Passing on Williams
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- June
- 22
Sean Williams lost a lot of draft board momentum by deciding not to audition for individual teams. It’s looking more and more like he’ll be there when the Knicks pick at No. 23 unless he follows through and goes on a whirlwind tour in the coming days.
I know a lot of general managers are mad.
They all might pass and let Williams slip into the second round. He needed to show up and work out. More importantly, Williams needed to leave Houston long enough to meet face-to-face with prospective employers who are no doubt nervous. He needed to explain what happened at Boston College.
Knicks president Isiah Thomas might be tempted.
According to draftexpress.com Williams is coming to New York and Charlotte to work out, but nothing has been scheduled according to a Knicks official.
In other words, don’t hold your breath.
So maybe we need to cross Williams off the list. It’s hard to accept this stuff as gospel because scenarios change rapidly and smoke screens are getting thrown up left and right.
Who’s still on Thomas’ board?
I would think Daequon Cook, Marco Belinelli, Taurean Green, Morris Almond and Stephane Lasme are there in some order.
Do you think anyone is being overlooked?
• Did you notice the poll on the right side of the page? Vote. And check back from time to time for update questions.
• Here’s a Q & A that new Pacers coach Jim O’Brien did with the “Indianapolis Star”:http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070622/SPORTS04/706220498/1247/SPORTS. He believes the odds favor Jermaine O’Neal sticking around.
• Check out this little note from the “Salt Lake Tribune”:http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_6201984 on the declining popularity of Andrei Kirilenko. Before the whining started, he used to be among my favorite players. The Jazz would probably be willing to accept nominally useful pieces, say Steve Francis and Nate Robinson?
This entry was posted
on Friday, June 22nd, 2007 at 1:14 pm by Mike Dougherty.
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I like the voting feature Mike! You should have it throughout the season on our hotly debated topics.
I’m still sticking with my belief that we should draft by need and go for the best shooter in the draft. But I guess if this kid Wilson really would be a lottery pick next year, it would be nice to get him now.
Kirilenko is exactly what the Knicks need. If they would accept Francis and Robinson, that would be a gift from heaven.
Marc R – from your mouth to God’s ears. I was impressed with AK when he took over the point for the Jazz when Fisher was out and their youngster almost broke his neck. He’s a smart player. But….I can’t imagine Sloan EVER dealing with the likes of Steve Francis or Nate Robinson. Can you imagine Nate, a guy who doesn’t do ANYTHING right on the basketball court and thinks he’s an all-star and the fundamental Jerry Sloan? I don’t think Nate would even make it out of the first practice alive, let alone be trusted with the ball in a game.
Yeah…we should draft either Morris Almond or the kid who’s going to go in the lottery next year. I hope David Lee and Channing Frye are helping eachother out with their weaknesses…All David lee needs is a solid jumper and he may become an allstar.
i guess for robinson and stevie frenchfries kirilinko is worthit, but its hard to get excited about a player who took about 8 steps back last year. i know the emergence of carlos boozer may have taken away from AK’s game, but at times it looked like he couldnt get out of his own way. milsap looked like a far superior player almost the whole year.
No Kirilenko.
Do people think Renaldo Balkman will be the starter at the SF position in the future? Otherwise, that is where the Knicks need to draft a guy.
They already have the future at C (Curry), PF (Lee), SG (Crawford) and PG (Collins) locked up.
If Balkman can develop a half-decent jumper, I think he can start.
Kirilenko is a nice guy to have a round – kind of a swiss army knife – but the contract is too long and strong know that I look at it.
Word is Balkman’s jumper is coming along. He just had problems with balance last year, and generally not having worked on it ever. It should be much easier for him to get one than David Lee, who is learning it by rote. A painful looking thing it was to see last year. But if Austin Croshere can develop a jumper, than our guys can. Mardy are you listening?
I’m comfortable starting Balkman with or without the jumper. He’s like Cedric Ceballos with Defense.
I don’t see a trade for A.K without Utah getting a forward in return.
Isiah can’t pass up on a shot blocking ace like Williams as another option…
A tough one coz we need a shooter S/F or S/G too! Can’t wait for the draft…
What has AK-47 complained about? I must have missed that.
Kirelinko for Francis/Robinson is more immenent than impossible. What will Jazz do with Francis/Robinson with the next NBA’s no.1 point guard in Devon Williams around. Besides there is still Derek Fisher.
Any guy in the order would be a help for the Knicks this coming season. Either getting a shooter in Almond/Cook/Rice or a blocker in Williams will do. It is considered that Crawford and Lee will be back 100% healthy to play and Richardson be there year round duly rehabilitated.
The only player who will be entertained for possible trade acquisition should be Lewis. Trying to acquire O’neal, Carter and Bryant via trade are steps backward not forward.
Mike, Lasme and Green can be had in round 2.Or more likely as a free agent. Ya forgot about the kid from Depaul, Wilson Chandler. Word is that Isaiah has already guaranteed him if hes there. Williams cant be that stupid to not show up at workouts. Lucas would tell him to do the right thing. So hes probably another example of a kid who has been promised a spot. Unlike that dope JamesOn, who said that the Bulls guaranteed him. Paxson laughed at that one. If Utah would take Francis and Nat for AK, I ll drive those two to Utah. I like Nates spunk but Franchise is th worst ” bignamed” player in basketball. H dominates the ball, stops his OWN teams fast breaks and couldnt guard Phil Jackson today
Gerry O,
I hope your right on Richardson. What makes you so sure he’ll be all the way back?
If the knicks land Sean Williams it would be the steal of the draft. Williams is a lottery pick if not for the weed incident (considering the talented bigman is this draft, thats saying a lot). He is undoubtedly the best shotblocker in the draft with 75 in only 15 games. Also a great weakside and help defender. A nice complement to Curry. Basically he is exactly what the knicks need.
They also need a shooter, unfortunately there are no great shooters in this draft. One of the best shooters is Morris Almond but he is slow and unathletic for the next level, terrible defender and not worth the 23rd pick. The knicks are better off going to free angency for that. Lewis would be best case.
Wilson Chandler is like a poor man’s Balkman without the heart. Why would the knicks need him? This is clearly either a lie or a smokescreen. Basically, Isiah is too good at this to draft him.
We need Sean Williams, not another swingman SF.
More on Williams:
http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/mens_basketball/articles/2007/06/25/ex_bc_star_williams_thrives_in_transition_game/
They have the same question we’ve asked for weeks, they don’t answer: Is he (Marcus Camby, I asked) Ben Wallace or Keon Clark. I say, with Morris in the fold already, if he falls to 23, its a chance worth taking. Surround Curry with athletic, long, defensive minded players who rebound the ball and finish – Balkman, Lee, Collins, Williams, Jeffries – grind it out with the best pivot this side of Duncan and let the dogs loose on every blocked shot, steal and defensive board.
Bellinelli News:
http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/46684/20070625/clippers_and_pistons_most_serious_suitors_for_belinelli/
Plus, talk that LA and Minnesota are talking something that will include the Pacers and send KG to LA.
http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/46685/20070625/kg_to_la_trade_talks_finally_arrive/
So, in this scenario, does Minnesota get Jermaine Oneal? Huh? Must be where the mystery fourth team comes in, cause JO for KG doesn’t make sense.
I really don’t think Williams is going to be around when we draft. If that Italian guy is there we should pick him though.
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