You want the truth?
-
- June
- 26
A word of warning, NBA teams are known to use all kinds of diversionary tactics in the days leading up to the draft. Don’t believe everything you read or hear. Every single organization is checking around the league for second-hand information.
They want to know what the competition is up to.
I can’t even count how many unnamed sources have been quoted already this week. Still, it’s usually the only way to get information. Most of it comes from the same people who happily go on the record during the season.
Right now, everybody is just a little paranoid.
I was on the phone this morning with a couple of “league executives” asking whether they knew anything about the Knicks issuing a promise to DePaul’s Wilson Chandler. Both of them had the exact lightning quick response, ‘What have you heard?”
There is no clearinghouse for draft information.
It seems like the speculation has increased exponentially, and that’s because of the growth of cyberspace along with the increased attention players like Greg Oden and Kevin Durant are bringing.
As for the promise to Wilson, a number of people around the league believe Isiah Thomas is serious about taking him at No. 23. Others believe the rumors are just a way to pump up a wildcard’s value.
Does that help?
• From what I gather, the Knicks are not among the unnamed teams chasing after Garnett because Kevin McHale is not willing to accept unproven pieces like David Lee, Channing Frye or Renaldo Balkman along with bad contracts like Steve Francis or Malik Rose.
And that lottery pick the Bulls are holding would’ve come in handy.
• Based on the early results, most of you want to see Thomas pick up Sean Williams on Thursday, but it’s sounding more and more like the Nets might take a leap of faith on the shot-blocker six picks earlier.
• The first bid for Rashard Lewis might be coming from the Magic, which is looking for a primary scorer to go alongside Dwight Howard. Here’s the “story”:http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-magic2607jun26,0,1102914.story from the Orlando Sentinel.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 at 10:54 am by Mike Dougherty.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Dwight Howard
I’m curious, how is the package of Bynum, Odom and the 19th pick better than Lee, Frye, Crawford and the 23rd pick? Odom is expensive and will be 28 by the time the season starts. Bynum might be good, might be a bust. Lee has all star potential, Crawford is an exciting scorer and Frye can still develop. Strange.
I think Odom is a good player and has proven his worth for some time in the league. None of our complement have proven anything yet. I think the salary is the real reason why he is discounted as a valuable piece. Like most every player who has made it to Free Agency, he was awarded a contract that GM’s hate as soon as it is signed.
What I don’t get is the continued faith in Darko. Anything he gets in FA will certainly be seen as overpaying the next day.
Darko is a role player Willis. He was picked too high in a team with Ben Wallace, Mehmet Okur and then with Sheed. In the next year he has the 2 Wallaces and McDyess. He has no place in the team. By the time he was dealt to Orlando, he start to play. Of course he’s not a star, but he can be a good role player with blocks and bounds. As he is playing with Howard (A Jugernaut, you have to agree), he had a good season last one.
Well, talking about the Knicks. The only target we’ll have this summer is Rashard Lewis. And as he is looking for the max money, what’s the odds he will go to orlando? What orlando can do? Offer a contract? Make a sing-and-trade deal? Mike those are for you…
Also for Mike – I hear that David Lee is still not 100%. That’s pretty scary, because that guy needs his hops. What have you heard as far as his current status, what the injury actually was, and what the prognosis is.
i heard david lee on the fan the other day he said he was ok
i hope he was telling the truth
D-Lee must be healthy for the Knicks to compete. Anyone remember how the season ended for the Knicks when it ended for Lee last year?
Take either
1) a lock-down defender at the 3
2) an ace shooter
The kid Morris that Isiah got out of Kentucky might be the shot-blocker they need as he improved his shot blocking numbers each year there.
If they can’t get Williams I really think they should pick the best of those shooing guards. I’m not high on Chandler unless its Tyson Chandler.
Supposedly Sean Williams blocked 9 shots in a workout that featured Brandon White and Jason Smith. That is amazing. Too bad he will be gone somewhere from 17-20.
NJ at 17 likes him
GS at 18 is a good fit for him
PHI at 20 has worked him out 3 times
Daily News adds to speculation of Allan Houston return to basketball.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2007/06/27/2007-06-27_allan_eyes_another_shot.html
Please no.
Adding Allan Who?ston is going the wrong way. I’d rather take my chances with some kid who has his future in front of him.