Posted by Allanfan20:

http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/knicks/archives/2008/05/greetings_from.html

Greetings from Orlando
By MARC BERMAN

ORLANDO – Even if the games here are meaningless – with projected late first-round and second-round picks battling it out – this understated event in Orlando is a feast for NBA writers.

The NBA Pre-Draft Camp at Disney’s Milk House Gym is a “who’s who’’ of the NBA glitterati for four days.

There’s Bobcats president Michael Jordan rushing into the gym, cigar in hand, no entourage to shield him from writers.

There’s Patrick Ewing shaking hands with everyone but the Orlando mayor as he left the gym after watching his son, Patrick Ewing Jr., compete in drills.

There’s Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak and Boston president Danny Ainge taking a break from their conference final series to watch the college talent. There's new coaching hires Rick Carlisle, Scott Skiles and Larry Brown in their first official assignments.

Brown, looking tanned and splendid in a stylish black blazer - an NBA head coach again, sat with his new, unannounced hire, Dave Hanners, looking like they belong together. Hanners has been released of his KnicksNew York Knicks ’ contract and appeared happy as a clam. It was never right Hanners, Brown’s buddy, was forced onto Isiah’s coaching staff the last two seasons.

And then there’s a bunch of still-employed Knick scouts such as Kelly Tripucka, Jack Nolan, European guru Kevin Wilson, showing up, probably wondering if they will have a job next season under new president Donnie Walsh. Walsh is not yet in town so senior VP Glen Grunwald is in charge. And unless Walsh is feeding him nonsense, Grunwald expects to be part of the front office next season, even if Walsh adds a GM.

In another sign of the Knicks’ relaxed media policy, Grunwald had no problems talking to the media. Under the old policy, the Knicks shielded Grunwald from the media, even though he was the face of the Raptors, a quotable sort in a vigorous media market for several years.

D'Antoni isn't showing, perhaps because he doesn't have a coaching staff to hang with yet.

For his part, Jordan actually conducted a rare, brief interview with me as he entered the gym, and praised fellow UNC alum, Walsh. Though Jordan is known to detest Isiah Thomas, he wouldn’t take the bait, instead predicting big things for himself and Larry.

The projected lottery picks, including Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, Brook Lopez, Kevin Love, Anthony Randolph, D.J. Augustin etc. arrive to meet the media on Thursday.

On Friday, 14 of the projected top picks will undergo physicals, fitness/ strength tests and also perform drills for NBA executives privately. That session is closed to the media.

The Knicks don’t have a second-round pick, but may pick one up along the way on Draft Night.

Even if they don’t, some players being looked these next few days may go undrafted and be available to sign for the summer league teams with a shot a getting a training-camp invite. Remember, Walsh wants to fill his roster openings with cheap, short-term contracts. They likely will let free agents Fred JonesFred Jones and Randolph Morris depart and Jerome JamesJerome James could always be bought out, unless he qualifies for a medical retirement.

--

While the NFL Scouting Combine is heavily promoted, I’ve always gotten the feeling this is an event the NBA does not want covered. They barely advertise it and kept the media tonight in a cramped room in the basement of the gym - no food, no drink. After some complaints, a staffer took water orders. NBA officials rather the newspapers cover their conference finals – which has seen dwindling attendance in print media.

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2 things. Is Dave Hanners the fat white dude? And it looks like the media is getting the Knicks treatment for this event. I also tend to wonder why they don't advertise it as much, when they should.


[Edited by - Allanfan20 on 28-05-2008 10:12 AM]

Posted by joec32033:

Posted by Allanfan20:

http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/knicks/archives/2008/05/greetings_from.html

Greetings from Orlando
By MARC BERMAN

ORLANDO – Even if the games here are meaningless – with projected late first-round and second-round picks battling it out – this understated event in Orlando is a feast for NBA writers.

The NBA Pre-Draft Camp at Disney’s Milk House Gym is a “who’s who’’ of the NBA glitterati for four days.

There’s Bobcats president Michael Jordan rushing into the gym, cigar in hand, no entourage to shield him from writers.

There’s Patrick Ewing shaking hands with everyone but the Orlando mayor as he left the gym after watching his son, Patrick Ewing Jr., compete in drills.

There’s Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak and Boston president Danny Ainge taking a break from their conference final series to watch the college talent. There's new coaching hires Rick Carlisle, Scott Skiles and Larry Brown in their first official assignments.

Brown, looking tanned and splendid in a stylish black blazer - an NBA head coach again, sat with his new, unannounced hire, Dave Hanners, looking like they belong together. Hanners has been released of his KnicksNew York Knicks ’ contract and appeared happy as a clam. It was never right Hanners, Brown’s buddy, was forced onto Isiah’s coaching staff the last two seasons.

And then there’s a bunch of still-employed Knick scouts such as Kelly Tripucka, Jack Nolan, European guru Kevin Wilson, showing up, probably wondering if they will have a job next season under new president Donnie Walsh. Walsh is not yet in town so senior VP Glen Grunwald is in charge. And unless Walsh is feeding him nonsense, Grunwald expects to be part of the front office next season, even if Walsh adds a GM.

In another sign of the Knicks’ relaxed media policy, Grunwald had no problems talking to the media. Under the old policy, the Knicks shielded Grunwald from the media, even though he was the face of the Raptors, a quotable sort in a vigorous media market for several years.

D'Antoni isn't showing, perhaps because he doesn't have a coaching staff to hang with yet.

For his part, Jordan actually conducted a rare, brief interview with me as he entered the gym, and praised fellow UNC alum, Walsh. Though Jordan is known to detest Isiah Thomas, he wouldn’t take the bait, instead predicting big things for himself and Larry.

The projected lottery picks, including Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, Brook Lopez, Kevin Love, Anthony Randolph, D.J. Augustin etc. arrive to meet the media on Thursday.

On Friday, 14 of the projected top picks will undergo physicals, fitness/ strength tests and also perform drills for NBA executives privately. That session is closed to the media.

The Knicks don’t have a second-round pick, but may pick one up along the way on Draft Night.

Even if they don’t, some players being looked these next few days may go undrafted and be available to sign for the summer league teams with a shot a getting a training-camp invite. Remember, Walsh wants to fill his roster openings with cheap, short-term contracts. They likely will let free agents Fred JonesFred Jones and Randolph Morris depart and Jerome JamesJerome James could always be bought out, unless he qualifies for a medical retirement.

--

While the NFL Scouting Combine is heavily promoted, I’ve always gotten the feeling this is an event the NBA does not want covered. They barely advertise it and kept the media tonight in a cramped room in the basement of the gym - no food, no drink. After some complaints, a staffer took water orders. NBA officials rather the newspapers cover their conference finals – which has seen dwindling attendance in print media.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


2 things. Is Dave Hanners the fat white dude? And it looks like the media is getting the Knicks treatment for this event. I also tend to wonder why they don't advertise it as much, when they should.


[Edited by - Allanfan20 on 28-05-2008 10:12 AM]

Don't be fooled by window dressing.