http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-spknix104001954oct10,0,6501988.story?coll=ny-knicks-print

Ariza is flying high
Second-round pick's speed and athleticism turning heads, making Knicks believe they got a huge steal in draft



Ariza is flying high


BY GREG LOGAN
STAFF CORRESPONDENT

October 10, 2004

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Maybe reality will set in the first time Trevor Ariza comes up against a good defensive team in a real NBA game, but after one week of training camp, the second-round pick from UCLA clearly has been the most pleasant surprise for the Knicks.

Running the floor and leaping like a gazelle as he goes to the basket, Ariza already has the veterans looking to get him the ball on the fast break.

It's rare when a second- rounder makes the roster, never mind makes an impact. But the Knicks are convinced they got a steal with the 43rd pick of the draft in June.

"If his name were 'Arizovic,' he would have been a first- round pick," Knicks European scout Kevin Wilson said. "He's looked good every day here."

Former Knicks general manager Scott Layden was supposed to be the master of the second-round pick, but in the 2001 draft, he took Arizona forward Michael Wright 39th and Kansas center Eric Chenoweth 43rd, knowing they probably wouldn't make it despite productive college careers.

In his first draft, Knicks president Isiah Thomas took a shot on Ariza because of his athleticism even though he played just one year at UCLA and didn't turn 19 until a few days after the draft.

Knicks assistant coach Herb Williams, who played 18 seasons in the NBA, has no doubt Ariza can play in the league. "A lot of people went to sleep on him," Williams said. "In my opinion, he should have been a first-round pick ... He plays over the rim and attacks the basket. A lot of people made a lot of mistakes by passing him up. Teams admitted it in the summer league. When they saw him play, they were real surprised."

At 6-8 and 200 pounds, Ariza can play shooting guard and small forward. When everybody is healthy, veterans Jamal Crawford and Penny Hardaway figure to get most of the backup minutes at those positions behind starters Allan Houston and Tim Thomas. But if Ariza fares well in preseason games, it will be very tempting for coach Lenny Wilkens to give him a shot when it counts.

His performance in the summer league gave Ariza the confidence to believe he can handle the NBA. "I feel I'm fitting in well and the guys are embracing me and helping me through the mistakes I'm making," Ariza said. Speaking of his ability to finish on the fast break, he added, "I'm always out on the floor, and I always seem to be open. That's just what comes at the end of everything."

Falling as far as he did in the draft cost Ariza a load of money, but the Knicks have been known to take care of that problem. "I'm in the right place," Ariza said. "I landed up in New York, 43, and that's good for me."

Notes & quotes: If veteran swingman Shandon Anderson had any chance for playing time after clashing with Isiah Thomas, he knows Ariza's emergence ended it. Anderson called Ariza a "great fit." At the same time, he hopes the Knicks will buy out his contract. "I'm not going to be able to play here," said Anderson, who has been on the third team. "I definitely want to get somewhere where I can play some basketball."

Said Hamdan, the Knicks' assistant trainer for the past seven years, yesterday announced his resignation to go into private business. The Massapequa resident will be part-owner and chief operating officer of a physical therapy group called the I.C.E Sports Health Group, which has two Manhattan locations at Sports Club L.A. and the Reebok Club.

Notes & quotes: If veteran swingman Shandon Anderson had any chance for playing time after clashing with Isiah Thomas, he knows Ariza's emergence ended it. Anderson called Ariza a "great fit." At the same time, he hopes the Knicks will buy out his contract. "I'm not going to be able to play here," said Anderson, who has been on the third team. "I definitely want to get somewhere where I can play some basketball."

Possible chance he would accept a buyout for a little less than 24 mil?


Hopefully management make Ariza feel good in NY so we don't have an Arenas or Boozer situation.

Man, these Ariza articles are making me feel mighty fine about the Knicks in a few years!

Posted by fishmike:

there is zero chance Ariza has the breakout type season Boozer or Arenas had. There simply arent enough minutes. We can sign him for something like 3 years and $3mm after this year no problem

he is signed to a 2 year contract already. i dont know why he wasnt signed to a 4 year contract to start with...

Executing on draft picks has to be in the top 2 most important factors in building a good team. Managing $ has to be the other one.

One bad thing that has continued. Handing out money and making bad financial mistakes has caused the Knicks problems. Giving KT to much money when we couldve waited[im not sure we even wanted kt?} not signing trevor for a 2-3 Y period is not good business. Luckily I believe they will address the 2nd round pick thing in the bargaining agreement. I think a new rule is once you sign a guy--you have to committ a two year contract which gives a team option on Y3.

"If his name were 'Arizovic,' he would have been a first- round pick," Knicks European scout Kevin Wilson said.

I love that quote. People keep talking smack about how fundementally sound they are. Why would you feel it's ok to develop a European for 5 years but won't take a chance on someone from the states?

BS

Isiah is not dumb, he knows what he has in Ariza. Believe it or not, he will address the potential problem very soon. He will make room for this kid to shine and soon he will offer him a very lucrative contract.

Posted by fishmike:

there is zero chance Ariza has the breakout type season Boozer or Arenas had. There simply arent enough minutes. We can sign him for something like 3 years and $3mm after this year no problem

You're probably right, but just to play Devil's advocate: the same argument could have applied to Marquis Daniels last year. The Mavs had tons of players at the SG/SF positions (Jamison, Howard, Finley, Walker). However, Daniels shined and gradually got more and more minutes. He played well enough that Dallas had to use up their full MLE just to keep him. Isn't it possible the same thing could happen with Ariza? Are we really that much deeper (or even deeper at all) than Dallas was at SG/SF last year?

Posted by Nalod:

Using your MLE on your own player is a healthy sign. Lets hope that happens.

THe MLE is not to be used to always get new players.

I agree but in a perfect world, we'd have Ariza's bird rights now and have the full MLE to use on other players. That was my only point.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/30124.htm

RIZA'S KNICK STOCK ARISING

By MARC BERMAN

October 12, 2004 -- The whispers why Knicks rookie Trevor Ariza fell in the draft, into the mid-second round, centered on his supposed overbearing mother. If that's the case, those GMs should have their wages garnished.

Ariza's Charleston scrimmages have secured an active roster spot and at least a part-time rotation spot. Isiah Thomas, who made Ariza the 43rd pick, didn't have a first-round pick in last June's draft, but apparently he snatched one of such caliber.

"I thought he had a great camp," Thomas said of the 6-7 swingman slasher out of UCLA. "Every day he showed us a little bit more."

Though he's not an outside shooter, the two scrimmages reporters were permitted to watch in Charleston showed Ariza often getting the ball on the break for fastbreak hoops.

"I feel I'm fitting in well," said Ariza. "I'm just having fun. I'm confident in myself to know I can be into the rotation."

Shandon Anderson was an insignificant piece when camp opened. With Ariza's emergence, Anderson by his own admission has no role.

"What I came away more impressed with, more than his offensive game, he's a good defender too," Thomas said. "I really think he can develop into a stopper on defense where you can put him on the best guy and say go out and defend him. He's got great footwork, long arms, can block shots and he's smart about his position."

Even the bitter Scott Layden would have to admit Isiah, who has always downplayed the draft, has done well.

"He doesn't play like a 19-year-old," Kurt Thomas said. "He's going to be a great player. It shows the scouts were doing their job."

Ariza's father, Kenny McClary, played at Florida in the mid-1980's and his family still lives in Inglewood. Ariza's mother, who lost a young son eight years ago in an accident, wanted to move to New York with Ariza. The Knicks advised against it and he's doing quite nicely on his own.

*

When Isiah said the team would "be lucky" to be at .500 after 20 games because of the schedule's strength, he probably factored in Allan Houston's suspect contribution. It's hilarious to hear Houston say he's still not ruling out the Nov. 3 opener. Remember, Houston didn't rule out competing in a playoff game when put on the playoff roster. That was six months ago and he's still not ready.

Out of respect, the Knicks kept Houston's title as co-captain, but a source said Lenny Wilkens told Stephon Marbury he wanted him to be the "head captain" because Houston isn't vocal enough.

After 6-11 Keon Clark visited their Westchester camp in late summer, the Knicks offered him a contract, he verbally accepted, then they never heard back from him. Another strange twist in Clark's strange career.

Isiah still is looking for improvements, but this early in camp, phones tend to be quiet.

"We're always trying to get better," Isiah said. "Teams see what they have, play a couple of exhibition games. If they don't like what they have, you start making a few calls."

Knicks, who will open preseason Thursday vs. Nets, took yesterday off.