Posted by MaTT4281:

I constantly hear people criticize how weak this draft is, but to be honest, this is as comfortable going into a draft as I have been in a long time. Whether it's Curry, Derozan, Holiday, or Jennings (despite not hearing anything too recent on him), I'm feeling pretty damn confident we'll wind up with a good player.

Hell, if Rubio's stock is really falling as reported, we may be able to make one last power play to move up.

I'm excited for June 25th.

Posted by MaTT4281:

Posted by BRIGGS:

I dont see any small players under 6-3 really doing anything in these playoffs. I dont mind one of Derozan Evans or Mullens but i think we need the C. I wonder what his athletic numbers came in at in terms of vertical and agility for a 7-1 260 pound guy. he has the same type of athletic explosion that Dwight has where he can explode from a standing position to elevate over other players to dunk/get rebounds etc..

Hire a real good interior big man coach--keep the guy 10 feet and in and he's going to surprise people--especially in up tempo. You think David Lee is a quick riser--this kid is more explosive and 4 inches taller.

To be fair, it's not like Tony Parker/Deron Williams/Chris Paul/Derrick Rose were all duds in the first round of the playoffs, and despite quick exits, they're the reason their teams were there in the first place. Billups was being praised until he drastically cooled down the last 2 games of the LA series, and you'd be crazy to think the Magic wouldn't welcome back Jameer Nelson with open arms.

That said, I know you love Mullens, and I wouldn't be upset if Walsh decides to go that route come draft night, but as other posters have mentioned - if we decide to take Mullens - I'd want to trade down and get some extra value out of that pick. I haven't heard anything thus far to suggest he wouldn't still be there at 16 if we wanted try try and snag 16 and 26 from Chicago in exchange for 8.

Posted by BRIGGS:

I don't know---I just do know that we will NOT be a winning team until we focus on getting bigger--it's just the way it is--they cant fantasize about having 4 Steve Nash's but until we build up the brick and mortar postions we will be fundamentally weak even with a top 3 rebounder on the team[and who knows if we lose him---gosh he's got us by the blls]

We cant have this thing where the focus is just getting guys who are finesse 3 point shooters--that is only one focus of the game. Steph Curry is a good player and he should be a pretty solid pro but we will not win games until the focus is building up the frontline.
The only guy that I like for a PG at 8 is Evans because of his size--other than that I think that you can find a PG like Teague later in the draft who can be very suitable.
If we had a C and Lee signed perhaps I would have an altered view but the reality is no C no contract for David Lee

CHICAGO -- When Knicks team president Donnie Walsh last succeeded in the lottery 21 years ago, the former Pacers president jumped to the second pick and selected 7-foot-4 Marist graduate Rik Smits, who led a Pacers renaissance.

"I remember he had to duck through the door every time he walked into my office," Walsh said. "I haven't had a player whose had to duck since."

It is why Walsh is so intrigued with Hasheem Thabeet, UConn's 7-3 junior shotblocker. Walsh interviewed Thabeet during the Chicago NBA Draft combine Wednesday and is the only prospect he views worthy enough to give up a decent asset to move up from No. 8 in the draft. The Knicks were last in shotblocking the past two seasons.

By MARC BERMAN