With all the overseas scouting trips that Thomas has made I have to think he's considering a European player somewhere in this draft, if not 8 then 30. That said I wonder if Splitter is someone the Knicks would consider.

Posted by Knick2001:

With all the overseas scouting trips that Thomas has made I have to think he's considering a European player somewhere in this draft, if not 8 then 30. That said I wonder if Splitter is someone the Knicks would consider.

you hit the nail right on the head. No way he's taking one at 8 but taking one at 30 is a HUGE possibility and much less of a risk. I would have to see Splitter come here and dominant guys like Bynum, Taft & Blatche in workouts to consider taking him. He would have to prove that he is ready to play against U.S. calibur bigs

if we took him at 8 its because Isiah thought he was worth it. I would have no problem with that. These Brazilian guys can play, he's athletic and big.

While some Euros like Martanyas and Vazquez are almost assured to go in the lottery if they stay in the draft. Others like Splitter, Petro, Alexandrov Kosta Perovic, etc could go anywhere from mid lotto to the early second rd. Lots of these guys could pull out at the last minute if they don't get promises in the lotto. Most, if not all, could uuse another year or two in Europe working on their games anyway.

Point is, it's likely that one of them could stay in and suffer a Lampe style drop to the bottom of the first round, and it makes a lot of sense to take one there. If the Knicks intend to use the MLE and/or trade a large expiring contract for 2 or more players, it's good to be able to draft someone and leave them in Europe for the first year. You still get the guys rights, he plays and develops, and you can bring him over when he's ready. You don't need to worry about having a roster spot, or watching him ride the bench all year b/c he's got 8 PF ahead of him all making a ton of $$$. When the crp contracts start falling off the books in a couple years, you can bring him in a a ready made, low cost replacement. We're not talking about franchise saviors here, but guys who could be good servicable players.

I would definately pick him at #30, but absolutely NOT at #8.