New York Knicks

Needs: PG, SG, C

Picks: 17

Darius MorrisWith four roster spots to fill and no money to spend, the Knicks better make this pick count. Preparing to acquire either Deron Williams, Chris Paul or Dwight Howard next summer, the Knicks will not want to make the same mistake as the Heat and should try with all their scouting might to add a productive player with their mid first round pick. Seeing as Billups and Douglas have just one year left on their contracts, and nabbing Williams or Paul isn’t a certainty, they might want to consider every PG that could conceivably be picked in that region. Darius Morris would be a good fit and beat Jimmer Fredette head to head in their workout in front of the Knicks.

Apparently the Knicks are enamored of Kenneth Faried, who would be a handy defensive specialist for a team that currently doesn’t have any. Landry Fields looks to be a very satisfactory role player (assuming they add a big name in 2012), so they can afford to look at more one-dimensional players. It might be hard for them to pass on Jimmer considering how well he fits into D’Antoni’s system.

SupremeCommander wrote:

Paladin55 wrote:

TheGame wrote:Faried is a rich man's Balkman. The dude cannot shoot and he is undersized. While he might have Ben Wallace's game, he does not have Ben Wallace's size. The only way you can draft a Faried is if you believe he can play center, which he simply cannot do. I like both Brooks and Thompson, but I would add Reggie Jackson and Darrius Morris to our potential pick list.

Yup.

He's a warrior, but at 6'6" or so (barefoot), he's simply too small. Add 3 inches and I'd take him, offensive issues and all.

Playing him at the 4, which seems to be where he should play, would mean Amare would have to play at C, which is not something I think we should be doing.

What he brings to the table is exactly what the Knicks need. Melo and Amar'e won't play all 48 minutes every night

Exactly. I mean wouldn't it be nice to savor those 100 million dollar knees throughout the season. Also, I believe he could maybe guard both Bosh and Bron, who will probably be the biggest threat for a while.

We could also maybe sign a C and draft this guy and bring some REBOUNDING to this team already. Is Dalembert off the table now? I think keeping Amare minutes down is vital to a deep playoff run.

Now that we have Melo STAT won't have to carry so much of the offensive load. If we can then add bigs to cover the C spot, then that will further save STAT from wear and tear. So in the end I think things will work out for the better the more talent we add to this team going forward.

martin wrote:anyone care to post Ford's Mock 4.0?

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-110608

Someone posted on another board http://www.nbadraft.net/forum/espn-insiders-2

Chad has us picking Josh Selby.

Josh Selby

Position: PG
Height: 6-3
Weight: 195
Age: 20
School: Kansas

Analysis: GM Donnie Walsh has lost his job, but he's still calling the shots for the Knicks on draft night. Expect Walsh to go out with a bang. The Knicks are essentially looking at five players right now -- Klay Thompson, Fredette, Selby, Marshon Brooks and Kenneth Faried. Thompson and Fredette are off the board in our mock.

The Knicks have been looking long and hard at Selby for a while. They think he'd thrive in Mike D'Antoni's system that allows guards much more freedom than they get at Kansas. Selby has lottery talent, but a shaky résumé. This may be a risk taking him this high, but there's a very high upside.

GoNyGoNyGo wrote:Another scorer is needed, we are seeing that in the Finals now but the kid out of USC is good offensively, can rebound, block shots, has good size and is from basketball family. Vucevic. That is my pick for the team at this time. If they can get him later buy buying a pick then fine but this team still needs size.

I hope so. I want a center who has upside. If Jerome Jordan pans out then we have trade bait in one of them or an effective post presence throughtout the game. We would be turning a weakness into a strength.

Knixkik wrote:I wouldn't be opposed to Selby or Faried but i really want Klay Thompson or Brooks if available. Thompson is the ideal fit at SG because of his shooting and all around game, but he is less likely to be available, which is fine if Brooks is still on the board. Brooks just seems like the ideal pick who could end up being a stud and doesn't have nearly as much risk as some of the others. The only reason he's not a lottery pick is because of where he went to school. His scoring ability is undeniable and he looks like a player capable of coming right in and being a real NBA scorer. His 7-1 wingspan and athletic ability shows his potential on the defensive end. On top of all of this he appears to be a late bloomer with a ton of potential despite being a 4-year college player. His most common comparison is Nick Young, which is fine, but he also reminds of Josh Howard in his Dallas days, a very good 2-way player with great scoring ability and length, and a fringe all-star. His absolute floor is someone like Jordan Crawford or Marcus Thorton, a player who can come off the bench and put up numbers in a hurry. Either way, i would guess he has the ability to start right away and be a strong contributor on both ends. Talk about great value with the 17th pick. I still rank Thompson slightly higher because he might be a better fit with his shooting ability, but Brooks is a very close 2nd and much more likely to be there. Right now my order is this.

1. Klay Thompson
2. Marshon Brooks
3. Jimmer Fredette
4. Josh Selby

I'm not opposed to any of these players... and Thompson certainly comes from pedigree.

I do think Selby has more potential than Brooks, though Brooks fits a more traditional role, and there is something to be said for that. Jimmer... not terribly high on him. I think he'll be the next Steve Kerr. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but another back-up undersized three point shooter isn't the high on my wish list

1. Selby (highest upside)
2. Fredette (I think he's perfect for this system)
3. Brooks (shifty SG we lack)
4. Morris (big PG and I love big points)
5. Klay Thompson
6. Vucevic
7. Faried

We've got to get another pick. This draft has some good role players in it.

martin wrote:

nixluva wrote:After some thought i'd like to list my preferences as:

1. Selby (highest upside)
2. Fredette (I think he's perfect for this system)
3. Brooks (shifty SG we lack)
4. Morris (big PG and I love big points)
5. Klay Thompson
6. Vucevic
7. Faried

We've got to get another pick. This draft has some good role players in it.

i have to tell you, a see a lot of places that have Knicks selecting Fredette and giving reason that he's perfect for system.

But all of us know that there is a good chance the system may not be around for more than a year. So IMHO it's about the worst possible reason to draft that kid.

Gotta think long term.

i agree with you - the system will probably not be around for too much longer. besides, this system does not work for winning championships. all throughout the playoffs, all you hear guys, coaches, analysts, etc. saying is that defense wins championships, not offense. anyione who thinks otherwise, either doesnt watch or doesnt know. bottom line - offense alone will not win you a championship. and the knicks only have offense at this point.

martin wrote:

nixluva wrote:After some thought i'd like to list my preferences as:

1. Selby (highest upside)
2. Fredette (I think he's perfect for this system)
3. Brooks (shifty SG we lack)
4. Morris (big PG and I love big points)
5. Klay Thompson
6. Vucevic
7. Faried

We've got to get another pick. This draft has some good role players in it.

i have to tell you, a see a lot of places that have Knicks selecting Fredette and giving reason that he's perfect for system.

But all of us know that there is a good chance the system may not be around for more than a year. So IMHO it's about the worst possible reason to draft that kid.

Gotta think long term.

Keep Jimmer away from this team. He cant get by anyone in this league. Give me a PG with a killer cross-over and some speed.

Why do solid role players like mardy collins never make it big in the L?