looking more than likely he will indeed be bought out. At 35 yrs of age should the knicks pick up Rip for vet minimum to back up Shump as a combo guard ?

playa2 wrote:The Chicago Bulls have a team option for the final year of Richard Hamilton's $5 million contract, with only $1 million guaranteed. Currently, they've been unsuccessful shopping him, but with no takers, its looking more than likely he will indeed be bought out. At 35 yrs of age should the knicks pick up Rip for vet minimum to back up Shump as a combo guard ?

He wouldn't be bad but my guess is the Knicks make decisions like that after the draft. It will be interesting to see if Cope and JR negotiate new deals with the Knicks after the moratorium.

1. Vassilis Spanoulis

The MVP of the last Euroleague Final Four is the hottest name in the market and every big team in Europe is already making a run to get him, unofficially at this point. After getting 2.4 million euros net per season from Olympiacos, his rumored asking price is 3 million net per season. Only CSKA Moscow seems able to pay this kind of money, so expect a quite long serial.

2. Stephan Lasme

He was considered a lock to remain in Panathinaikos, until CSKA Moscow and 2.5 million euros net for two seasons entered the picture. The Greens announced that they are ending the negotiations with him, without a result. Still, he hasn’t signed yet with the Russians, so he is a free agent.

3. Kyle Hines

One more Euroleague champion who is a free agent, and he is asking for a big time raise. He was paid 375.000 US dollars net in Olympiacos, and he has already a 2 million dollars net for two seasons offer by the Reds on the table. Still, it’s rumored that CSKA is offering him more.

4. Bobby Brown

If you can’t get Spanoulis, he is probably the best alternative. The cornerstone of this year’s Siena can get at least a million euros net contract, and certainly there is a market for him in Spain, Russia, and Turkey, with Unics Kazan already demonstrating their interest.

5. Ioannis Bourousis

Despite a bad EA7 Milano season, Bourousis is still a more than capable center, as his Euroleague stats prove. He already has two offers on the table from Real Madrid and Galatasaray, and also Barcelona seems to be interested in him.

6. Zoran Planinic

He had one of his best seasons as the leader of Khimki, which can’t keep him due to financial reasons. Many rumors surround his destination at this point. However, as we have reported, CSKA Moscow is also closely monitoring his case (and that may also mean that Teodosic is at the exit door, but that’s another story).

7. Acie Law

The overlooked hero of Olympiacos is also a free agent, and at this point it’s more than possible that he will not stay in Greece. Spanoulis overshadowed him, but he was a leader, and the best player of Olympiacos in the first half of the Euroleague Final.

8. Gani Lawal

He was the player that stole the show in the Italian Finals, and Roma simply doesn’t have the money to keep him. He is considered the best alternative to the Hines and Lasme duo, so don’t be surprised if you see him ending up in Greece. Note that at this point, his salary is more than affordable for elite Euroleague teams.

9. Travis Diener

He has an Italian passport, and he is the best shooter available on the market. His name at this point is not mentioned a lot on the market, but after his season in Sassari, everyone took notes and expects the former teammate of Dwyane Wade to take the step to the next level.

10. Dimitris Diamantidis

He should have been at least number 2 on the list, only behind Spanoulis. The reason that he has been pushed down to number 10 is not his numbers this season, but the fact that he is virtually out of the market and will probably remain in Panathinaikos, no matter what.

Honorable mentions: Bostjan Nachbar, Devin Smith (close to remaining in Maccabi Tel Aviv), Antonis Fotsis (close to returning to Panathinaikos), Mirza Begic, Joe Ingles, Jonas Maciulis, Sasha Vujacic, Gal Mekelhttp://www.eurohoops.net/2013/06/dribbli...

Can we add OJ Mayo to the list? I still believe in his talent and his ability to morph into a no.2 man on a good team if used correctly.