Posted by TMS:
Posted by s3231:
I think there is a notion around here that with these two picks we just became a good defensive team. You don't become a good defensive team because of two rookies. I like that Isiah targeted defensive guys but come on.
You guys argue that all we need is defense. Its not true at all. We need so many things right now that sometimes you have to take the best talent available. Say what you want about how many PG's we have and how many guys we have in our backcourt, but none of them will ever be a starting PG on a very good team. Marcus has the potential to be just that. He is an excellent decision maker, great passer, clutch player, etc. This guy is a basketball player period. When you have a team like ours that needs help in so many areas, I just don't see how you can pass up on a guy like this.
I've supported Isiah a lot in the past but I just don't see how you can stick up for the guy this time.
s3231, i always respect your views but i have to disagree with you on 1 thing... everyone on this board agreed that we needed to target defensive minded players... Isiah just went & drafted 2 defensive minded players, & people are complaining because he passed up on the best PG on the board when we already had a glut at that position... who are the ones being unreasonable here? the ones bashing this pick or the ones defending it? think about it... think about the Knicks, their current situation, the fact that Marbury is Isiah's boy & there's no changing that no matter WHO he woulda drafted, let's face it... many other teams passed up on Marcus Williams... he came into the workouts way out of shape & he's had past off the court run ins w/the law... now is that really what Isiah should be targeting when this is his 1 & only season to show a marked improvement in this team? what would you have done in his situation? be honest... i'm not saying think about what you would have done from the very beginning... i'm talking about the current situation as is... i don't see as him having much other choice, except perhaps to have drafted a different swingman defensive player instead... if that's the argument, then it's a legitimate one, but again, we have to wait & see how this guy performs before we say the pick was a bad one imho... it does address a need at the very least.
TMS, you are one of the more reasonable posters here and you know that I want whats best for the Knicks. I have supported Isiah on a number of occassions in the past and you and many others know that I just don't bash anyone unless I feel I have good reason.
You are right in saying we had to target more defensive-minded players. I agree with that and many others on the board would tell you the same thing. However, I also felt that we needed a real PG. Don't confuse that with me saying I expected us to draft a PG. When BRIGGS posted about the possibility of trading up to get Marcus, I even posted saying it wasn't going to happen because of the reasons you listed. After last night's draft, I'm still not surprised about what happened because of the same reasons (Marbury is his boy, we have a crowded backcourt, etc). The thing is, this team has so many flaws that I felt if a blue chip prospect falls to 20, you have to take him.
We have a ton of talent, but no real PG. So when a PG like Marcus falls, a guy I consider a blue chip prospect, I felt like we had to take him.
Look at this roster TMS, if you are another GM you would you like on this Knicks roster? We don't have many assets at all. At worst, Marcus is good trade bait. But I feel like he can be much more than that.
Of course, if I was Isiah before this draft. Things would have been a lot different. Marbury would be wearing a Minnesota jersey and we would have the 6th pick in the draft. But I don't want to get into that because that is a completely different scenario.
I like the Renaldo pick a lot. I really like the guy and he is exactly what we need. However, I don't buy into Isiah's crap that this guy was going in the first round. We could have had this guy at 29 or we could have bought that Suns pick at 27 and used it there on him. Why use the 20th pick in the draft on a projected second round pick when there the best PG prospect in the draft is there? I don't get it. A smart GM would chose Williams there even just for trade bait and to add a good asset.
Again, if Williams wasn't there at 20, I wouldn't be complaining as much (though I would still say Renaldo would be better at 29). But only a bad GM would leave a gift like that at 20 so that Rod Thorn and the Nets could profit once again.
"This is a very cautious situation that we're in. You have to be conservative in terms of using your assets and using them wisely. We're building for the future." - Zeke (I guess not protecting a first round pick is being conservative)
6/29/2006 1:20 PM