Posted by BRIGGS:

Posted by Allanfan20:

[quote]Posted by BRIGGS:

Another point is if Dantoni even wants a 7 foot player--he may not. Im just hoping they take a serious look at him. I think he has tremendous potential for a 7 footer. If there is a safe pick at 6 it's Westbrook. He can play 2 ways and both guard positions. I think you need a 7 footer to win big but Im not making the call. What I outlined were two frontcourt players and two backcourt players who get up and down with versatile offensive skills athletic ability explosion WITH very solid defensive skills. Westbrook whipped OJ mayo hard in the game that was on ABC this year pretty darn hard--he suffocated Mayo

You think Westbrook might be a mini Bowen? He's a disruptive defender from the guard position with excellent speed and salhing ability--he literally can float to the hole at will.


I mean I think this is an excellent plan for a solid partial rebuild this year

Pick 6 either Mcgee or Randolph--whateven player they feel is right for them--take the one they prefer.

Trade David Lee for Russell Westbrook---saves paying Lee

Buy a pick late in the first round for Giddens

All sound points. I totally agree with maximizing the rebuild here. Why stop at just one pick at #6? If all else fails, draft at #6, trade a Curry or Lee package for an additional pick and then attempt to purchase yet another. If we went this route, the chances of getting 3 legit contributors would be extremely high - this draft is that deep.

However, I'd like more than a legit contributor. I want a star. We need a star. And I desperately want one that the organization selects in the draft. I don't want someone else's Carmelo Anthony or Baron Davis. I just don't want to go that route. On a team that really needs to be rebuilt I see no reason to deal for someone else's 30-year-old no matter how talented they are. This is a critical juncture for our team and I just want to finally rebuild this thing the right way - and that's with youth. Let's get this right this time. This will always be my preference when one of my teams needs to be rebuilt. Huge Yankees fan and although the team's off to a rough start this year THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING!
PITCHING: Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes (though I never thought he came close to the type of hype he came with, he can still help us in the middle of the rotation eventually), same for Ian Kennedy--with much more on the way with high-ceiling impact pitchers like Dellin Betances, Humberto Sanchez, Christian Garcia and Andrew Brackman.
POSITION PLAYERS: Power-hitting Juan Miranda at 1B. Power-hitting Jesus Montero/defensive specialist Francisco Cervelli behind the plate. Spark plug leadoff man Brett Gardner, 5-tool Austin Jackson, future 3-hitter Jose Tabata in the OF....the list goes on and on....
Brian Cashman and his predecessors before him deserve a lot of credit for being patient and understanding that if you want to establish success (Jeter, Posada, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte) and continue that success for an extended period of time it starts and ends with developing young players.

I want the same philosophy implemented with the Knicks - Right now I want a young stud that WE draft and groom into stardom ourselves. With little or no chance to deal for Rose or Beasley, Jerryd Bayless is still my guy. Along with Rose and Beasley, Bayless has the best chance out of anyone else in this draft of turning into a star in this league imo - maybe even more than Rose - I think he's going to be that good. World-class scorer (he'll likely go for 20/game his rookie year unless he gets stuck behind Marbury and his contract for a season) and all the tools, desire and self-disipline to contribute mightily right away and even get better in all other areas - defense, running a team... So before anything else, I look into exploring the option of moving up in this draft - to #3 or #4 - to see if we can get this kid. We get Bayless and basketball is officially back in NYC!!!! I know we don't have unlimited assests here but we have a few where I can see us moving up in the draft and also acquiring an additional pick, possibly at #8 or #12.

A. The 'move up' scenarios to get Jerryd Bayless:

(1) Curry/pick #6 to Minnesota for Antoine Walker and #3.
(2) three-team deal (Knicks/Memphis/Seattle)*:
-pick #6, Curry, Nate to Memphis (prefer no Nate but if it meant securing Bayless I'd do it)
-Mike Conley Jr., Hakim Warrick, Jason Collins (exp. contract) to Seattle
-pick #4, Earl Watson, Donyell Marshall (exp. contract) to the Knicks
* this deal made with the understanding between the 3 teams that the Knicks get Bayless

B. The 'Lee for an additional 1st-rounder' scenarios to get JaVale McGee:

(1) Lee, Malik Rose (exp. contract) to Milwaukee for Bobby Simmons and pick #8
(2) Lee, Balkman, re-signed Randolph Morris to Sacramento for Shelden Williams and pick #12

C. Purchase an additional low 1st round/high 2nd round pick:
-for an athletic 2-guard like JR Giddens, a shooter like Shan Foster or a bruiser like Joey Dorsey

D. Look into using the mid-level exception:
-JR Smith or Gerald Green would be nice choices

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Oh and since this is a JaVale McGee post here's a nice little article on McGee I found over at draftexpress.net that some might find interesting. After reading this, you really get a feel for his wide array of skills for a 7 footer and he and his agent's commitment to taking the draft and his future super-seriously. "THE BIG SECRET" --- I like it. Pretty impressive. Take a look.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/JaVale-McGee-Workout-The-Big-Secret-2883/