Just curious about your thoughts on the early exits of highly touted projected picks...esp, the sexier picks a la Beasley, Gordon, Mayo

Eric Gordon: shooting 35%; seems a little chubby and quite undersized

OJ Mayo: very talented but a combo guard with criticism about shot selection and decision making, but he is NBA-ready

Michael Beasley: most talented and prolific college player; his team was not ranked throughout the season; attitude a little "Z-Bo-like"; IMO, the ONLY pick with superstar potential

Roy Hibbert: very disappointing tourney and seems very immobile and sometimes looks lost

Jerred Bayless: Monta Ellis part II, which is not a bad thing, but a combo guard plus his team was kind of up and down all year (Budinger was disappointing this season which hurt them as well)

I am not saying that the tourney means everything, but if these players are so good, why did they not help their teams advance? Of course, Durant last year only made it to the second round, but he I guess is the equivalent of Beasley - both had the most prolific numbers all year long.

My FAVE five as of now:

1. Beasley: as said, the only player I can see having an impact right away
2. Derrick Rose: he is what the Knicks need in terms of PG prosepcts
3. Brook Lopez: soft to some, but reminds me of Gasol (who is skilled but soft to many)
4. DJ Augustin: small but talent and skill set makes him the second best PG right now (I like Darren Collison too)
5. Kevin Love: smart player, plays the game the right way, like his toughness

I am no expert on college bball (like Briggs), but what are your thoughts on the high picks, the "Sexier" ones, being eliminated early?

From all the players you mentioned

Gordon- really close to Ben Gordon in terms of type of prospect. Inconsistent shooting and lack of size will keep him from ever being a real star. With the way he ended the year, I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled out since his stock slipped so much.

Mayo- He is a 2 guard. I'll repeat it to the death. Make him a 2 guard strictly and he will be all right. He can really score, and he's big enough to play 2.

Beasley- Better prospect than Durant IMO. Complete offensive player with good length that is improving on D. Will be extremely difficult for any NBA player to guard and has been an efficient shooter from the field.

Hibbert- He's just a guy. Not any outstanding skills at center and not very fleet of foot. He can start in the NBA and be solid like a Jamaal Magloire, but not a guy you should expect oo much out of.

Bayless: Extremely fast and quick. Can really fill it up. But he looks for his shot, and has to play PG at his size. Is he another Arenas type or will he be just another failure combo G?

Brook Lopez- Great touch. Reminds me of Brad Miller. That turnaround gamewinner was quite a shot. Love the way he shot that in one motion. Very good offensive potential at center. Worthy of a top 5 pick.

DJ Augustin- Built like TJ Ford, which works against him, but is a better scorer and can dictate the pace. 19 pts and 6 asts are huge numbers in the college game.

Kevin Love- I love the way this guy can play with his back to the basket and facing up. He's a smart player, does all the right things on the court, but bottom line is he's 6'8- 6'9, not in the greatest of shape and is not the quickest mover laterally. Like ZBo he will have a tough time on defense in the NBA against the mobile PF's. One thing I like about Hansborough is he basically kept working on getting into peak physical shape. KLove will have to do the same, but maybe is an even more versatile offensive player. And man he has icewater in his veins as you saw in the game this weekend. His two turnaround J's were stone cold. Can he hold up at Center? IMO that might be the best fit for him. He is tough and will hold his own against the post and challenge shots.

Collison- controlled PG that can really lock down and D, get in the lane and play within the offense with talented teammates surrounding him. Very consistent, steady player and a good leader. Has many of the things you are looking for in a PG. Might never rack up the assists in a huge way, but knows how to run the team and stroke the 3 with regularity. I'd love to get this guy on the Knicks and he's been the one player I've consistently mentioned all season as a guy that I think the Knicks could realistically get and really fit in. Turns out we were a lot worse than expeceted and might overshoot where he'll be picked- but that's not to say I'd be upset if we took him cause I want him on the team.

Tyler Hansborough- Is he Carlos Boozer part 2? It sure seems he has all the same knocks on him (plays close to the basket, isn't a great athlete, no vert etc.). But don't underestimate a few things- He's an efficient shooter, gets great position, and is the best player on an immensely talented team and has been so for a while. He has continually worked to get himself in shape, is as strong as anyone down low and keeps improving. This is the kind of guy that could be underrated and steadily improve into a star level player the way that Boozer did. It'll be very interesting to see where he falls in the draft.

EDIT: It occurs to me I missed Derrick Rose.

Rose- A natural PG. Don't let the stats decieve you- there are varying reasons why assists numbers can be a bit lower on the college level. Rose is the total package at PG. An instinctual floor general, with rare court vision, and ideal size and athleticsm. Has the superstar swagger- knows he can do anything on the court and plays like it. A guy who can rack up triple doubles on the NBA level. Definitely the best PG prospect in this draft...could have a Deron Williams type impact.

[Edited by - vdesai on 24-03-2008 10:49 AM]

The tournament doesn't usually hurt guys who were ranked top five regardless of well or poorly they play in a one game setting.

I remember when Grant Hill absolutley owned Glenn Robinson in the elite 8 game and still, Robinson was picked before Hill. Mayo, Beasely, Rose etc. will still be picked top 10 regardless.

The tournament does breed new stars and sleepers however. Stephen Curry is now on the radar. Brook Lopez has increased his value (even though he basically dominated 6'7 defenders a la Channing Frye when he roasted a small Illinois front line in the elite 8).

I think teams need to be careful of bumping a guys value based on a good tourney run. Fennis Dembo of Wyoming back in the late 80's had two tremendous games in the tourney and based that was drafted in the first round. He never amounted to anything.

Besides, the individual workouts will determine who gets drafted where.

Posted by bigbeast:

The tournament doesn't usually hurt guys who were ranked top five regardless of well or poorly they play in a one game setting.

I remember when Grant Hill absolutley owned Glenn Robinson in the elite 8 game and still, Robinson was picked before Hill. Mayo, Beasely, Rose etc. will still be picked top 10 regardless.

The tournament does breed new stars and sleepers however. Stephen Curry is now on the radar. Brook Lopez has increased his value (even though he basically dominated 6'7 defenders a la Channing Frye when he roasted a small Illinois front line in the elite 8).

I think teams need to be careful of bumping a guys value based on a good tourney run. Fennis Dembo of Wyoming back in the late 80's had two tremendous games in the tourney and based that was drafted in the first round. He never amounted to anything.

Besides, the individual workouts will determine who gets drafted where.

There's a difference between being in the Top 5 vs being picks 6-10. As the tourney progresses players like Lopez, Love, CDR, Hughes, are all making strong cases to be definite Top 10 picks if not Top 5. I don't think Rose is as much a lock to go 2nd as people think he will be. So yes being bounced early definitely May affect the early projected Top 5 picks.

[Edited by - TrueBlue on 03-24-2008 10:25 AM]

Posted by rain:

Bayless is more physically gifted than any guard coming out in awhile.

Gordon has the body of a point guard.. but a scorer's mentality. If he was point guard .. he'd be in the Rose area.

Lopez, who knows? A little slow to succeed at the next level? Or another big fundamental?
He's raw now.. and his skill set may or may not translate.

Rose is the class of this draft. A protype.. a more athletic Deron Williams? He's the most complete player.

OJ Mayo.. trying to be more of a point. Legit talent though.. further off than Rose (maybe because DR's team is better?). He might be the fall-back if Rose fails. He has come a long way in the course of the season.

D. Collison. Maturing Physically.. great fit. May be a bit small .. I'm not buying the 6'1 thing.. he looks more the 5'11.. type. But! Great defender, superb playmaker..

Bottom line.. between Rose, Mayo, and Collison.. we should get a point guard in this years draft. Ideally we get another pick for someone on our roster along with a salary dump.

I don't see a guard other than Rose that I would take in the top 5. The three bigs---Lopez Mcgee and Randolph have more value for the Knicks LONG TERM in terms of two way play than any guard other than Rose. Collison is a good defender but am I going to take a 5-11 160 PG with pick 4? Bayless is very skilled-but how is a 6-3 shooting guard going to help me stop teams from scoring? As the game gets faster and the need for big men to have multi skills and speed becomes more apparent--how can we dismiss these players for a guard? IF Michael Westbrook was 210 pounds a couple of inches taller and had a jumpshot--then I would agree that in combination with his elite athletic ability THEN he would be worthy.
Unless I get pick 1 or 2--and I would bring both guys in for closer looks to really see what I was spending 1 on--because with 1 there is a character pedigree you must pass imho--a winner's mentality--which is why I would not --at this point dismiss taking Rose 1 although he is not as talented as Beasley. Right now--with everything I have seen I think Bealsey is 1A and Rose 1B until I see something in their character that made me change position.

BUT if these guys are not available--I would go after 1 of Lopez or Mcgee and see if I can trade Lee with a bad contract for a high enough pick to get Randolph as well. This is going to be a work in progress--we do not have the foundation to change like the Celtics in on year--we need to rebuild the team under what are contracts that for the most part arent going anywhere and will comprise the Knicks again next year. Two NEW bigs or picks 1 or 2[and possibly a new big] As much as I like Lee I think I can change the team for the better in the long term IF the right scenario is there.