Posted by Solace:

Doing so would be an admission by Isiah that he messed up that draft pick. Isiah has never admitted he was wrong and won't start now. He will need at least another season or two before making a move. By then he will be able to downplay it, but this is one of the problems of having a GM with motives. This is the same way (we think) Layden tied Don Chaney's hands, when a few years back Ward and KT were playing great as starters putting up career high #s, and suddenly they were moved to the bench in favor of an 80% McKnee and Howard Eisley. When your GM controls how many minutes guys get, this is not a good thing, because it gets politics involved. Isiah is the worst example of this since sometimes it seems he's pushing his own agenda, more than being concerned about putting the best players or most balanced team on the floor.

it really sucks. other teams bring players off the bench and it's seen as good coaching (i think i read they did this with villanueva, interestingly enough- fellow 2006 ROY contender). it's not a bad thing to manage a young player like that.

Frankly i think the picks were subpar in last years draft in all honesty.....DLee aside

Granger is going to be a stud and is already, Greene will be better down the road than Frye, and Bynum would have been better long term than Eddy Curry, I just think the kid has a nice feel for the game still has four years to match currys progress. He is already a better defender, passer and shot blocker....May even looks better than frye

And there were a ton of better options than Nate if you already had a combo guard you didn't need another one, although i think Nate would have been a nice pick for a team that needed that scoring spark....Ellis was taken at 40 everyone gets lucky but still, Luther head a bigger defender that hits the outside shot, Petro would have been a decent gamble, but if nate plays the way he did last night he gives you a little extra so i won't kill him....


Round 1: Channing Frye, C, Arizona (No. 8)

Round 1: Nate Robinson, PG, Washington (No. 21, from Chicago via Phoenix)

Round 1: David Lee, PF, Florida (No. 30, from Phoenix via San Antonio)

Analysis: The Knicks have been the worst drafting team in the NBA over the last decade, according to our John Hollinger.

Isiah Thomas did a good job of reversing course on Tuesday. He may have taken Frye a bit high, but you can't blame him. The Knicks needed size and Frye was clearly the best center on the board at No. 8.

I really like the Robinson pick. He's an electric player who will, if nothing else, keep Knicks fans interested next year.

Lee was a safe pick at the end of the first round, though I think Isiah could have afforded to take a risk at No. 30 with a high school player like Andray Blatche.

Overall, it was a solid performance for the Knicks. And thats from Chad Ford

Posted by TMS:

what i don't get is why Isiah would want to keep a guy like D Lee & Balkman back when he was the guy who brought those guys here too... how would sitting Frye down in favor of D Lee make himself look bad when he was responsible for drafting both of them? if anything you figure it enhances his reputation for finding good young talent because it's becoming widely known that D Lee was the sleeper steal of the draft that year... if he would give Balkman more playing time i think he could challenge to be the same for last year.

I understand your logic, but I think Isiah's feeling on draft night is that drafting Channing Frye was going to be the steal of the draft. He looks to be wrong on that one and I don't think he wants to admit it. It's the only reasoning you can find for not starting Lee.

Posted by Solace:

Posted by TMS:

what i don't get is why Isiah would want to keep a guy like D Lee & Balkman back when he was the guy who brought those guys here too... how would sitting Frye down in favor of D Lee make himself look bad when he was responsible for drafting both of them? if anything you figure it enhances his reputation for finding good young talent because it's becoming widely known that D Lee was the sleeper steal of the draft that year... if he would give Balkman more playing time i think he could challenge to be the same for last year.

I understand your logic, but I think Isiah's feeling on draft night is that drafting Channing Frye was going to be the steal of the draft. He looks to be wrong on that one and I don't think he wants to admit it. It's the only reasoning you can find for not starting Lee.

i really can't fathom his logic behind it... it's 1 of the mysteries of the known universe.

I remember Eisley started over Ward because Ward was good starting or off the bench. While Eisley was average starter but HORRIBLE off the bench.

So in order to try and balance things out they had to start Eisley and bring Ward off the bench.

As for Frye, If this was the case then isn't starting him and Frye playing this poorly making Isiah look worse rather than better? If he put him on the bench and he played better off the bench. While Lee continued to play well. Wouldn't Isiah look better as a gm/coach?

Same with Jefferies. If he is trying to justifiy the signing how is he doing so when he is obviously struggling. Its only making him look worse. I don't get how he justifies the signing by starting him. If he came off the bench and he played better in a lesser role. Then I don't it would look as bad it does now.

Anyone who dislikes him is going to look at it that way reguardless.

And of course im assuming more success with the changes than what we have currently been seeing. If we were going to be just as bad if Lee starts or Frye starts. Or if Balkman plays over Jefferies or not. Then why are we complaining about it?

Frye is a sophomore.

They all don't develop instantly.

Posted by MS:

Develop?

Toughness, Defense and Balls are not really things you develop. Neither is athletcism. Frye can only work on his defense he will never be a killer that will rise to the challenge you can see it in his game.

I really disagree with this toughness talk. Frye seems to have a shy quiet demeanor, but just because someone its not an in your face type, does not mean they are not tough or cannot be a champion. I think you guys are making too many generalizations IMHO. Frye has hit some big shots for us this year (overtime in the Pistons game, and one other 4th quarter shot that I cannot remember the team). I have seem him fight and push in games to get rebounds and putbacks. He needs to get stronger and more comfortable with what he is doing on the court, but I have not seen anything to suggest to me that he absolutely cannot become a solid tough minded player. As Misterearl said, not everyone develops in 1 or 2 years. Some players take 5 or 6 years until they start to reach their potential. For instance, Steve Nash was nowhere near as good as he is now when he came into the league. He did not start to blossom until his 5th or 6th year in the league. Yet, he has turned himself into the best PG in the NBA (and Nash also cannot play defense). I am not saying Frye will become a superstar, but I think it is too soon to be making definitive judgments as to what type of player he can become.