In New York, the 6-foot-9 Lee will be part of a younger, revamped frontline that began when the Knicks took 6-11 Arizona center Channing Frye with the eighth overall pick. Lee is the first Florida player to be taken in the first round since Donnell Harvey and Mike Miller were picked in 2000 NBA draft. Miller was the fifth overall pick by the Orlando Magic and Harvey was the 22nd pick, also by the Knicks.

"I came in this draft knowing that I could end up somewhere between number 20 and number 30," Lee said. "I was sweating it out a little bit there before the end, but it ended up working out and I'm happy that I achieved my goal."

Lee and Frye, both four-year seniors, were friends throughout their college careers.

"It's going to be interesting because we're two, athletic big guys who like to get up and down the floor," Lee said. "We have some guards that like to push the ball a little bit."

A two-time All-SEC selection, Lee posted 22 double-doubles his Florida career and finished averaging a double-double in SEC play. Lee was the first and only player from the SEC to be taken in the draft in the first round.

Posted by PhilinLA:

He led the gators in FG% all 4 years. It's interesting that he's friends with Frye. Frye knows Nate pretty well from the Pac 10.

Posted by Knicksfan:

Nice to read they were friends. That will only help the chemistry. They could very well be the frontcourt of the future in NY...

Posted by Caseloads:

Posted by jaydh:

Posted by Knicksfan:

Nice to read they were friends. That will only help the chemistry. They could very well be the frontcourt of the future in NY...

it would be nice if lee was the our SF of the future, and Frye as our PF of the future.

lee said he can play SF... but what about Ariza?