Knicks · Fran Fraschilla Just on ESPN with Hahn (page 1)

Just finished- I wrote this stuff as I listened. No editorial comments by me, just what he said.

Fraschilla on ESPN radio.

Claims that he heard Mudiay did not do that well in the Knicks workout, as well as the Laker workout.

Did say that he does not believe the things coming from teams this shortly before the draft, though.

Said that Mudiay did a private workout for him on Saturday, and that Mudiay Shot well.

Feels the Knicks might take Mudiay, but does not seem to have inside info on this.

Does not think Mudiay would have been a top 3 guy if he had played here, though.

Feels that the first 4 teams won't have the guts to get Porzingus, and that he will go to Orlando.

He is not as high on Winslow because of the "Winslow playing against PFs- 6'8" or larger" theory. He actually looked at the guys he faced and checked out their respective sizes. Did say that Knicks fans would cheer if he was picked, but not Porzingis, because of Bargs type reasons.

He feels, once again, that Porzingus is the best pick for the Knicks, but feels Jackson will be afraid to pick him. Says his long-term potential is as high as anyone in the draft. Thinks he is a good gamble, and would take him over anyone but Towns, OK4, and Russell. Again repeated that he must get stronger, but it is quite obvious how much he likes him as a player.

Made the Russell/Curry comparison, once again- likes him a lot.

Did not mention any other player, and was not asked about any other player.

More Porzingis praise from a Sixers blog. Seems they are expecting Hinkie to grab Russell or Porzingis with one of the two writers saying Kristaps and the other not committing.

Kristaps Porzingis is the guy I think whose stock rises the highest in the wake of the Embiid setback, and Sam got a close look at the talented 7-foot-1 Latvian on Friday in Las Vegas.

Porzingis brings exactly to the team what Embiid was supposed to – the size of a center with the shooting ability of a shooting guard. Embiid far and away is a better post player and physical presence up to this point, but Porzingis is already drawing Dirk-like comparisons and could develop into one of the most talented big men the NBA has ever had with a ramped up strength and conditioning regimen. Did DraftExpress.com know something we didn’t know when they slotted Porzingis to the Sixers at No. 3 last week? Isn’t it in any way suspicious that the reports came out on Embiid the day after Hinkie saw Porzingis workout in person?

In any rate, this Embiid news, coupled with point guard D’Angelo Russell’s apparent illness, which kept him out of a Sixers workout over the weekend, makes Porzingis an interesting play for the Sixers at No. 3 and one that is more justifiable for Hinkie than it was a week ago.

In my mind, Porzingis is now just slightly behind Russell as far as the draft is concerned, just strictly based on the fact that I’m holding out hope for Embiid’s eventual recovery.

If Karl Anthony-Towns falls to the Sixers, fantastic. Draft him in a heartbeat. But between Porzingis, Jahlil Okafor, Emmanuel Mudiay, Justice Winslow, Mario Hezonja and Willie Cauley-Stein, I think Porzingis now gets the slight nod in terms of team need and fit.

http://philadunkia.com/?p=13805&utm_...

Nice job WaltLongmire. I do wonder about Mudiay and what his real talent level is. I was disappointed when I saw him play and didn't really see the athletic PG they often claimed he was. He's athletic but not like they were hyping him to be. Then his shot wasn't strong and it just kind of makes you feel less impressed. Doesn't mean he's not going to be really good, but the expectations not being met is what is dropping him I think.

I also don't see Phil taking KrisP. It's just such a tough thing to do in this market. You'd have to be 110% convinced he was going to be a star! I just don't now if Phil is going to be that into a kid that needs so much time to fully develop before you really know what you have.

Winslow is a tough call cuz you have a guy that isn't really a SG but would likely have to play there in the NBA. The last thing we need is another SF that isn't really gonna have much of an advantage in any way at the next level.

nixluva wrote:Nice job WaltLongmire. I do wonder about Mudiay and what his real talent level is. I was disappointed when I saw him play and didn't really see the athletic PG they often claimed he was. He's athletic but not like they were hyping him to be. Then his shot wasn't strong and it just kind of makes you feel less impressed. Doesn't mean he's not going to be really good, but the expectations not being met is what is dropping him I think.

I also don't see Phil taking KrisP. It's just such a tough thing to do in this market. You'd have to be 110% convinced he was going to be a star! I just don't now if Phil is going to be that into a kid that needs so much time to fully develop before you really know what you have.

Winslow is a tough call cuz you have a guy that isn't really a SG but would likely have to play there in the NBA. The last thing we need is another SF that isn't really gonna have much of an advantage in any way at the next level.

Fraschilla does like Mudiay, although he said Brown was going overboard in saying he might be the best player in the draft.

He did not cite any sources for his Mudiay info.

He does seem to look at the drafting preferences in terms of what teams need, because he feels the top guys on his board- Towns/OK4/Russell/Porzingus/Mudiay/ are all going to be good.

Did not mention the Ebiid injury, but commented that both Philly and the Knicks needed PGs.

Well known that I'm down for wanting Porzingis at 4, and still think he might sneak into the top 3, which would be amazing for us, but if I'm Phil I would play up a potential interest in Porzingus, because I believe Orlando will pay for him.

I have a feeling the Knicks like Mudiay more than they are letting on. I think the Winslow talk is a smoke screen for Mudiay being the pick. Phil and those "big guards"....too much explicit talk from Hahn about Mudiay not being right. Hahn is the inside guy now at MSG who voices what they want on radio, TV, etc. Just seems fishy no team is putting out any indicators but the Knicks are going out of the way to disregard Mudiay specifically.

As for Porzingis all bets are off if Philly grabs him at 3. If that happens and we snag Russell. Ropes.

I still expect Mudiay to be the pick. And I love how this was a 4 player draft and now that the Knicks have the 4th pick, there suddenly became a perceived separation between the top 3 and everyone else. You just can't make this stuff up.

So we have another reporter with no idea what the knicks are going to do except his Gut instinct.

wargames wrote:So we have another reporter with no idea what the knicks are going to do except his Gut instinct.

Yeah saying the Knicks need a PG sounds like he has no idea that the Triangle doesn't even feature the PG spot. It's just not the highest priority. Phil has been talking about Bigs that can pass and post, rim protection and penetration, tho not necessarily coming from the guard spot. If a guard has to have the ball in order to be most effective that isn't really what the Triangle needs. A passing wing that can also slash to the basket is more of a fit. This is not to say you can't use a PG, but it's way down the list.

wargames wrote:So we have another reporter with no idea what the knicks are going to do except his Gut instinct.

Not a reporter. Only bit of insider stuff he gave was that the Mudiay workouts in LA and NY were not great according to his sources.

Pretty well known talent evaluator. First to come out during the Gallinari days saying that people were foolish to compare his toughness and D to Bargs.

He was basically doing what Briggs did in a recent post- rating the guys in the draft. He basically gave you his top 5 players.

WaltLongmire wrote:

wargames wrote:So we have another reporter with no idea what the knicks are going to do except his Gut instinct.

Not a reporter. Only bit of insider stuff he gave was that the Mudiay workouts in LA and NY were not great according to his sources.

Pretty well known talent evaluator. First to come out during the Gallinari days saying that people were foolish to compare his toughness and D to Bargs.

He was basically doing what Briggs did in a recent post- rating the guys in the draft. He basically gave you his top 5 players.

So what we're his top 5 and did he explain why after Mudiay performed bad in workouts he thought he was still going to go top #4

nixluva wrote:

wargames wrote:So we have another reporter with no idea what the knicks are going to do except his Gut instinct.

Yeah saying the Knicks need a PG sounds like he has no idea that the Triangle doesn't even feature the PG spot. It's just not the highest priority. Phil has been talking about Bigs that can pass and post, rim protection and penetration, tho not necessarily coming from the guard spot. If a guard has to have the ball in order to be most effective that isn't really what the Triangle needs. A passing wing that can also slash to the basket is more of a fit. This is not to say you can't use a PG, but it's way down the list.

Thought he addressed the triangle thing a bit, cannot remember exactly, and I might be wrong.

The real questions is whether the private workout Fraschilla got from Mudiay had him doing the type of stuff Fisher and Jackson want to see.

Does not sound like they do that much coaching of the guys coming over to play in China, though, so he would have had some freedom in the offense he played in.

Might be why so many Americans go there these days.

wargames wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:

wargames wrote:So we have another reporter with no idea what the knicks are going to do except his Gut instinct.

Not a reporter. Only bit of insider stuff he gave was that the Mudiay workouts in LA and NY were not great according to his sources.

Pretty well known talent evaluator. First to come out during the Gallinari days saying that people were foolish to compare his toughness and D to Bargs.

He was basically doing what Briggs did in a recent post- rating the guys in the draft. He basically gave you his top 5 players.

So what we're his top 5 and did he explain why after Mudiay performed bad in workouts he thought he was still going to go top #4

He mentioned that with the draft so close, he did not necessarily believe the reports out of LA and NY, although he did not give sources for his two reports.

I really think he was looking at the need factor for the Knicks, and the idea that Mudiay is a big guard with talent. As I said, though, he still felt that the gutsy pick, if he was there, would be Porzingis at 4, who he feels could conceivably go higher if not for the pressure on certain teams to pick better known players.

i usually like fraschilla as he usually gives level headed analysis... he's always high on euros though and i think he's a bit off base on porzingis...

i do agree with him totally that there's a lot of misinformation being thrown around... i think ny is trying to coax a huge offer from someone in a trade down... besides that... msg has been in lockdown mode since the whole draft process began so anything floating around now is either coming from other teams or ny trying to manipulate information...

FistOfOakley wrote:i usually like fraschilla as he usually gives level headed analysis... he's always high on euros though and i think he's a bit off base on porzingis...

i do agree with him totally that there's a lot of misinformation being thrown around... i think ny is trying to coax a huge offer from someone in a trade down... besides that... msg has been in lockdown mode since the whole draft process began so anything floating around now is either coming from other teams or ny trying to manipulate information...

I think much of his work is done overseas these days, but

he serves as a counter-weight to all the analysts who come out and call certain foreign players "mystery men," as if they've not been scouted extensively.

I've said this before- if you listen to posters around here you would think:

1) until 6 months ago, Porzingis was a Latvian volleyball player who decided to take up basketball

2) the only evidence existing which shows off his ability is the workout video

Not sure that ignorance is an argument, but it sure gets thrown about around here.

Think you are right about the trade down possibility, and believe that Orlando would be willing to give us something for him. If Phil could somehow get their #5 and their #1 for next year (at least), I think people around here would be pretty happy. No?

If Philly takes Porzingis and the Knicks get D'Angelo Russell, I will dance through the streets playing a saxophone and Porzingis will be my new favorite player.

crzymdups wrote:If Philly takes Porzingis and the Knicks get D'Angelo Russell, I will dance through the streets playing a saxophone and Porzingis will be my new favorite player.

I really feel like the Lakers will take Russell. They have a history of drafting dynamic Guards and then going after bigs who have established themselves somewhere else going all the way back to Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain. I could honestly see them going for D Jordan as their top FA target as much to screw the clippers as to provide themselves with a talented Center.

In that case the question becomes does Philly pick Okafor or Porzingis. Which way they would lean idk.

crzymdups wrote:If Philly takes Porzingis and the Knicks get D'Angelo Russell, I will dance through the streets playing a saxophone and Porzingis will be my new favorite player.

Despite our differences, I always thought you would come to love the Latvian.

Do you actually play a saxophone?

WaltLongmire wrote:
I think much of his work is done overseas these days, but

he serves as a counter-weight to all the analysts who come out and call certain foreign players "mystery men," as if they've not been scouted extensively.

I've said this before- if you listen to posters around here you would think:

1) until 6 months ago, Porzingis was a Latvian volleyball player who decided to take up basketball

2) the only evidence existing which shows off his ability is the workout video

Not sure that ignorance is an argument, but it sure gets thrown about around here.

Think you are right about the trade down possibility, and believe that Orlando would be willing to give us something for him. If Phil could somehow get their #5 and their #1 for next year (at least), I think people around here would be pretty happy. No?

He's not unknown... the thing is that what he actually is right now... is not THAT good... the unknown is can he turn into something that IS good... right now he's a stretch 4... he played like a stretch 4 in europe so he's going to need to bang more in the paint in the nba... i have serious doubts of him actually ever doing that...

but i'd be down if the magic want to swap and they pick porzingis... that would get some value if the knicks decide to pick winslow...

i am not down with porzingis on this team at all... i cannot even begin to fathom the disaster that it would be...

WaltLongmire wrote:

crzymdups wrote:If Philly takes Porzingis and the Knicks get D'Angelo Russell, I will dance through the streets playing a saxophone and Porzingis will be my new favorite player.

Despite our differences, I always thought you would come to love the Latvian.

Do you actually play a saxophone?

I'd have to find one to borrow, but I played in high school.

I don't mind Porzingis and he's definitely grown on me as I've researched him, but in all honesty he is about fifth on the list of who I would take at 4.

Assuming Towns is completely out of play, here's the list of who I'd like at 4:

1) Okafor (obviously not very realistic, no way he slips past the Lakers AND Sixers)
2) Russell (maybe an outside chance?)
3) Public Enemy #1 (aka Willie Cauley Stein)
4) Justice Winslow
5) Emmanuel Mudiay
6) Kristaps Porzingis
7) Cameron Payne

I get what people see in him, but I feel that he is probably years away from contributing. If Phil and his extensive staff (heard they had like 7-8 guys watch him in Vegas) make the call that he's the guy, I will be curious, but highly skeptical. If he can play defense, I'll be more excited, but in the clips I have watched, I have seen him get overpowered by 6'9" and 6'8" guys who weigh around 200lbs and aren't nearly as powerful as the 6'10" 240lbs NBA players he'll face every night. And the way he runs looks slightly off to me, which maybe it's just his way of running, but it reminds me of guys who have injured themselves. He reminds me a lot of Gallinari - who lets not forget missed most of his rookie season with a back injury and then missed almost two full years in Denver with a knee injury.

I think he can be good, I just feel he is the riskiest pick possible of the guys who deserve to be considered at 4. Add to that that the Knicks have an absolutely terrible medical staff and an absolutely terrible record of developing youngsters, I feel much safer taking the guys like Winslow or Stein who have already been developed at the elite NBA prep schools of Kentucky and Duke. Do I feel safer taking the safer bets because of my total lack of faith in NYK management at every single level? Very possibly.

I get wanting to take the guy with the highest ceiling at 4 and I think you have to say Mudiay and Porzingis are those two guys. But if the Knicks MISS on this pick or it backfires, they are screwed with no draft pick in 2016 to show for a failure with the pick. It's a terrible position to be in, but here we are, because we're the Knicks and we put ourselves here.

Honestly, if the pick is just pick the highest ceiling guy and hope we can develop him, I'd still go Mudiay, given how much of a point guard driven league it's become. I think Mudiay has the *potential* to be the mini Lebron at the PG everyone thought Tyreke Evans could become and I think a backcourt of Mudiay and Galloway could be pretty great defensively.

willey cauley stein seems like a safe pick as far as a guy in the triangle cause he is just a defense guy improving offensively

FreddiePhobia:

Fear any euro picked will be Fred Weis or Bargnani. Fear that Euro's don't live up to the hype. They are soft and break.
Gallo's back and knee in Denver fuels that. Milo's Vujecec and Lampe hype did not help this fear.

This is no reason to NOT take him.