I thought this older article might remind everyone of the feelings of the Knicks going into the draft.
Stop Overthinking It, the Knicks Are Drafting Willie Cauley-SteinIt’s been a week since the Knicks tripped and fell in the NBA Draft lottery. Almost immediately since that moment, I’ve been endlessly obsessing about who the Knicks could possibly land with the fourth selection. Many have lazily deduced that Emmanuel Mudiay could/should/would be the Knicks choice. After all, Mudiay has consistently been rated amongst the top four talents in this years draft. The first two, Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns are expected to be selected with each of the top two picks. Then, seemingly every mock draft in the world has the 76ers taking D’Angelo Russell. (Excuse me, I have something in my eye). That leaves the Knicks the physically gifted, point-guard prospect Emmanuel Mudiay. Not only would Mudiay be the highest rated prospect left on the board, but the Knicks also have a need at point guard. So what are they waiting for? Start stitching the jersey! Not so fast my tormented friends. Questions about Mudiay’s game — needed development, not an ideal fit for the triangle offense — aside... If you’ve been reading the tea leaves, Phil Jackson has been consistent in what he’s looking to get out of this draft.
“Gotta have a defender… That’s a good starting point — a guy like Tyson Chandler is the defensive backup that we have to have. In this day and age in our game, there are so many screen and rolls, so many 3-point shooters, so many things that a player of size has to (do). Not only cover the paint and protect the basket but he has to be able to step out defensively and play a guard. And do some defensive work on the extreme part of the floor so it’s very important that that player have defensive capabilities.” — Phil Jackson 4/2/2015
Most assumed that simply meant that Phil Jackson would likely choose Karl Anthony-Towns over Jahlil Okafor; if given the opportunity. However some also noted that Jackson’s description sounded an awful lot like Willie Cauley-Stein; the UK center who chases point guards across full courts like a cheetah about to put a suffocating bite around the neck of a Thomson’s gazelle.
Interestingly enough, even Willie Cauley-Stein felt Phil may have been referring to him when he heard the comment. It’s no secret that the Knicks have long had their eye on drafting a Wildcat. The Knicks organization spent more time scouting Kentucky than any other NBA franchise. Multiple reports cited that Knicks top scout Mark Warkentien attended over a dozen practices this past season in Lexington. The Zen Master himself even spent two days in the bluegrass state. Where he observed both a UK practice and the Wildcats game vs. Arkansas. (In case you were wondering, Cauley-Stein had seven points, nine rebounds — four offensive, two assists, four blocks, and two steals in Kentucky’s victory). Knicks scouts racking up expense tabs at Lexington area Waffle Houses was surely prompted by hopes of drafting Karl-Anthony Towns. However it’s likely to assume the Knicks were also preparing themselves should they have not gotten their first choice.
In doing so, no matter which way the ping pong balls bounced, they would still be prepared to draft the type of defensive big they covet. A desire that was reiterated by Phil Jackson again at his end of season press conference.
“The reason why I mentioned that bigs are a priority for us in the draft is simply that I think the defense has to be anchored by stopping the ball. And having an intimidating force in the lane.”
Willie Trill Cauley-Stein is certainly that. WCS is repeatedly talked about by NBA scouts and draft experts as having the potential of a perennial ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ candidate. The definitive best defensive player, let alone best defensive big man in this draft. Considered by some as a unique defensive talent; possibly unlike any the NBA draft has seen before.
There are few things more certain in this draft to translate to the NBA level than Cauley-Stein’s defense. And we know the Zen Master loves himself some defense. When asked recently if he could choose any player in NBA history to start his own dream team (other than Michael Jordan), he chose Bill Russell. Now full disclosure, Jackson did cite Russell’s eleven championships as the reason why. But we all know what Russell’s game was predicated on. And what made him so dominant during his career... Defense! So I ask, why would Phil’s defense-first philosophy be any different when building his actual team?
6/17/2015 6:55 PM