"Darius Morris isnt going to do much in the NBA anytime soon."

Unless the CBA is settled, after The Finals are completed, no one is doing much of anything in the NBA anytime soon.

Center notwithstanding, Darius Morris is a perfect yoot for the New York Knicks offense and defense.

AnubisADL wrote:

Killa4luv wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

NYKBocker wrote:Greg Smith has a lot of Antonio Davis in his game. This is the kid I want targeted. Need to get a couple of second round picks and pick this cat and Benson.

I dont think he lasts to the 2nd round once he gets into private workouts.

Could be. Purchase a late 1st? Either way, I want Smith and Benson on our roster in the summer league. We need redwoods for our team.

That would be a dream come true for me. I would grab Benson in the first round. Him, Jajuan Johnson or Jeremy Tyler I would grab in round 1. We need bigs. Greg Smith didn't do much in NCAA but has a great body, is athletic and big. Hes not a skilled player but id definitely give him a look in the 2nd round if we can buy a pick.

I dont want a 220lb Center. We need a big body in the middle. Amare is 240 and he cant guard centers on the full time basis. I like Greg Smith or Jeremy Tyler at 17.

So you wouldnt want a center in the mold of Camby?
I hear you, but the weight is just one aspect. Its not like he's bodying up against Zo and Pat and Hakeem every other game.

Benson and Jajuan Johnson both need to add weight no doubt about it. But they both are extremely agile and athletic, and Benson was 3rd in the NCAA in blocks, its a skill of need for us.

The more one considers the Knicks as a puzzle and does NOT consider "the best player available" as a draft strategy, Darius Morris keeps rising to the top of any thinking mans list. That is not to discount the potential contribution of Nicola (we desperately need a center) Vucevic or Too Short... I mean, Ken Faried or Trey (did someone say Channing Frye?) Thomkins... but

we need a distributor and another guard who can play defense. DEE-fense. You know how it goes.

Dee-fense...

The name of Darius Morris keeps popping up for a reason. He IS the best quality fit for the New York Knicks.

If Faried does NOT play center, what position are you suggesting for Faried in the Knicks rotation with Carmelo and Amare on the floor?

(WARNING: This is a trap question)

Inquiring minds want to know.

crzymdups wrote:I like Darius Morris quite a bit. He supposedly beat Jimmer Fredette one on one in the Knicks workout as well.

If the Knicks could buy another pick and come out of this draft with Darius Morris and Vucevic, I would do cartwheels.

I don't care how spectacular Jimmer's range is, if he cannot get his shot off against a player with a superior wingspan (who also happens to be 4 inches taller) the ball never reaches the rim.

"He has outstanding size for a point guard, standing at 6-5 with a 6-7-1/2 wingspan. Morris is very quick with an excellent first step, giving him the ability to drive to the paint and create plays. He plays an aggressive, attacking style utilizing his size and quickness effectively. Morris had the ball in his hands a tremendous amount in John Beilein's offense, and he parlayed that into a Big Ten-leading 6.7 assists per game." - "Josh Cochran, NBADraft.net

Give me Darius or give me death.

Vucevic AND Darius and the drinks are on The Answer Man.

misterearl wrote:

crzymdups wrote:I like Darius Morris quite a bit. He supposedly beat Jimmer Fredette one on one in the Knicks workout as well.

If the Knicks could buy another pick and come out of this draft with Darius Morris and Vucevic, I would do cartwheels.

I don't care how spectacular Jimmer's range is, if he cannot get his shot off against a player with a superior wingspan (who also happens to be 4 inches taller) the ball never reaches the rim.

"He has outstanding size for a point guard, standing at 6-5 with a 6-7-1/2 wingspan. Morris is very quick with an excellent first step, giving him the ability to drive to the paint and create plays. He plays an aggressive, attacking style utilizing his size and quickness effectively. Morris had the ball in his hands a tremendous amount in John Beilein's offense, and he parlayed that into a Big Ten-leading 6.7 assists per game." - "Josh Cochran, NBADraft.net

Give me Darius or give me death.

Vucevic AND Darius and the drinks are on The Answer Man.

Yeah, my thinking has been going this route over the past few days, but with a twist.

I am starting to like the idea of drafting Vucevic with the #17. There are a ton of PGs and/or scoring guards with PG potential who are going to fall to late first or possibly all the way to the second round (Jenkins, Jackson, Morris, Cole, Mack, Shumpert, Selby).

Knicks NEED to buy, steal, whatever some extra draft picks.

misterearl wrote:martin - this is a tricky draft for our beloved New York Knicks. Let us not be distracted by measurements, video clips or second hand workout quotes from reporters who were not in the gym.

It is tricky because our President is packing his bags, his protege is headed to the DLeague. The idea of buying one of the ost coveted commodities, a draft pick, in this economy is more than a notion. EVERYONE wants a cheaper, quality player. Our dilemma is that Carmelo and Amare could use a running buddy who can RUN a team... and Chauncey is 73 years old.

There is chaos in the front office and the remaining suits are jockeying for position. Decisions by committee are rarely effective. Somebody gotta make an expert call. The Knicks may only get one shot at a player who can step in and play immediately. There is no time for players with limited skills sets who need to develop other aspects of their game.

Give me the triple double or give e death!

Here is the long term thinking that I hope Donnie is still in charge of.

First the questions:

- What to do long term with Chauncy? Were his injuries a fluke or is he done? Can he be like Jason Kidd and play til 38? Can Chauncy blend his game with Melo/Amare? Is he going to move on from Knicks after season so team can target Deron/CP3 (maybe it's a done deal already like LeBron, Bosh)? Will the Knicks use his expiring midseason to shore up team in other areas?

- What to do long term at the C position? Can you really draft a C after this year considering Knicks will prob have no better than #17? Is DHoward in the picture?

- Draft for need versus upside?

For me, C and PG are the positions of (most important) need for the Knicks. You can always get a SG at low cost on the FA market; it's probably the easiest position to fill (heck, all the Knicks need there IMHO is a spot up shooter who plays defense).

Looking at the horizon, it seems to me that that PG spot is either covered or can be covered more easily than the C spot. I would have to say that I have gut feeling about guys watching the Heat get to finals and coming to their own conclusion about their teammates and chances of beating Miami.

And this is why I would lean towards Vucevic. Knicks are OK at the PG spot for at least a year. Can Vucevic play defense? Does he have the attributes to be sufficient? No one would ask him to be Ben Wallace, but he does need to hold his own. I have no idea on this, but from what I have read he is not deficient (which is of course not to say that he is good either). Can he be the Charles Oakly of Cs? Just brutish and positional?

Dude is strong and long enough. And then the Knicks would have a 3 starters who could all pull their respective defenders out to the 3 point line, and for the life of me, I don't think there is a team in the NBA that could do that. Almost unstoppable, as any guard with half a clue should be able to waltz to the paint and get to the rim or dish to a jump shooter.

Forget MDA offense, I don't care about that. But Vucevic, Amare and Melo frontline would be a nightmare IF - big if - Vucevic is a capable starter (now or eventually). Dude can catch and shoot. He is a post player, which fits Amare and Melo nicely.

This certainly would be the start of an anti-Chicago and anti-Miami team, but it would be a good one IMHO.

And if you tack on Deron or CP3 in the summer offseason, almost unstoppable on one end of the court. Team would have to grow defensively based on rebounding and positional defense.

As a second step, I would absolutely target as many late first rounders or second rounders and draft one of those other scoring PGs and hope and pray they work out.

And then I would sign Aaron Gray with MLE.

Amare and Melo can always beat their men 1-on-1, and if they never have to worry about opposing C's dropping off of their men (which would be Vucevic), their lives are easier for it.

The operative words are, "making them better."

AnubisADL wrote:Drafting for "needs" has landed the Knicks Channing Frye instead of Danny Granger and Jordan Hill instead of Brandon Jennings.

You draft BPA in the draft whether its Donatas Motiejunas or Bismack Biyombo. Nobody we draft is likely to contribute big time next year anyway.

misterearl wrote:SupremeCommander - is there something unique about Faried that convinces you that a 6'6 dude can play center in the NBA?

If Faried does NOT play center, what position are you suggesting for Faried in the Knicks rotation with Carmelo and Amare on the floor?

(WARNING: This is a trap question)

Inquiring minds want to know.