I totally agree with some guys around here that we're better but still missing some key pieces, specifically:
(1) a bigtime perimeter threat - someone much more consistent than Jamal or Q
(2) a beast of a bigman and/or an intiminating, shotblocking presence - Frye'll probably get more blocks with more mins., as will Curry, but let's face facts, they're not bigtime shotblockers.

Listen, I now 100% support Zeke and his pick of Balkman. WE'RE ALL GONNA LOVE THIS KID BALKMAN. I can tell already. I love what he brings to the table. A lot of people are gonna be proved wrong including me. But truth be told, I watch more than my share of NCAA ball and, like Greg Anthony, I never heard of the kid either and was very critical of the move at the time. I think Zeke saw his position in the draft for what it was (no real superstars that fit what he was looking for, yes including Marcus Williams) and he went strictly for defense, chemistry and role players and you know what, this team desperately needed role players. Probably more than Marcus Williams. If you're keeping Steph and are committed to Nate Robinson, together with Steve Francis who's not going anywhere btw, Marcus Williams doesn't fit here at all. And between the 19-20 picks in that 2 mins. Isiah had to decide he stuck with his plan. I probably would've taken Marcus Williams when he slipped and figured it out later but it wouldn't be as easy to just package him in some eventual deal as everyone thinks. I mean 19 NBA teams passed on him when they could've got him for nothing and they didn't. That's gotta say something.

Again, I support the team moving forward and I support the moves that were made. The roster still needs tinkering but with the pieces he's added it's now a team that's much more balanced and a team you can at least get behind and root for for Christ's sake. Good for Zeke. He deserves praise and some vindication here. No question. But even with the added defense and chemistry we still have big holes and still need the components we're all talking about. No way around it. So my big question is this - are the Knicks better now with the role players in place (Balkman, Collins) or would we have been better if we did the following:
(1) 20th pick - Drafted Maurice Ager (excellent shooter, a Ray Allen-lite type?)
(2) 29th pick - Drafted Alexander Johnson (I know he went deep in the 2nd round but is he a Kenyon Martin-lite? With a few more pounds could he be the beast of a big man we need next to Curry?)
(3) Instead of bringing in guys like Kenny Adeleke, Paul Miller, Elton Brown etc. for summer ball and preseason, say we brought in Justin Williams from Wyoming. The kid's a shotblocking machine and a pretty good rebounder. I think he will make Sacramento's 15-man roster to start the season, even with Maurice Taylor now in the mix.

With the friggin' payroll mess we have this would've been the best way to fill these needs and get as close to the real deal as possible without the added payroll, headaches and injuries that acquiring vets past their prime would bring.

Ager/Alexander Johnson or Balkman/Collins? Is Ager a better shooter than Crawford or Richardson? I think he is but with their youth coupled with our big financial commitment to Craw. and Q do you think Ager even plays if he came here? Is Isiah committed to Jamal and Q as our top perimeter threats sink or swim? Was the Collins pick at 29 a complete waste? Would Maurice Ager/Balkman been a better draft? Is Alex Johnson closer to K-Mart or Othella Harrington and would he eventually be better than David Lee? Would Justin Williams have fit in here and been a nicer last big off the bench than a Paul Miller? How 'bout we invited Matt Walsh to camp instead of the Nets? Was it me or did the kid look excellent in his limited time against us the other night? Lets get a discussion going here. Rewind the clock, what would you guys have done differently back on draft night and what undrafted free agents would you guys have invited and given a shot?



[Edited by - finestrg on 10-19-2006 1:08 PM]

Matt Walsh looked really good against the knicks. He would fit the knicks style of play easy. He is a ball mover and that's what the knicks are trying to do. I wouldn't mind taking him. His jumpshot is nice too.

If M williams will perform as Wade or Paul IT will be remembered like biggest dumb person ever worked in NY
Hi is overreacting because he can see that this can be the case.
But he is lucky - maybe Williams with brake his leg or will kill somebody.

Posted by Masterplan:

eventually we need a 6'11+ athletic guy to do nothing but swat shots for 10-15 mpg. i'm very surprised we haven't picked up anyone like that in the last few years (JJ doesn't count). some guys like that go undrafted and get camp invites. we should at least take a low risk look at someone like that to try to fill a need.

balkman is one of my favorite knicks already.

i suspect there has to be some guys who fit that bill playing in the NBDL... a Chris Anderson type player w/limited offensive skills but supreme athleticism & shotblocking ability... hopefully Isiah picks 1 of these guys up during the season on a 10 day contract trial & sees what he's got.