Knicks owner James Dolan never spent $1.5 million so quietly.
It was past midnight, after Phil Jackson had made his first two draft picks as team president last June 26, having already taken Cleanthony Early at No. 34 and Thanasis Antetokounmpo at 51.
Suddenly came the announcement the Pacers had traded their only pick of the draft — at 57 — to the Knicks for cash considerations. The Knicks selected 6-foot-10 Louis Labeyrie of France.

Who? What? Where?

There’s still some mystery about this French “stash’’ pick, but it is San Antonio-esque — a tactic coach Gregg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford have pulled off with championship success for the Spurs, who visit the Garden Tuesday night.
Jackson has yet to comment publicly on Labeyrie, but The Post has learned the sum of the transaction, according to an NBA source, was $1.5 million.

The Knicks will only say they hope to see Labeyrie play for their summer-league team in Las Vegas in July. His agent, Bouna Ndiaye, told The Post Monday night “It’s 100 percent definite he will.’’ The $1.5 million would seem a high sum for the 57th pick. However, not when you consider in 2009, the Knicks gave Jackson’s Lakers $3 million to acquire Toney Douglas — who was due a three-year guaranteed contract — with the last pick in the first round.

The 23-year-old Labeyrie has spent this season playing off the bench for Paris Levallois of the French League.
During their stop in Utah on the Knicks’ recent trip, young 7-2 Frenchman shotblocking center Rudy Gobert, who is emerging as a stud, spoke glowingly and excitedly about Labeyrie in a quick interview with The Post.

Gobert shares the same agent as Labeyrie, and the two played together on the French 20-and-under national team.
“He wants to play in the NBA and I know he can, I don’t know if it can be next season, but maybe, yeah,’’ the rookie Gobert said. “I haven’t talked to him about it yet. He’s more of a power forward than center, though. He’s not a center.
“He’s athletic and can drive and can shoot. I think he’d like to be in New York. I was happy for him.’’
The Knicks have been very low key about Labeyrie, perhaps because they didn’t want to bring up the obvious French connection. In arguably the worst draft selection in Knicks history, former GM Ed Tapscott selected 7-2 center Frederic Weis over Ron Artest at No. 15 in 1999. Weis never played a game in the NBA, and retired in 2011.

Ndiaye says Knicks European scout Kevin Wilson has followed his client for three years.
“He’s a combo of size, athleticism and energy with a very nice outside shot,’’ said Ndiaye, who also represents Portland French star Nicolas Batum. “They must think he’s good fit for the system, which is for combos. He’s a combo 3-4.”
Labeyrie recently signed a one-year extension, as his three-year deal with his French League team was to expire in July. The Knicks would have to buy out the final year if they want him next season.

“He’ll get a chance to expose his talent against NBA players and then we’ll see,’’ Ndiaye said.
Ndiaye said veteran foreign players in the French League get the bulk of playing time. As such, Labeyrie is only averaging 16.2 minutes, 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds on 50 percent shooting through 41 games.
Still, the Knicks want to see him in Vegas and go from there.

In a span of 10 minutes last June, Jackson thought of the future, of two “stash players’’ in Labeyrie and Antetokounmpo, who the Zen Master originally envisioned playing in Europe before he convinced Antetokounmpo to take much less money to play for the new D-League franchise in Westchester to learn the triangle.
The draft theory certainly has worked in San Antonio.

The Knicks have been very low-key about Labeyrie, perhaps because they didn’t want to bring up the obvious French connection. In arguably the worst draft selection in Knicks history, former GM Ed Tapscott selected 7-2 center Frederic Weis over Ron Artest at No. 15 in 1999. Weis never played a game in the NBA, and retired in 2011.

16 years ago and this is why Berman thinks there is no hype? The kid is playoing 16 min a game averaging 5 pts a game. While I would not label him a bust by any stretch, there is no hype because there is no story. Its not like he is some french phenom invoking insanity and Rubio type mystique of what he can do when he lands on Broadway. HE is mearly a low second rounder we all forgot about and will be coming to summerleague in hope he can get a promise for a deal.

Im personally rooting that he becomes the greatest find and a legacy pick for Phil!!! Fact is these are good moves as it increased probable chances of creating an asset!! More chances we have the better chance we have at creating opportunities.

IM sure Phil is sitting around thinking about Ed Tapscott and Freddy Weis!! Love phil or not, have to bring stink and call it out when we read it.

Nalod wrote:Do we like the Robin or Brook hair style?

The Moochie Norris look won't help him.
Looks like euro summer league gyms.

Like the big hair- he stands out more.

holfresh wrote:Mr. Louis Labeyrie:

weird ... everyone looks 4 feet in the video and the basket looks like its 7 feet ...

looks good though his legs really open up wide on his jumper.

Gotta see him in person to get a feel. He looks a little bigger than Lance Thomas and maybe more skilled offensively. Briggs has mentioned going after DeMarre Carroll in FA. I wonder if Labeyrie projects out to something more of a longer DeMarre Carroll. Looks like he's got a Lance Thomas-type motor which is a plus -- how much of an offensive/defensive upgrade would he be though? Does he shoot 3s, execute better in the post than L. Thomas, have a put-it-on-the-floor game, etc.? Who knows man. Lance Thomas is a fringe NBA player--let's call it like it is. Then again, so was DeMarre Carroll at one point. Nobody thought Carroll was an NBA player and he's proving people wrong now. Labeyrie's a mystery wrapped up in an enigma. What's Fran Fraschilla's take on this kid? Did he offer up any kind of opinion on him? And how much will he want to come over -- more than what a typical 2nd round pick at 57 gets I'm sure. Would hate to over pay for this guy to be nothing more than Lance Thomas 2.0...Not counting on anything here at all but we'll see. I have no clue...