http://www.courant.com/sports/basketball/hc-bynum0529.artmay29,0,5819196.story?coll=hc-headlines-basketball

"It comes down to how the 17-year-old performs in a private workout before NBA representatives from at least 25 of the league's 30 teams Saturday at Baruch College in Manhattan"


This is how I see it. To me the *gold* standard is if the Knick brass believe this kid will project to a top 3 pick in 2 years of college, remember Emeka okafor went from not even a top 100 recruit, into a fringe 1 his first year and right into a top 5 and then top 2 pick.


That means he has to really show it on Sat like I said. The Knicks brass has to come in with an open mind. If he bombs or just appears not ready at this point, that he really truly needs school cool. But if he shows a solid speed/ mobility and skill set increase. If he plays mean, hard and executes well and the Knicks believe they can use him next year at times, then they have to be a serious player for his services.

I expect you to be there. ;-)

Thanks for the updates BRIGGS. I'm really starting to get caught up in the Bynum hype if he's as promising as you say he is. If there's any franchise that wouldn't work him too hard on his NBA transition, it's us.

Posted by JUNKMEIN:

I'm beginning to hope that this kid just performs okay in this workout and save some for the season. If he performs even remotely close to the hype around him at that size he won't be available at the eight. So, hope he performs well but not so well that Isiah can't scoop him up at 8.

Don't be mislead. It will take a great effort to get pick 8. I'm anxious to see how he plays following the weight loss and healing of his bone bruise. If he works out very well, I think we would be insane to bypass him. If he works out mediocre, hell be more in the 20-35 range. If he works out poorly, I hope that the teams tell him to go to school.

Medicore meaning, he plays well in some areas, but not in others. Playing well means showing +25% mobility, ability to hit 10 footers or just show really good form on the jumper - show good footwork in the post. You want to see him giving 125% hustle and that hustle shows in the form of executing plays, rebounds and block shots, running the floor hard and showing that he can and will be a huge post presence and has the ability to play 5-10 minutes right now if needed

In other words he has to convince that he will be a top 3 or 1 pick in the next 2 years--they have to project what he will look like[difficult because he is also still growing] I think the main thing I would want to see is with the weight loss, I want to see that increased speed and perhapd an ability to get off the floor a tad faster, I want to see heavy breathing, yet no pulling on the shorts. There is a mentlaity with tough athletes, they dont show signs of weakness.


picks 1-6 really are locked in and I dont see toronto taking another C who they have to wait on. On the other hand knick fans are dying for a C, we have multiple guaranteed contracts, it might not matter who we drafted[with the exception of a guard] we have like 9 Fs.

So if Bynum shows that he truly has the ability to be a player in this league, I almost cant imagine bypassing a 7-1 275 skill C at 17. Goodness if there is any team in the lottery who can sit on a player its us.