http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/suhr_050603.html

Brendan Suhr Q & A


NEW YORK, June 3, 2005 -- NYKnicks.com spoke with Knicks Assistant Coach/Director of Player Personnel Brendan Suhr to get his thoughts on the NBA Draft class of 2005 and how the Knicks are preparing for the June 28 Draft. The Knicks will have two first round picks (8 and 30), and one pick in the second round (54).
Q: Now that the Knicks have the eighth pick in the first round, what will the team look for?
A: We have said the Knicks have many needs, and this draft is good because it has so many intriguing players. Although it is still pretty early, we will go for the best player available at eight regardless of position. We have been able to whittle from a large pool down to probably 10 or 11 at this point, and come draft night it will be down to just a few.

Q: How would you describe the talent pool for this year’s draft?
A: The talent pool overall is excellent. We know there is not right now a LeBron James or a Patrick Ewing…a franchise player…who stands out, but this is an impact draft. We firmly believe that there are about 60 players in this draft that can make an NBA team, which is a very high number.

Q: How many players will actually workout for the Knicks?
A: More than probably in previous years because of our number of picks, not only the two in the first round but the second round pick. We normally wouldn’t work out players who could go at 54, but because we need groups of four to conduct workouts effectively, we have brought in some guys who could slip to 54. That is a bit unusual but it has been very helpful.

Q: How does this draft compare to others?
A: Many times you cannot really define a draft until well after it’s over. However the key way is in looking if the players in this draft are capable of filling your needs. We feel this draft in many ways does reflect our needs, which will probably make it a deeper draft than in recent years.

Q: You have been known for recognizing “Diamonds in the rough” in your NBA front office career. What do you look for in a player that others may not see?
A: I found out years ago that every player must have one definable NBA skill in order to have a chance at success. Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace were great rebounders, Joe Dumars was an outstanding shooter, for example. If a player has that one definable skill and is willing to learn many of the others, then he has a chance.

Q: How valuable is the Chicago Pre-draft camp?
A: It is not as valuable as the individual and smaller group workouts. The biggest problem is that we do not have control over who is invited to the camp, and do not get to see the list until the weekend before. It does provide some answers, but nowhere near what you learn from talking to coaches and players and working players out in a more intimate setting.

Q: Much has been made of the Knicks early first round pick. However, how valuable is that second first round pick at number 30?
A: When we acquired the 30th pick in the Nazr Mohammed-Malik Rose trade, a lot of people didn’t feel it was significant. However we have always believed that there will be a player who will not only make our team, but be a factor for us in the very near future available at that pick. It also gives us an asset that we did not have prior, and greatly opens up our options not only on draft night, but beyond. One thing about that pick that we are fairly sure of is that he will probably be a different-type player from the type of player that we could take at eight, both in ability and position.

Q: Who is involved in the talent evaluation process?
A: We have what we feel is the best scouting staff in basketball, led by Jeff Nix. The scouts we have are incredibly talented, diverse and hardworking and literally spend all year watching players both here and in Europe. This time of year, the players who come in to work out are seen by Isiah, Jeff, myself, Herb Williams and Michael Malone, as well as our two local scouts, Dick McGuire and Scott McGuire. This gives us the opportunity to see guys in person that our scouts have seen all year out on the road. We will all be in Chicago, and then of course gather before the draft.

Q: The last two drafts have had either a high school or European “flavor.” What will this draft have?
A: This draft will have a mix of both of those groups, but we think it will be dominated more by forwards than most recent drafts. It is lacking in centers, but there is a very strong crop of point guards as well.

Q: Lastly, with three draft picks and another core group of players like Trevor Ariza, Michael Sweetney and Jackie Butler all very young, there is a chance that the Knicks could have as many as six or seven players under 25 years of age. Can a team that young be successful?
A: Let’s not forget that you are talking about a 15 man roster, so that’s less than 40% of your total team. The key thing is balance. You have to have a good mix of young athletic guys and a nice mix of veterans. That is how you build a successful team and that is what we think we are moving towards.

[Edited by - MaTT4281 on 06/04/2005 12:01:12]

amazing what the additions of Isiah, Suhr & Aguirre those for this teams perception of young players. Still puzzles the hell out of me why Herb was allowed to play Marbury and Co 50+mins during meaningless games and its still to be determined whether these young guys will ever play ahead of old man Kurt and Co but at least its better than the Layden era!