NBA Comparison: Yi Jianlian
Strengths: One of the most intriguing international prospects … At 6’11, he is not only comfortable shooting the ball from deep (with nice form and a smooth release), but he is more than capable of handling it in transition and running the fast break … He is a very active, energy type player who plays extremely hard and rarely takes plays off … A great motor to go along with good hands and feet, allows him to play a variety of positions on the floor … Shows potential to become a full time player on the perimeter, he is capable of putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket … Has the explosiveness to get by the defender and to finish above the rim in traffic … He is a good slasher and he moves extremely well without the ball, either using screens or cuts to get into scoring positions … He is a very good rebounder, showing good instincts and willingness to attack the glass … For a young player of his size, his passing ability might be the most surprising, he can find teammates with pinpoint passes and he can also do it off the dribble … Defensively, his length and athleticism allow him to block and alter many shots as well as get into the passing lanes … The experience that he is getting playing during key moments on the biggest European stage has done wonders to both his development and maturation … Not many 18 year olds are put in a position where they are expected to contribute on a nightly basis, but he has been asked exactly that and has performed…

Weaknesses: Currently he is mostly an energy player, getting the bulk of his points on hustle and broken plays … He needs to develop a go-to aspect in his scoring repertoire … Added body strength will help him out, as he currently struggles finishing around the basket when taking contact … Not a great ball handler, everything he does offesnively is 1-or-2 dribble oves ... He is also fairly uncomfortable operating on the block as bigger defenders can easily body him and get him out of position … He makes a lot of careless mistake, either with errant passes or with missed assignments on the defensive end (these are all things that should naturally improve as he gains more experience) … While his outside shot looks good, he needs to gain more consistency, part of the problem is the fact that he shoots off-balance as he tends to fade to his left when contested … 50% free throw shooter will need to work at improving his consistency from the line ...

Notes: He is under contract with Partizan until 2013, and unless an NBA team is willing to buy out his contract, he may be the right candidate to get drafted and then allowed to develop even more before he is brought over.

This is one of those spots where we can use our financial advantage, draft this guy with Denver's 2nd rounder this year, let him develop and buy him out to play with LeBron and Bosh hopefully in 2010.

If the cap goes down like they're saying then I'd bet we'll trade our pick for a 2010 pick. Using the 2nd round pick on a stashed Euro would be a good move cap wise as well.

Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by JohnWallace44:

If the cap goes down like they're saying then I'd bet we'll trade our pick for a 2010 pick. Using the 2nd round pick on a stashed Euro would be a good move cap wise as well.

No way the Knicks finish in the top 8 record wise. No 2010 pick.

Not sure what you mean.

Posted by JohnWallace44:

Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by JohnWallace44:

If the cap goes down like they're saying then I'd bet we'll trade our pick for a 2010 pick. Using the 2nd round pick on a stashed Euro would be a good move cap wise as well.

No way the Knicks finish in the top 8 record wise. No 2010 pick.

Not sure what you mean.

Our 2009 1st RD pick is conditional.

Finish with a top 8 record this year- we lose our 2009 #1, but have a #1 pick in 2010.

Finish out of the top 8 this year- we keep our 2009 #1, but lose our #1 pick in 2010.

Posted by JohnWallace44:

If the cap goes down like they're saying then I'd bet we'll trade our pick for a 2010 pick. Using the 2nd round pick on a stashed Euro would be a good move cap wise as well.

personally i'd have no problems taking a flyer on a 2nd round pick, & Euro prospects don't scare me at all... just think we have Gallo already so where would this guy fit in? seems like they have similar skillsets from the description here.

There is no way the Knicks take another soft body player who has no feel for the NBA game.

how about this guy, Ater Majok? looks as skinny as Manute Bol but he's got a fluid handle for a guy his size & can stroke it from midrange... looks to have the length to be a shotblocker too, but haven't really read up on this guy too much to know for sure... from the clips looks like he's got a little KG in his game.





[Edited by - TMS on 02-22-2009 1:10 PM]

ah, did not know that... thanks for the update.

so what do u think, does he have some KG in his game or is he a different style of player? i think if we draft a bigman we need someone who can play in the paint w/a midrange game, not a long distance perimeter shooter.

[Edited by - TMS on 02-22-2009 1:15 PM]

Looks like a skinny Finley. Is he supposed to play for UConn?

Posted by TMS:

how about this guy, Ater Majok? looks as skinny as Manute Bol but he's got a fluid handle for a guy his size & can stroke it from midrange... looks to have the length to be a shotblocker too, but haven't really read up on this guy too much to know for sure... from the clips looks like he's got a little KG in his game.





[Edited by - TMS on 02-22-2009 1:10 PM]

That 2nd video is perhaps the worst highlight video of all time. 2:30 minutes of some 6-9 guy shooting lay-ups.

Ater is pretty good. He has a lot of skills(which you can't see in that crappy 2nd video) and works hard. He will definitely have to learn how to adapt to the game here from what I've seen so far.