Redundant: (adj.) Exceeding what is necessary (at small forward)

So often has our beloved franchise lacked a plan.

This being fact, we often acquire pieces in trades that don't
fit well together. I contend the drafting of Hakim Warrick is
a step in this same, random direction. If we didn't have a super
athletic SG/SF combo player on the roster, he would be a safe..
good pick for our franchise.

In drafting Warrick, you get a player who excels blocking shots,
put backs, decent post game (I remember that turn around dunk
from a stand-still that illustrates the upside). He can do alot.
I'm pretty sure on the pro-level with his ball handling and jumper what it is..he won't be a big scorer.

Ariza has a better handle.. but his perimeter game needs serious work.
At 20, he has more time to develop this. He'll get his own shot.. but like Warrick.. will it fall? Both of these players will compete for minutes at SF.. and will slow the developement of both. We have alot invested in Crawford and know he is no point guard.

Bottom line... your locking yourself into two players who will struggle on the wing and the perimeter for some time. With our team, and the difficulty in finding a big man that can score down low.. the problem is magnified if we can't shoot from the wings.

The solution is, in this draft, if we lose the lottery.. and no big man sets himself apart. We have to trade down. Joey Graham is a pure SF with serious athleticism, Frye would look great at PF, Granger can defend and hit the outside shot. Randolph Morris deserves a look. Daniel Ewing and/or Nate Robinson should be our targets in the late first early second. After #7, the players look alot alike.

Unless Green falls this year, or we get into the top three.. I don't see us getting the super-star in-waiting we need. Let's make sure we develop our team though in the mean-time.. get the good role players we need, while loading up for next year.

What do we get? A late lottery/mid-teens pick this year..A high second this year and a 1st rounder next year.. that will give us the ammunition to trade up and get the one stud we need. We don't have that ammunition this year. Next year, with big expiring contracts and three first rounders .. we can make a run at a big man with upside.

Anyone disagree? I mean c'mon, I feel like I wasted ten minutes here.

Well first of all I would like to say, I don't really care for Joey Grahm, he reminds me of a guy like Darvin ham, except with a more offensive abilities, I don't know how well Grahams game will relate to the NBA... Warrick and ariza can be a interesting pair on the floor, not really redundant, I mean you could put ariza at the SG and Warrick at the SF and you will have two long quick athletes who can finish and defend with a lot of length, I don't see a problem with that at all...

I agee that Warrick and Ariza are too similar to have playing at the same time. Both are good athletes who don't shoot very well from the perimeter (at least for now). And they don't weigh enough to guard opponents who are big physically.

warrick and ariza can be very effective at times. over the long haul, they will be exposed but for 15-20 min stretches during a game, can create a ton of havoc and would force teams to adjust to us based purely on their defense.

we'd need a dominating rebounder at center to make-up for the lack of size between those two, and we need to just run, run, run, run, and run. forget this 1/2 court stuff, a lineup of marbury, craw, ariza, and warrick could cause MAJOR havoc.

the plan should be to establish a style of play - and the way the league is moving - it's a running style and get as many players as possible that can fit it. right now we have 3 - marbs, craw, ariza. hopefully we can get 3 more in the draft AND 1 more via the MLE or trade.

i'm biased b/c i'm a cuse fan, but warrick can be a GREAT defensive player in this league. at this point, i'll easily take that and let him develop offensively. marion has the 3, but subtract that and he still contributes big time via the boards and block shots. that's what warrick could be for us.

Funny I didn't know Miami,Detroit & San Antonio run like crazy in transition.

Matt.. could you provide a link to that? I be interested to read it. I really don't think Warrick will be able to guard a four in this league. He'll be a weak-side (off the ball) shot blocker . If he gets taken into the post we'll be in trouble.

Posted by Cookdcokehop:

Warrick and Ariza are too similar. I give Ariza the upper hand because Ariza is practically a high schooler, so his perimeter game will be better by the he's Warricks age. Warrick is almost 23 and has made only one three pointer in his college career. Wow!!! I like Graham reminds me of Shawn Marion. We need more versatile players. Graham has a inside outside game and explosive athleticism. He can contribute now and down the road.

you may be right about Graham. I heard the same thing before. Graham and Granger might be better pros than Warrick

Posted by rain:

TKF... with Crawford here for the long term.. his streaky nature and all, with Ariza and Warrick.. that's not what I would call a consistent
threat from the perimeter. Hey maybe it works.. I'm somewhat pessimistic. Graham wouldn't be the best fit with regard to outside shot.. BUT! his shot has improved though AND he's got the body to make it on the block. Granger seems like the best fit with his outside game and defense. It would be nice though to see Graham in a Knick uni with his athleticism and toughness. All of these guys we're talking about should be available with a trade down.

I like Granger, but graham I am not to happy about, but crawford could be avery effective outside thread when he is taking set 3's, when he has to create off the dribble, he can get out of control with his shooting, but at times he can also be dangerous... I think the knicks should develop a midrange game with Ariza and a guy like warrick, look at detroit, outside of billups, they don't really have any consistent three point shooters, but they are efficient with their great athletes within the arc.

Posted by diderotn:

If Isiah was to draft Warrick I would have been really mad with him. Since his arrival in N.Y, he has signed or drafted no one taller than 6'9" not included Bruno.........

We just can't draft height. If Warrick is the best player available you take him. Then maybe shoot for a big man with the next pick. Warrick fits the system New York should go for, athletism and versatility.

Posted by gunsnewing:

Posted by Knixkik:

Posted by diderotn:

If Isiah was to draft Warrick I would have been really mad with him. Since his arrival in N.Y, he has signed or drafted no one taller than 6'9" not included Bruno.........

We just can't draft height. If Warrick is the best player available you take him. Then maybe shoot for a big man with the next pick. Warrick fits the system New York should go for, athletism and versatility.

no way Warrick is the best player available as high as 8!

I agree, there shold be more skilled or players with more upside than him at 8, and we should get them especially if they're 7 feet or close.