With all of this talk about the knicks making the playoffs despite making a valid case for a high lottery pick leads me to believe that Isaih is either targeting someone in the draft of he may use the pick in a trade with someone else, for a possible big man. As I scoure the draft pages if you look around where the knicks are predicted to select you don't see anyone who I believe fits the mold of what the knicks are looking for which is a possible big man that they can groom, or another dynamo power forward
. Well here is one idea that comes to mind of a possible knicks lineup for the 05-06 season. I hate to say this but Isaih may make a huge play to get Webber. If you look at the current knicks despite their current pieces, most notably at big man, this team is built to run. While I know many of you may look at me wierd for saying why would Isaih make a trade for Webber? Well if you look at the team and the city there is massive pressure to see results now, since we are going to be in cap hell at least until Houston comes off the books, we had still better sell seats, don't worry once you see the make up of this team you'll see it's star power and entertainment value. Since Webber's value may not be as high as it's been in the past I believe a deal such as:
New York:
PF Chris Webber
SF Jamal Mashburn (Expiring Contract)
Philadelphia:
SF Tim Thomas (Expiring Contract)
PG Anfernee Hardaway (Expiring Contract)
Future No. 1 or one of this years picks
may be a deal to get it done. With so many mixed results from Webber in Philly this years playoffs will be the ultimate determinant of if he will play with them in the future. The expiring deals of Tim Thomas, and Anfernee Hardaway allow Philly some much needed flexibility as they look to finding the ultimate running mate for Ivo.
With the draft:
This has been made clear in a statement that was I believe unintentionally leaked in an interview with marbury in the post some time ago where he was asked about the lottery and not making the playoffs, Marbury responded "we need players that will help us win now", I believe this is the true mantra of the Knicks.
Two prospects that come to mind with the first pick I would say rule out Gerald Green because he's going to get picked much higher, than 10, and an aquisition of such a player would completely blow up the young nucleus of perimeter players that the knicks currently have. With that being said there are two prospects who I feel Isaih will give the most attention PF/SF Hakim Warrick, SF/PF (when he wants to) Charlie Villanueva.
While I heavily favor the drafting of Warrick, the upside of Villanueava may be too good to pass up. While Villanueava does play outside two things that he does give you is rebounds and blocked shots, and he fits the prototypical knicks mold for an insanely tall small forward (Charles Smith, Keith Van Horn, Tim Thomas). With that being said I believe the knicks select Warrick, Isaih is such a trend setter.
With the next first round pick I believe the Knicks must select a big man, someone to call their own, and stop relying on trying to pry away other teams big men. This pick goes to C Channing Frye from arizona, while he may be a legitimate not what you would expect for a big man, this guy can get up and down the court and can block shots, he even has a smooth outside game, his only knock would be can he get physical when he needs to be.
With the only second round pick that we have which I believe is coming from Houston, we lost ours in the aquisition of Tim Thomas, there are many ways we can go, a few prospects that come to mind are PG Jarret Jack who's stock I believe is going to make a meteoric tumble after Georgia Tech got ousted early in the NCAA's, and his up and down season, Daniel Ewing, Luther Head, Julius Hodge, or Eddie Basden from Charlotte (solid perimeter defender).
I'm assuming there will also be a trade to alleviate the power forward glut that we have (Thomas, Williams, Rose, Taylor, Newly aquired Webber). I would say two of these excluding Webber will be dealt one possible scenario:
New York
C Michael Olowokandi
SF Wall Szcerbiak
Minnesota
PF Kurt Thomas
PF Maurice Taylor
Knicks New Roster
C Channing Frye (Fits the running game more than the Kandi-man)
PF Chris Webber
SF Trevor Ariza
SG Jamal Crawford
PG Stephon Marbury
Bench (Very Solid)
SF Wally Szerbiak
SF/PF Hakim Warrick or Possibly Villanueava
PF MIchael Sweetney
PF Jerome Williams
PF Malik Rose
C Michael Olowokandi
G (Jack, Ewing, Head, Hodge, Basden)
G Jermain Jackson
C Jackie Butler
IR Allan Houston
With this line up come the trade deadline I can see some of those valuable bench commodities turning into more suitable talent.
