Knicks · Lets keep our eyes on the Miami Heat SL team (page 1)

SG David Walker. After re reviewing him Id say hes at the top of my personal list for guys to really look at @ SL. I posted about him early in the year and he just went to the back of my mind when I started focusing more nationally on games. He played locally in the east for Northeastern--so not on TV much. Hes a 6-7 SG who is quite athletic and long who has some really good understanding of the game. Just on this tape you will see why he is likely a better prospect than our two guys Baker and Harris. Hes 2-3 inches taller than each of those guys with much more athletic ability. Hes got pop in his legs--hes explosive and long. He can handle the ball like a PG hes a good passer and a reasonable defender and rebounder. Still might need 5-8 more pds. He was a +40% volume 3 shooter and a near 90% FT shooter

Miami always seem to find gems. So I would agree to watch the Miami Heat summer league team.

Briggs, I think it might be possible to steal that guy Tyler Johnson you like. He's one of the few RFAs that I think you might be able to get.

He looks like a nice player. In the end every team has their reasons for who they go after. Knicks are no different.

channeling Barrea and even Reggie Lewis (other N.Eastern players)

nixluva wrote:He looks like a nice player. In the end every team has their reasons for who they go after. Knicks are no different.

Id like to think were not married to anyone there at SL and that we can court anyone who goes to the party who is free. I think its a little easier to make it in the NBA when you add those 2-3 inches and the athletic ability which Baker doesnt have. Also Walker is a much more fluid shooter/ballhandler and looks like a better passer. It almost looks like he can play some PG at some point.

A lot of stuff on DraftExpress about him, and they have him down as a combo guard...

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Davi...

Knicks would have seen him at the Portsmouth tournament, where it seems he did not do too well. They also mentioned that he did not do as well against the 3 big teams he faced this year- Michigan State, Miami, and NC State.

With that said, he looks like he has some skills on offense and some athletic ability to build on.

Did we even work him out before the draft?

Miami has done a fantastic job of finding guys late in the draft and undrafted. He shot the three at almost 42% and he is 6'7. Seems like a guy to keep an eye on. With Richardson and Johnson on the roster already maybe they won't sign him.

I'm okay with ROn Baker and think he has a better chance to workout in the pros because of his hustle and defense. He might not be as tall but he has a 6'10 wingspan to make up for it. He is also a very good shooter coming off screens and off the PnR. Baker's real problem is he can't create in isolation plays but there have been many SGs that have that same problem and survived in the NBA.

yellowboy90 wrote:I'm okay with ROn Baker and think he has a better chance to workout in the pros because of his hustle and defense. He might not be as tall but he has a 6'10 wingspan to make up for it. He is also a very good shooter coming off screens and off the PnR. Baker's real problem is he can't create in isolation plays but there have been many SGs that have that same problem and survived in the NBA.

I'm hoping Baker can become a poor man's JJ Redick, and my gut feeling is that he was somebody Hornachek wanted.

I don't think the Knicks care about his lack of isolation play ability...they are looking for a high IQ player who is moving without the ball, can come off picks to catch and shoot (as you noted), and a player who doesn't bog down the flow of the offense with unnecessary ball handling.

I say that he sticks with the team, and I feel that the speed with which we signed him after the draft (he might have been the first UFA signed) indicates that we had him on our radar- and might even have taken him in the 2nd Rnd if we had been able to buy a pick at a reasonable price.

Hopefully he works out. I'm most interested to see how he defends at this level.

Im hoping that Baker becomes the white mans Avery Bradley.

Nalod wrote:Im hoping that Baker becomes the white mans Avery Bradley.

Yeah - he's really solid defensively.

Hoping he is good enough offensively to make the team, warrant some minutes -- if so I think he becomes a garden favorite. Understands how to play the game --- would seem to be a very nice role player with better players around him. Very Langston Galloway to me but advanced in terms of his understanding/patience on offensive end.

Miami also has that 7 foot PF from Hawaii that has some KP in him.