Almost on the clock
Donnie Walsh didn’t exactly drop any names when he met with the media yesterday afternoon, so I took an informal poll. Guess what? I got six different names when I asked six different executives who the Knicks will select at No. 6 should they hang onto the pick.
Heck, we might as well throw darts.
Let’s take a stab based on the lies and speculation circulating. I’m going to say the Knicks’ draft board has the prospects ranked something like this:
- O.J. Mayo: Wishful thinking.
- Danilo Gallinari: A high basketball IQ makes up for a lack of quickness.
- D.J. Augustin: He’s still an inch taller than me.
- Jerryd Bayless: Scoring is not an issue.
- Russell Westbrook: Might become a stopper.
- Joe Alexander: The heir apparent to David Lee.
Don’t hold me to any of this, but since I’m on the record, let’s see your lists. Give me a top six in order. We can all have a laugh afterward.
It sounds like Walsh is still talking with Minnesota about moving up far enough to grab Mayo, but nobody seems to know the particulars. The deal with Memphis seems to be contingent on an unspecified combination of players coming off the board right away.
Anybody getting goosebumps?
June 25th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
1. A little Mayo with that team.
2. Bayless…he’s falling a tad down the charts
3. Gordon…they are hiding the fact that they are interested
4. Westbrook…If they are serious about PG with no tades
5. DJ Augustin…if they trade down
6. Gallinari…I don’t see it happening unless they trade just ahead of the NJ Nuts
June 25th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Mike, can you confirm that rumor with Miami involving Stephon Marbury, David Lee and the 6th for Shawn Marion and the 2nd?
June 25th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Sergio
I believe that was just thrown out there as some kind of possibility by The South Florida Sun-Sentinal, and I read it as Marion and Mark Blount for Marbury and the No. 6. It makes little sense. Marion is in the final year of his deal, and probably won’t be happy unless a contract extension in the neighborhood of $60 million is coming. I can’t believe Walsh would give it any consideration were the phone to actually ring.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
1. Mayo…The hype exceeds the play at the moment but he’s as good as the Knicks could wish to get this year.
2. Augustin…If the Knicks need an “engine” he’d certainly fit what D’Antoni looks for in a car. He’s even limited defensively like most of his favorite PG’s; perfect fit.
3. Bayless…He’s falling out of favor but the guy is immensely talented, albeit a little too much like a Marbury clone in that he doesn’t make players better and is really a two guard.
4. Westbrook…might be higher on their board but looks like a Fred Jones clone to me. There are a dozen undersized two guards who play great defense in the D-League, sign one.
5. Gallinari…The next Adam Morrison? You’ve got to play ‘some’ D as a forward otherwise you’ll ride the pine. I’m sure he’ll be better than Morrison, but who isn’t?
6. Gordon….Sweet stroke, good athlete but not much of a PG at 6-3. If you draft him what are you going to do with Crawford since they do the same things.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Tom, great call on Westbrook.Outstanding athlete but he cant shoot and he REALLY CAN NOT dribble with his left hand. Every time he was forced left in the tourney he picked up his dribble. We want him to run the point? Let Seattle or some other halfass orginazation pick him. Augustin is slow, cant defend and is 5’10. No thanks.If Memphis is stupid enough to take Lee and dump Cardinal to give the Knicks the 5th pick, we must jump on it. Pick the Italian kid and Gordon or Bayless. Bayless and Crawford are the same player but we need talent. I think Walsh got burned by Fred Jones and hopefully will not pick Westbrook. He Better not
June 26th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I think Knicks fans want a nice trimming of the fat. Remove the players with weak personalities and work ethics.
BUT the only player we can get rid of is David Lee, the guy with a strong personality and work ethic!
So how do we get rid of Stephon? And Curry?
I feel stuck.
I wonder what kind of moves Donnie’s going to make leading up to tonight’s draft. Over at 1050am radio, they’re saying Donnie’s poised to make a lot of moves—this is exciting stuff.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Take Gallinari. Not that race matters, but the knicks haven’t had an offense minded white guy since Pat Cummings. If he plays well, he’ll sell more jerseys thean LeBron.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I’m still not sold on Gordon. Yeah, he’s a good scorer but so was Salim Stoudamire. Yeah Gordon is athletic, but how many 6’3’’ shooting guards actually dominate an nba game.