TripleThreat wrote:fwk00 wrote:Nalod wrote:PHila drafted MIles Bridges whom his mother works for!!!! Then traded him.
Up until the bubble He was unremarkable.
He would not have shined as a knick with all the changes and turmoil. He is the 4-5th option on a very good team. Let’s not over do this with hindsight clarity and Frank Regret.
Yes, we all wish we could have him over Frank now. Not a stroke of genius to think that one up.
Good observations.
My personal peeve with the rear-view mirror draft critics is audacity of it. The complaint is always framed as "Why did the Knicks pick John Doe instead of Harry Megastar who was picked later?"
But the reality is that the Knicks picked John Doe instead of the 50+ other roll-of-the-dice draft eligible, well-regarded players. The only team that didn't miss out on Harry Megastar is the team that drafted him. EVERYBODY ELSE missed out, not just the Knicks.
The big question in this year's draft is that at #58 do the Knicks draft BPA or draft for need? And heaven forbid that #59 or #60 become Harry Megastar.
A lot of the criticism is when the Knicks pick a guy with a projectible tool set but NOT a projectible skill set.
Being able to jump out of the gym like a young Blake Griffin is a tool set.
Being able to defend the rim at a league average level is a skill set.
Kevin Knox, during his draft cycle, had some interesting tools. He was, however, very unskilled. The common argument is the Knicks shouldn't play it cute,but just pick players who are fundamental and have a baseline skill set that fits a current and practical NBA role somewhere. I am not and was never a huge Nesmith fan. However I can see how he has an actual skill set ( long range shooting) that fills an important NBA role and is projectible. Obi Toppin has a few interesting tools, but he is very unskilled. Poor handle. Can't score in the low post. Unlikely his long range shooting translates to the degree needed to compensate for his utter lack of defense. Can't create his own shot at all. Can't pick and pop. Sets ****ty picks. Struggles to fight through screens. Is not that great moving all the ball. Does not operate well in close contact. I could go on for a long ass time here.
The NBA Draft is a crapshoot. However there is no sense is making it that much more of a crapshoot for yourself than is needed in any situation.
Lots of people were screaming that Frank N should have played against the Hawks. You know who would have helped? Devin Vassell. Projected by most pundits pre draft to go to the Knicks. Someone with specific skills that fit a real and practical NBA role. Vassell could have helped this team all year long and in the playoffs.
Teams like the Warriors, established and stable front office, can go High Risk/High Reward like a Knox ( high chance to bust but the tool set says if he works out, he's a superstar) But teams who suffered like the Knicks have for decades should just pick high floor fundamental skilled guys where you hope a few will breakout into something more.
My complaint is generally why did the Knicks pick the less skilled/less fundamental/less projectible player and make the entire situation only quadruple harder on themselves?
This is not rocket science. My background is football by stock and trade. I have casual interest in the NBA. There should be no reason why I can come up with a better plan for the Knicks than the actual front office did under the Jackson/Mills/Perry regimes.
Frank Ntilkina has actual projectible skills. I get why that pick was made. But Knox and Toppin make zero sense.
Unfortunately, the draft like everything else has more to do with politics, social networks, and ingrown FO debt.
I agree with you wholeheartedly in your observations and opinions on this matter.
Devin Vassell was my personal draft day candidate
But year after year, violins play for local players. If he's from NY then his talent evaluation jumps 10 lottery positions.
Last year, Kentucky? Come on down!
Knox is a second-generation athlete. Pulls at your heart don't it. Obie - pretty much same deal.
Is the agent playing in the same poker games?
Add up all these constraints and more and its easy to see why the Knicks, maybe more than any other organization, get blind-sided.
IMO, the Knicks would do better by polling a few Knicks fan sites.
I'm going to make an easy prediction that players drafted after the Knicks pick will out-perform ours and thread after thread will flagellate the FO "for being so stupid".