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draft grades... may the lovefest start:
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fishmike
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6/29/2006  8:37 AM
http://www.realgm.com/src_twoplusthefoul/120/20060629/report_cards_from_the_2006_draft/
New York Knicks

Renaldo Balkman (#20)
Mardy Collins (#29)

After the Balkman pick, I’m surprised that there was not a violent riot at Madison Square Gardens. I always tend to give Isiah Thomas the benefit of the doubt when it comes to drafting, but this time it looks like he reached about a round higher than Balkman was projected, even though Phoenix was reportedly interested in him as well. Thomas must see something in him and we’ll have to wait until the summer leagues to see what that is.

Collins is a solid pick at 29, but not for the Knicks, who already have more combo guards than they know what to do with.

Grade: F+
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on a side note what the hell is an F+??? You fail with style?
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NEW YORK KNICKS
Round 1: Renaldo Balkman , SF, South Carolina (No. 20)
Mardy Collins, PG, Temple (No. 29)


Round 2: No picks

Analysis: From 1995 to 2004, the Knicks were the worst drafting team in the NBA, according to our John Hollinger. Isiah Thomas did a pretty good job of reversing course the last two years, but took two major steps backwards this year.


I understand why Thomas likes Renaldo Balkman -- he's the anti-Knick. He's a hard working, blue-collar athlete who scraps and fights for everything he gets. He doesn't want to shoot 20 times a game and doesn't have a 40-man entourage whispering in his ear about how great he is.

But I just don't think Balkman has the talent to warrant a first-round selection. He might have the right attitude, but I can't see him as anything more than a marginal role player in the NBA.

Given who was on the board when Thomas selected Balkman -- including Marcus Williams, Rajon Rondo and Shannon Brown -- I think this was a wasted pick.

The Knicks' second first-rounder was better -- sort of. Mardy Collins is a big combo guard who knows how to play. But his lack of athleticism and shaky jumper combined with the fact that the Knicks already have four combo guards on their roster means that he's unlikely to contribute much.

James Dolan said in a press conference this week that Isiah had a year to turn the Knicks around or he would be fired. I wonder if Isiah just moved up the timetable on his exit.



Grade: F

-Chad Ford
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
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VDesai
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6/29/2006  8:42 AM
Teams are starting Isiah with an F grade, and when he takes a player who's not a household name at 20, their pre-written pile ons are ready to go.

Would people be in an uproar of we took Collins at 20 and Balkman at 29? Collins was projected in the lottery at points this year, even after the season was over. Bottom line, if Isiah had Balkman as the highest rated player at 20, it would have been stupid for him to wait out roughly 15% of the draft (9 picks) to get him later. The Suns had too picks in between ours and if they did want him, he would've been gone.
s3231
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6/29/2006  9:17 AM
I hate repeating this stuff over...and over...but come one.

There was a very good chance Balkman would have been there at 29. You take Marcus Williams at 20 because even if he doesn't play for your team he is damn good trade bait. He was the best PG in the draft period. An excellent passer, very good decision maker, clutch shooter.

However, like I said a couple of days ago. I'm not surprised at all. I didn't expect Isiah to take a PG early and I certainly didn't see him trading up for one. Mardy can play both positions so its different. I really can't bash the Renaldo pick on its own because I like the player and I think he could be a sleeper, but a smarter GM would have came out of the draft with both Marcus and Renaldo. Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of having a GM like that.
"This is a very cautious situation that we're in. You have to be conservative in terms of using your assets and using them wisely. We're building for the future." - Zeke (I guess not protecting a first round pick is being conservative)
Solace
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6/29/2006  9:37 AM
Originally posted by fishmike:

Collins is a solid pick at 29, but not for the Knicks, who already have more combo guards than they know what to do with.
Grade: F+

This grade is way too generous. I don't get the +, unless the + is the fact that we didn't take on ANOTHER giant untradeable contract during the draft. Maybe that's what the + is for.
Wishing everyone well. I enjoyed posting here for a while, but as I matured I realized this forum isn't for me. We all evolve. Thanks for the memories everyone.
fishmike
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6/30/2006  10:25 AM
hey... we are moving up!!!
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http://www.nbadraft.net/2006draftgrades001.asp
C+
Yes the Balkman pick was a little nutty at 20, especially considering they probably could have had him at 29 and a number of quality players went between those picks. But for Isiah, who does have a good track record drafting players (his free agent deals and trades are another story), this could turn out to be a solid pick. I described Balkman as a poor man's Rodman after his play in Orlando at the predraft camp. Having played with the original Rodman, Isiah knows what that type of role player can bring to a team. The big question is whether he will show the same intensity that he showed in Orlando over his career? This season it was off and on. Knicks Chief Executive James Dolan recently laid down an ultimatum, show solid improvement next season, or Isiah is out. Whether or not Isiah is around to see Balkman become a quality pick is another story. Collins was one of the top defenders in the country and is a real ball hawk, plus he has the ball handling and passing ability that meshes perfectly with Marbury and Francis. The Knicks have a number of scorers in the backcourt, so addressing the team's need for defenders helps their grade.
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real GM:
You’ve read about the winners, here are the possible losers of NBA Draft Night 2006

New York Knicks
#20 – Renaldo Balkman
#29 – Mardy Collins

Would a list about GM mistakes be true without the inclusion of the New York Knicks and Isiah Thomas? The Knicks reached for little-known South Carolina defensive tweener. Considered a hybrid of Dennis Rodman and Ron Artest, the Knicks need Balkman to live up to the expectation and actually contribute. His averages are extremely weak, at less than 10 points per game and only six rebounds per game in a weak conference. Great hustle player who will dive for the loose balls, but when looking at the players he was picked around – he was a reach, despite what was said about Phoenix's interest.

Mardy Collins was a good pick from Isiah, but the inclusion on Balkman is too hard to ignore for the Knicks.

Best Undrafted Free Agent: Mike Gansey

Biggest Reach: Saer Sene or Renaldo Balkman

Biggest Steal: Marcus Williams

Most Lopsided Deal: Sergio Rodriguez for cash

Most Underrated Pickup: Ronnie Brewer for Jazz or Bobby Jones for Philadelphia
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Steve Kerr for Yahoo Sports:
New York Knicks: D
Isiah Thomas was not in a position of strength with two late first-round picks, and he was unable to move up. But Renaldo Balkman probably could have been had in the second round. Why not take a player with more value – Shannon Brown, Marcus Williams or Rajon Rondo, for example – and trade him? Mardy Collins from Temple is fine, but he didn't wow anyone in predraft workouts. Neither Collins or Balkman is likely to crack the rotation for New York, so what's the point of taking them? The Knicks could have done better.
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
crzymdups
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6/30/2006  10:30 AM
one of the main reasons for the low grades seems to be the idea that these kids won't play. I can pretty much guarantee everyone that these kids will play next season.

otherwise, this "analysis" is just another example of piling it on - its lazy and its easy.

[Edited by - crzymdups on 06-30-2006 10:30 AM]
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djsunyc
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6/30/2006  10:44 AM
Posted by crzymdups:

I can pretty much guarantee everyone that these kids will play next season.

how?
Nalod
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6/30/2006  10:48 AM
Grading drafts is stupid. Do it in a few years.

BUt you gotta sell papers now!

Whoa, Did I just defend Isiah? Hey, whats fair is fair.

While Isiah is not my favorite, he has far more cred than SAS or most media types for that matter.

Balkman might have been a lower round pick and Isiah might have traded down to get him and gotten somting in value, but if this is the man he wanted, lets give him a few years to pan out.

Lampe and Reezy were suppose to be steals of the draft and thus far neither has made their mark.
crzymdups
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6/30/2006  10:49 AM
Posted by djsunyc:
Posted by crzymdups:

I can pretty much guarantee everyone that these kids will play next season.

how?

because they defend and they make a lot of sense next to the players currently here. also, Brown is gone so the kids can play.

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crzymdups
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6/30/2006  11:22 AM
Peter Vecsey, who instead of giving his own knee-jerk reaction, talks to some actual scouts instead of draftniks...

http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/reign_of_error_drags_on_knicks_peter_vecsey.htm

From my draft and deal observation drek: The insufferable fans who every twelve months make fools of themselves in this showground - the ones ESPN habitually spotlights - are Stephen A. Material's regular callers and audience.

How can I knock Isiah Thomas' selection of Renaldo Balkman at No. 20 after recently singling out the 6-8 South Carolina spiraling hank of hair (and UCLA's Jordan Farmar) for their recital in Orlando's pre-draft camp? I'm also down with Mardy Collins at No. 29.

Let's face it, nobody who was available to the Knicks this late in the proceedings, including Marcus Williams, has any chance of starting. So, it makes sense Thomas' focus was on defense and role players.

Projected as a lottery pick last year, the 6-6 Temple product had a relatively mediocre senior season. Due to scouts' emphasis on lighting-quick guards, Collins' stock plummeted. Obviously, he's not without weaknesses, but in the experienced view of Jim Clibanoff, President of ClibHoops Scouting Services (subscribed to by 16 teams), a leading independent evaluator of professional prospects, who has seen Collins play roughly 18 times, accentuates the following:

"There are a lot of things he is not - not a great shooter, not too quick, not too fast, not too athletic. Even with all those negative attributes, he has great poise and savvy and his knowledge of the game is top-notch for a college player. He plays the game as if he is an extension of a coach and it often seems as if he has the demeanor of an NBA veteran. Recognizes mismatches extremely well, rarely forces anything in the flow of a game and keeps his turnovers to a minimum."
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VDesai
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6/30/2006  11:27 AM
I love that quote on Collins.
Anji
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6/30/2006  12:17 PM
Don't know if the guy is going to be great, but if he was the best player at the Orlando predraft camp, is it that crazy to think somebdoy would have threw a pick at him before 29???? No. and if Isiah felt that was the case, I trust him.
"Really, all Americans want is a cold beer, warm p***y, and some place to s**t with a door on it." - Mr. Ford
fishmike
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6/30/2006  12:23 PM
South Carolina's Renaldo Balkman could be a first-round pick if he could ever develop a jump shot. He's got great size, athleticism and energy, but he's a "garbage man," a four in a three man's body. He needs to return to South Carolina and work on his perimeter game. If he can find one, he could be an interesting prospect.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2006/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&id=2476189

Thats from Chad's Orlando day to day ramblings
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
fishmike
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6/30/2006  12:23 PM
4. Renaldo Balkman (South Carolina) -- 10.3 ppg, 9 rpg, 43.8 fg%, 60 ft% -- Similar to Amundson, Balkman came in with little acclaim and comes out with a greatly enhanced stock. Balkman helped South Carolina win the NIT this year. His foot speed and length make him a potential defensive stopper capable of defending the 2-4 positions. He also shows an excellent release on his shot despite poor FT shooting numbers. Balkman is a bigtime sleeper who could even find a spot in the late first round, and should end up a high second rounder.
http://nbadraft.net/2006orlando005.asp
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
fishmike
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6/30/2006  12:24 PM
now thats all cool... but that Orlando cap had about 4-5 guys that will have a cup of coffee in the NBA, much less be quality players
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
crzymdups
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6/30/2006  12:31 PM
Posted by Anji:

Don't know if the guy is going to be great, but if he was the best player at the Orlando predraft camp, is it that crazy to think somebdoy would have threw a pick at him before 29???? No. and if Isiah felt that was the case, I trust him.

David Lee and Luther Head both jumped up to the first round based on solid pre-draft camp showings, both were named to Draft Express's first team of the pre-draft camp. Balkman was also named to the first team of the pre-draft camp by Draft Express. As were Taj Gray, Justin Williams, Kenny Adeleke. Justin Williams just signed with the Kings. I'd like to try to sign Taj Gray to the summer league team.
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fishmike
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6/30/2006  12:35 PM
Renaldo Balkman registered a 7'1" wingspan 9.1% greater than his 6'5.25" height.

FYI: He's 6'6 in shoes
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
crzymdups
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6/30/2006  12:35 PM
Posted by fishmike:

now thats all cool... but that Orlando cap had about 4-5 guys that will have a cup of coffee in the NBA, much less be quality players

the first round of this nba draft will have at least 10 guys who won't play past their rookie contracts.

Frank Williams was a highly touted college PG who a lot of Knicks fans were ecstatic about drafting in 2002. He's out of the league now with many of the same problems Marcus has been rumored to have (conditioning, attitude) - Frank looked great when his head was right, but he wasn't in shape to be an NBA player at the point. Maybe Marcus will succeed, but I think a lot of that will have to do with environment and being Jason Kidd's understudy is probably the best environment you could ask for. Putting him in a pressure packed crap situation at MSG where he would be behind Francis/Marbury/Crawford on the depth chart would probably be bad for him and a waste for us.
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crzymdups
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6/30/2006  12:36 PM
Posted by fishmike:

Renaldo Balkman registered a 7'1" wingspan 9.1% greater than his 6'5.25" height.

FYI: He's 6'6 in shoes

fyi: he's 6'6.5" in shoes. that's rounded up to 6'7" in the nba. this is a fact. can we stop trying to act like it's not?
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Anji
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6/30/2006  12:39 PM
Posted by crzymdups:


David Lee and Luther Head both jumped up to the first round based on solid pre-draft camp showings, both were named to Draft Express's first team of the pre-draft camp. Balkman was also named to the first team of the pre-draft camp by Draft Express. As were Taj Gray, Justin Williams, Kenny Adeleke. Justin Williams just signed with the Kings. I'd like to try to sign Taj Gray to the summer league team.

Damn. I was hoping we could invite Justin williams to the Summer league team.
"Really, all Americans want is a cold beer, warm p***y, and some place to s**t with a door on it." - Mr. Ford
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draft grades... may the lovefest start:
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