Hes an older guy 25 so he wont be drafted(I dont think) but he is very skilled. He handles the ball exceptionally well for his size with both hands and seems to be a heck of a passer with a high IQ and moved his game in/out this year. If you watch the whole video he is quite impressive. Makes a few plays against Bobby portis towards the 6 minute mark. Hes a throwback for sure.

Finestrg wrote:Nice find. Reminds me of Maurice Taylor facing up/on the block (a below-the-rim Mo Taylor minus the explosion) with some trace elements of Royce White.

http://www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=8458

callmened wrote:question in regards to Laury; what were his stats like? and were they inflated because Iona played a dantoni space and pace system?

Im just looking at the skills of a a guy is 6-9 245. He shoots with either hand dribbles up court with either hand has very high IQ obviously can rebound pass and score in and out. Seems like a good player to take a look at for nothing. If we do get a young big in the lottery--that would be nice to have another young guy with them albeit with more game skills and experience..

BRIGGS wrote:

callmened wrote:question in regards to Laury; what were his stats like? and were they inflated because Iona played a dantoni space and pace system?

Im just looking at the skills of a a guy is 6-9 245. He shoots with either hand dribbles up court with either hand has very high IQ obviously can rebound pass and score in and out. Seems like a good player to take a look at for nothing. If we do get a young big in the lottery--that would be nice to have another young guy with them albeit with more game skills and experience..

I agree that you do have to think about his competition, but against Arkansas he outscored Portis 25-11, and had 14 rebounds. The game was close at halftime- don't know when Laury scored during the game. I assume that they were matched up against each other a lot during the game. Much more polished and fluid game than Portis.

Looks like he didn't take any 3's his first 2 years, but this year did OK with that near flat-foot shot of his. Moves pretty well for a guy his size. Does not look to be 245/50.

Seems like a point-forward type to me... Lamar Odom/Anthony Mason-lite. Likes to be with the ball- did not see enough of him off the ball in the clips. I've been criticized for sayings this before, but the Knicks will put more value on how he utilizes his skills within a system, and will be less impressed by some of the things we saw on the highlight video. A lot of the things we saw on the clip were 1/1 moves.

With that said, I really like the fact that he seems to have ways to score from almost anywhere. He just looks like a baller on the offensive end. Amazing how much range he gets without even leaving his feet. Even saw a nice bank shot. He is also a pretty good ball handler, and makes some nice passes, although his assist/turnover ratio is nothing special (1/1).

Little to see in the clip regarding his D. If he can hold his own on the defensive end he could be worth a look. The wingspan should help.

Got arrested for a fight on campus- not sure why or whether it says anything about his character.

If he is any good and shows something in workouts, you can see him going late in the 2nd round to a team with multiple 2s. He is the opposite of a 2nd round stash pick- he looks like a guy who could give immediate offensive help to a team. You can also see him ending up overseas.

Another guy worth taking a look at if he is available and shows something at Portsmouth.

With the D League list above, there are many G/F's and SF's that has the ability to shoot the spread the floor as cheap options and that we can lock up to multi year deal that are not even guaranteed to allow us to have more money to spend in other area's this summer and the next couple of seasons as well, which we would have complete leverage over due to the amount of players available and D Leager's making in the range of 30k vs the minimum of NBA players making 500k *1st year* to about 1m a season being a huge bump of difference...

Finestrg wrote:A very similar player to this guy Laury -- 6'8" 245 PF Jarrelle Benimon. I watched a lot of DL games this year and to me, Benimon and Khem Birch were 2 of the best bigs in the entire NBDL (JaMychal Green was another -- those would be my top 3). There might have been bigger guys, guys with better numbers etc., but pound for pound, these were the most impressive--guys that would make excellent role players in the NBA.

This guy Benimon does a little of everything. Like Laury he's a PF of similar size that's extremely mobile in the post/off the dribble, runs the floor well, possesses a great handle for a big man, uses his large frame to shield defenders when finishing at the rim (excellent finisher), good hands (big hands), tight footwork and he can shoot and pass the ball. Extraordinary passer for a big man in fact. Just a GREAT feel for the game overall. Sets good picks--adept at playing pick & roll AND pick & pop. Great nose for the ball too--very effective rebounder (11 rpg). Benimon looks more fluid and athletic than Laury to me -- I think he could even handle the 3 spot for stretches against certain opponents. He's not a pure 3-pt shooter but he has range that extends out to 3 with real good shooting mechanics. I could see him improving his 3-ball into a real weapon eventually a-la ATL's Mike Scott. That's his very attainable ceiling: a better, higher-skilled version of Mike Scott. This guy would make for a very good bench player/rotation player for us next year. Here's hoping the Knicks have him on their radar and invite him to Vegas SL. Utah called this guy up at one point but never offered him a second 10-day contract. Mistake on their part imho. It'd be great to add a cost-effective young big that possesses this level of skill and instincts.

Nice find fine--Benimom looks like an NBA player--how is he not in the NBA?

How can the Knicks who want to run the triangle offense not see a 6-9 245 pound player in the d league who has all the skills you want in a big player running the system? We think Lou Admundson is better? This kid Benimon is like getting an additional top 15 pick.

Whether it could really be because of just for one player or for evaluations for their other 6 talents outside of Towns who is projected to be the #1 or #2 overall pick...

Towns

WCS

Trey Lyles

Devin Booker

1st rounder potential and Johnson could go as high as a late 1st rounder

Dakari Johnson

Aaron Harrison *which is ranked higher as a late 2nd rounder to possibly undrafted* and brother Andrew Harrison *likely undrafted*

Andrew Harrison *unlikely undrafted*

Both brothers are *combo guards* and would fit in with Phil Jackson's past love for BIG PG's
Especially Aaron Harrison who was regarded as one of the more clutch players in Kentucky and can be compared to former TOP 10 pick, in Doc River's son, Austin Rivers
Rivers was a huge disapoointment that is just starting to gain confidence in his game and was regarded as a player that River's overpaid for and looked to save his sons career rather than adding talent on his roster

He could replace Jamal Crawford as the backup SG/PG, while adding a legit backup PG, due to Crawford's age and 1v1 game with his ability to make shots but could also kill chemistry with his style of play
And Shved would fit in with Shved and could be one our competitors that could atleast have the taxpers MLE *assuming they resign DeANDRE Jordan, and be able to learn under CP3, as Darren Collison did
Though they will have to pay for Matt Barnes or another SF, along with a backup SF, as they have team options over Barnes/Crawford, and likely will resign Rivers that could earn as much as 3.5m *highest possible*
I think Crawford *expiring contract of $5,675,000 as a team option* is done with the development or Rivers and his poor defense, though both could be brought back, along with targetting a backup like Shved
With no draft picks this summer, though could purchase a mid/late 2nd rounder
They likely will resign Jordan to a MAX extension with success so far likely heading to the Western Conference Finals and the deep pockets of Billionare owner who spent 2 Billion Dollars and made every NBA team sky rocket including our NYK's and Rangers, as a toy, most NEW OWNERS will be willing to pay HEAVEY price in order to increase their chances of winning and with the chemistry and development of Doc Rivers and his staff, the Clippers have developped much chemistry with CP3, Blake Griffen, Jordan, as their big 3, as Reddick/Barnes have played really well especially gaining confidence when Griffen and Crawford were out
I am quite surprised that Edoh doesn't get more PT as Hawes has been a dissapointment this year
They likely will need to add a REAL bench, starting with a PG, a SF, and a backup PF/C, with the backup PG and SF being needs, Barnes is older but has played very well, but their need of a legit backup PG is a hole that they must address after losing Darren Collison last year, CP3 cannot play 40minutes + every game

Both Harrison brothers have good size and play pretty good DEFENSE, and have good size/athleticism/NBA ready bodies, that will need to work more on their skill sets and weakness's but both have the NBA body that can not be taught
With our needs of a PG, DEFENSE, and needing players to push the tempo, they could be CHEAP talents to either draft and stash like Thanasis for a year in the D League, or be signed for the minimum with leverage for team options that would not be guaranteed and money saved in this summer or the following years to chase TOP talents

Aaron Harrison is much more explosive, with a better shot, than his brother while Andrew Harrison is a bit smaller/weaker but would likely also be undrafted
Some other BIG Guards that fit this criteria include ex Knick, Tourre Murry and ex Laker, Darius Morris *who likely knows a bit of the Triangle already, playing with Kobe for a couple of seasons with Pau Gasol..
Talents such as them would allow us to have a backup plan if we choose not to overpay for combo guard Shved and his qualifying offer
Though he started for us and did well, I do not think it would be in our best interest to overpay for him, paying him as a backup PG like Ramon Sessions, Jared Bayless, and DJ Augistine, would be "fair"
Their salaries are in the range of 2.2m (Sesssions) to about 3m for Jared Bayless and DJ Augstine, and the HIGHEST I think we should pay to keep Shved would be about 3.5m, which would be higher than PG/SG Evan Turner

I do not consider Shved to be worth the money that Shaun Livingston, Darren Collison, and Isiah Thomas got, which was the FULL MLE or a bit higher
While the TAX and COST of living as signifigantly higher on the Knicks with property, we have trouble attaining talent if another team offers similar money
For Shved, he must put in perspective that this is highest chance to compete for a STARTING JOB, unless we draft Mudiay, the likely other teams that could offer similar contracts with a chance to start include

Lakers, depending if the Ping Pong balls fall their way or not, they could lose their 1st rounder for the trade for Steve Nash to Philly which would have 2 TOP 6 draft picks in addition to their billion other future draft picks and Eureo Stashes
For the Lakers, they had a silver lineing with their injuries with Jordan Clarkson, Jabarai Brown, possibly Vander Blue, and UFA of Wesley Johnson *Lakers own early Bird rights on him* and Ed Davis, with former 1st rounder

Philly *unlikely as they likely will draft a PG and already have Ish Smith/Isiah Cannon as they shipped him out to begin with*

Houston might be able to offer him a decent contract with NO STATES tax as well, especially if they do not resign Patrick Beverely, however, they likely will resign him if it was a cost efficient contract as a RFA this summer
However, with James Harden dominating the ball, he will not get the opportunity to fully dislay his skills as he did as a Knick
To fully evaluate him, we will need more time and his fit with other players/talents as well, and with the rise of the cap his probably best choice would be to resign as a Knick with a player option for 2nd year even if it was less than what teams could offer him
Would Shved rather have a LONG TERM contract of 3-4years at about 3m-3.5m per season, or cash in now for a short term deal at about 5m *if a team offers him such a contract to be a backup*, or resign with the Knicks for much less as we would have his bird rights and he has the chance to continue to build with the franchise with a system/players that he already has built chemistry with?

Andrew Wiggons also has 2 brothers as well, though I do not think there are nearly as talented as The Harrison Brothers...

Their ability to hit the wide open 3pter, post up and faciiltate, have high IQ, and defend/rebound all as CHEAP OPTIONS that we could have levarage over for 2-3year deals at the bare minimum, allowing us to target TOP TIER talents this summer and/or the next couple of seasons, especially in 2017 if we can put together a team that shows that we could execute the system effectively for STARS to chase endorsements deals by teaming up TIER 1 STARs together in 2017

While there are many 3pt shooters in the D League at the G/F position
Some solid PG's backups that could get better

And some solid backups at PF/C's as well

The D League has improved much the past couple of seasons and is a great way in developing talent for 2nd rounders and mining cheap talents like

WHiteside
Covington
Justin Holiday
Jabari Brown
Tyler Johnson/Galloway

At some point, after being able to fill some spots/positions with solid talents at the bare minimum, we will need ALL STARS that are 2way talents to actually contend for title....
We can only hope Phil Jackson is able to fill out the positions and find these talents that can work together while building our roster from the bottom up that would fit and continue to develop chemistry and understand how to execute the system and take advantage of our talents so we can exploit match ups, knowing when to break out of the princibles/philosophy of the Triangle, as the group we have will continue to develop their individual skills along with the abilities of our roster/team/rotations, while bringing in a development staff/trainers to help develop these young talents for our future

If we acquire similiar players with the talents below, with some players here having the experience on how to DEFEND certain players as they have done so in their careers, for example Towns/AJinicia for Rasheed Wallace, Jermaine Oneil and Bynum for OK4* Russull/Mudiay/Galloway for Billups, Battier/Pippen for Thanasis, WCS for Horace Grant/Ben Wallace, and drills they did on the court along with work outs in the gym to prepare for the NBA style of play and conditioning, back in the day teams valued mentors on the court for veterans to help develop, while there are more 1 and dones now that lack fundamentals and are simply boys that need mentors that they will listen to respect to prepare for life on the court as well as off it to Men

Coaches, Brian Shaw/Monty Williams *especially if we draft Towns/Ok4 or/and sign AJinicia*

Rasheed Wallace/ Jermaine Oneil / Andrew Bynum/ Horace Grant/ Ben Wallace
Billups *mentor leadership and how to play with/off the ball and when to shoot/score and when to facilitate*/ Ron Harper *experience with BIG PG's like Billups with experience from Lakers and Bulls roster*

Peja/Kapono *shooting coaches with Kapono being on the Lakers roster with PJ*

Battier/Pippen/Kukoc *and other Triangle/Spur's desciples, for versatile all round games, especially on DEFENSE*