http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/thomas_050628.html

Thomas Excited About Draft Night Additions
by Tom Kertes

NEW YORK, June 28, 2005 -- “My goal going into this off-season was to add two 7-footers to the roster,” an elated Knicks President, Basketball Operations Isiah Thomas commented on the just-concluded NBA Draft 2005. “You can’t have too many big guys -- and, with Channing Frye, I think we went a long way in filling a need.”

“He’s just solid,” added Thomas. “When we talk about upside potential, we usually talk about little guys or wing guys. Big players, we generally feel they’ve somehow reached their ceilings. But Channing, he’s only scratched his surface. He can shoot, pass the ball, block shots, rebound, and defend. Plus, he gets on the line -- and he’s an 80 per cent foul shooter. As he gets around and learns this league, he’s got a chance to be a pretty special player.”

Thomas felt equally excited about 6-9 Florida forward David Lee -- the 30th selection – and tiny TNT-er Nate Robinson who was acquired in the just-completed Quentin Richardson-for-Kurt Thomas trade. “Nate, if he was 6-2, he probably would have been the second, or even the first, pick in this draft,” said Thomas. “He was the one kid we worked out who every scout just stood up and watched -- he is that exciting. He dunked with his left hand, his right hand, backwards, at 5-9. He was unbelievable. I may be a bit partial to small players. I remember the tough times we had playing against Spud Webb. Nate will be a tempo changer, he’ll give us a different look. The Garden is going to love him.”

“And David Lee, he’s another great athlete who works hard, rebounds the ball and will bring a kind of a glue to the team,” said Thomas. “He played against the toughest competition possible in the SEC night after night – and he has that top basketball mentality.”

“You have to be mature and mentally tough to play in New York because you will be knocked around a bit. These guys are all of those things.”

“We need another shot-blocker – and we need a bit more girth in the middle,” said Thomas. “Once that happens, we have a chance to be pretty decent team. After this draft, we are a more complete and balanced team now. These four new players, including Quentin, these are the types of guys I would have loved to play with. They are smart players with great basketball intellect. We are still in the rebuilding process, but I feel that with these players we are looking ahead to a bright future.”