Summer League is simply a preview on the heels of the draft. It is not, by any means, a fixed barometer of a players NBA career.

It is a starting point

Totally agree. Just leave this kid alone and let him get stronger and continue to develop his already above average, workable skillset. Forget the MDA comments comparing him to A'mare. In hindsight, they were stupid things to say by MDA & Walsh but I guess they were just eagar to justify their pick. From here on in, everyone should just let Jordan Hill be Jordan Hill and that's it. He didn't dominate summer league like everyone wanted to see but I think he made some nice progress. I laugh my balls off reading some of the comments on here where people are saying he's raw, lazy and a project. WTF? I mean am I watching the same player as some of you?? There's an awful lot to build on and be thankful for ALREADY in terms of evaluating this kid's game for Knick fans - very good height/legit NBA PF height (we didn't get some undersized PF here), very good quickness, effective jumpshot with range and good form, awesome turnaround move in the post with great touch and coordination, hooks in close with both hands, relentless hustle, well above average rebounding ability, ALONG WITH solid potential to be both an adequate shot-blocker and a reliable 80+% FT shooter with the ability to get to the line a lot once he figures some things out... Project? Stiff? Lazy? Come on folks. I mean Jackie Butler was a project. Are you saying he's another Jackie Butler??? Butler didn't possess anything even close to the skills this kid has. ALREADY HAS I should say. And those skills will only continue to get better and better as we move along. Stop looking at this guy as some kind of glass-half-empty type of player. I think we got a good player here. Be thankful and move on. And show a little patience with the guy will ya?

[Edited by - finestrg on 07-19-2009 7:03 PM]

Finestrg - very well said. The rush to judgement is just out of control. I want to know what person/ player was ever judged, and labelled, for what they would achieve in their chosen profession by their performance during orientation?

I could less if he dominated Summer League. The only thing that matters is that Hill shows up to Greenburgh in shape and ready to learn in the team context of what Mike D'Antoni needs him to contribute. The Knicks frontcourt has had glaring issues with height, mobility and tenacity... on both ends of the court.

No one knows how Jordan Hill will develop. Saddling him with arbitrary comparisons, silly letter grades and hand wringing over his baby steps is just immature and impatient.

Changing, Reshaping and Upgrading The Knicks Frontcourt Is Cool With The Answer Man

Q. eVil - ... projected top 3 all year, drops to 8, surprises many with a solid rookie campaign?

A. People are quite possibly missing the beauty of Jordan Hill. As the young man continues to refine his game it is not his rookie campaign that will be the accurate measure of his long term value to the Knicks. Year one is for learning what hotels have the best beds and that 100 games is a marathon.

Q. eVil - can hill be this year's lopez?

A. No. But if he jam back offensive rebounds in heavy traffic as he did this afternoon, he CAN be someone to cheer for with reckless abandon.

"the guy has almost identical physical talent to amare." what do you mean, they are the same height and weight? amare, when he entered the league, was in a class of his own in terms of athleticism and size. after reconstructive surgery, he's still a great athlete. i haven't seen ANYthing that makes me thing jordan hill is in the class of amare in terms of athleticism. yeah, he's the same height though.

hill has been unimpressive, i don't think he'll be a game changer. i don't think he'll be an allstar. they should've traded up or rolled the dice on brandon jennings, a perfect fit for d'antoni. hill seems like a "play it safe" lotto pick. maybe he'll give us 12/8 in a few years, yay.

"hill has been unimpressive, i don't think he'll be a game changer. i don't think he'll be an allstar. they should've traded up or rolled the dice on brandon jennings, a perfect fit for d'antoni. hill seems like a "play it safe" lotto pick. maybe he'll give us 12/8 in a few years, yay."

You are using your subjective opinion as if it is far more important what it really is. Hill is playing a new system, and with new team mates. How he plays in summer league isn't enough information to allow you to make a long term decision on how Hill is. Then there is the "should have taken Brandon Jennings" line. I liked Brandon Jennings also but frankly that too is another subjective opinion.

Why not wait and see what develops? Instead of jumping to the wrong conclusion, why not wait for more data? Isn't it possible that Hill may surprise you and his length and athleticism can turn him into an excellent asset for the Knicks?

And what does he want to be, Earl?

Tonight he was Zach Randolph - put up the stats to anyone who reads a box score it looked great. Yet got SHAT on by the opponent and lost the game.

What about his Eddy Curry like attitude? To paraphrase... "I sucked because I'm out of shape." Well, why are you out of shape? Got paid and you're done?

This guy was billed to be as energetic as Balkman and as refined as Amare. Uh... well... no. Not even close.

So what gives here? Over rated? Over scouted? If so, that's no consolation...we picked him to be an integral part of the future and he's showing to be no more than a journeyman backup PF quality player.

Not impressed, not enthused, not happy here.

Know what? This dude has to put it into hyperdrive *adjusts glasses (lol)* to get me on any bandwagon here.

I see a guy that makes me say we might as well extend Harrington or give Lee his money. This guy isn't even CLOSE to any replacement for those two. Not even close in any way, shape, or form.

Bleh....

Again, like before, when Lee>Frye... Douglas>Hill.

I guess history IS due to repeat itself time and again no matter who is at the helm.

And, again, as I say, look at our situation. We can't afford to say, "Aw, well, jeez, Knicks picked Hill, we're Knick fans, let's give the kid a chance to develop and all will be well."

Well, we can't because it won't. Given the cap we got a chance at ONE max FA and another fringe FA. Given that our kids HAVE to be something special for our team to be something special.

You look at #8 pick Hill and you NEED something special there! Not a player destined to be worse than anyone we already have at his position!

Therein lies the current anger.

The Answer Man Feels Your Frustration, Angst and Passion

Q. cosmic - Could we not have just traded this pick to some dumb team?

A. Nope.

... take heart. Jordan Hill is just one piece of the puzzle. He hasn't even slipped an authentic New York Knicks jersey over his dreads for the first time.

Q. cosmic - Getting something out of it such as a better player at a lower pick - or - dropping Jeffries in the process...you know, something like that?

A. A better pick at a lower pick was had with Toney Douglas

Summer League is no time to be jumping from the ledges of tall buildings.

Stay tuned for he David Lee sign and trade (or the return of David Lee to provide frontcourt depth) will continue to flesh out the 4/5 spots. That semi-blockbuster deal will also siphon off Jeffries minutes at center.

Stay tuned

So if there is disappointment....what were you expecting Cosmic???

GK i agree with you on the draft. If you were at a party and there was one hot girl then 29 fat girls would you still take a fat girl home because it was the BPOA available. Hill is not a number 8 player in the draft they should have traded it away to get more player. Did Hill have any assists during summer league. I think he will be a decent player but not lottery pick worthy.