D'Antoni also said he was “extremely pumped up” about the potential of Wilson Chandler, the Knicks' first-round pick in 2007. “He's got a lot of skills,” D'Antoni said.

- NYT

While the majority of curiousity is focused on Danilo Gallinari, the health and development of employee number 21 in D'Antoni's match-made-in-heaven system is a storyline to watch carefully. The Mayor might decide to go big, hit the weight room and bulk up to play some 4. Or he could work on refining his ball-handling and visualize himself as the second-cousin of Magic Johnson.

Then again, the playing bond formed between interchangeable 19 and 21 year old forwards could be a beautiful thing.

rumble young men, rumble

I see Wilson Chandler as a 4. The dude was bodying up on guys last season for rebounds and points inside. He also appears as if he's already bulky enough. His arms and chest are very thick and lean.
I would be extreamly happy with a wilson Chandler/ Gallo front court......they could play both positions kinda like rashard and hedo do in orlando.....except I think our guys might be tougher.

I'm gonna be preaching this if Chandler shows improvements and Gallo proves he is as bad (not bad meaning bad but bad meaning good - run dmc) as they say he is in summer league.

Go wilson go!

Posted by EnySpree:

I see Wilson Chandler as a 4. The dude was bodying up on guys last season for rebounds and points inside. He also appears as if he's already bulky enough. His arms and chest are very thick and lean.
I would be extreamly happy with a wilson Chandler/ Gallo front court......they could play both positions kinda like rashard and hedo do in orlando.....except I think our guys might be tougher.

I'm gonna be preaching this if Chandler shows improvements and Gallo proves he is as bad (not bad meaning bad but bad meaning good - run dmc) as they say he is in summer league.

Go wilson go!

I'm with Briggs on this one (believe it or not). You need tough, long, shot-blocking or at least shot-altering PF/Cs. KG and Perkins, Big Ben and Rasheed are good examples.

Big Ben and rasheed I were both at the peak of their professional careers......Big Ben was "THE" premo defensive presence during his time with detroit. Rasheed was also at the top of his game all around. He was completely focused and totally shut his mouth and blended in to what what happening around him. He was by chance placed in an awesome situation at the perfect time.

KG was already a hall of fame lock and now completely driven after his trade to Boston. He won his first defensive player of the year award last season. Before last year when did anyone include KG as a defensive presence? He was simply a crazed lunatic this past season. Perkins is a complete retard. He wasn't even a factor in the playoffs. He was hurt. Even when he wasn't hurt he could have been the poster child for downs syndrome.

Anyway, point being man you can't just use championship examples all the time. A lot of times like I suggested above, they were very unique circumstances to their sucsess.

Yet........I agree that their needs to be some type of anchor @ the pf/c positions. Wilson isn't a major factor statistically, yet, but he does defend his man well. He blocks his man's shot well by riding his defender till the time is right. He hasn't shown to be much of a factor in help defending but then again he hasn't been asked to do that. Wilson also has shown some good rebounding ability, check his box scores late in the year.

With Donnie supposedly turning down the Clippers, maybe the Knicks have their sight on Marcus Camby. Maybe they want DeAndre Jordan?

In 3 season, if the potential is met.......could both players bring in close to or over 18pts,6-8rebs, 2-3assist, @ or around 1blk with good percentages from 3pt range and the floor?

If the Knicks could pry DeAndre could he have similiar numbers to a dalembert or camby? What if the Knicks actually do bring in Camby? What if the Knicks can find someone next season? Oh shot....what if Curry grows a pair?, lol.

Skys the limit for us is the bottom line. Here's hoping wilson and Gallo can come through for us in NY......two isiah hand picked prospects! Lol!

Posted by Panos:

Fuck the mayor.

I agree.....Mike Bllomberg has totally turned NYC into a souless monster.

Chandler is pretty solid. Some more weight training would help though as he's big and has the potential to be well defined but he's not quite there yet.

As to his skill level, again, he has the chance to be a solid bench player for us in the future. I'm not looking at him as a future Tayshaun Prince or Ron Artest mold ya know? I think that'd be unfair so for now he's just a potential rotation player for the future and in the near term just watch him play and grow into that. If more comes of it, great, if not then not.

Posted by Cookdcokehop:

Does anyone know Wilson Chandler's official measurements and combine results? Isn't he like 6'6.5? No way he plays PF

Can't find him on the list...

07 combine


...ya got me...he didn't attend?

He skipped the Orlando measurements because Isiah made him a promise. He is probably 6'6-6'7.


Chandler is going to be a good bench player.

"As to his skill level, again, he has the chance to be a solid bench player for us in the future. I'm not looking at him as a future Tayshaun Prince or Ron Artest mold ya know?"

Cos - what I find most intruguing about The Mayor is his potential to adapt to the offensive system which will be installed by D'Antoni. His potential is not measured by random or aribitrary comparisons to NBA veterans, or any personal bias. That potential is measured in a critical look at his skill-set now... and his unique and diverse skill-set as it evolves with the experience facing NBA talent.


No one, and I do mean NO ONE knows what type of learning curve Chandler will chart. By his the time he reaches 25, in his fifth season, he might inspire comparisions to Bobby Dandridge as easily as he could be working for the Boys and Girls Club. The variables are too precise and sometimes too random to forecast.

I will offer that his productivity is less a factor of opinion, and more the by-product of how hard he is is willing to work over the next three months.







[Edited by - misterearl on 07-13-2008 2:52 PM]

babyKnicks - the most frustrating aspect of Shandon Anderson's game was his creative abillity to get to the rack and predictibly blow the layup.

From the prematurity reports on Gallo, the late-season evidence of Chandler and the blue-collar determination of David Lee, Walsh has dibs on 3 likable guys (all at forward) who can operate inside the paint... and FINISH what they start. All three are unselfish and have passing skills which can be honed with reps and trust.

Don't be surprised to see NutraSystem Richardson slide to guard for his audition.