that article also said Isiah really like Gerald Green. Too bad we were too busy trying desperately to win meaningless games down the stretch. No way Green gets by portland, charlotte & toronto(who we should've finsihed ahead of)!

[Edited by - gunsnewing on 06/12/2005 13:51:12]

Martell will be long gone by 30. He'll go in the top 11 or so.

here's the entire article..

June 12, 2005 -- Isiah Thomas plucked Tracy McGrady out of high school eight years ago with the ninth pick in the NBA Draft. Thomas could get a chance to tab the second-coming of McGrady on June 28.

At least that's the out-of-control hype on 6-8 Houston high school swingman Gerald Green, whose the type of otherworldly athlete that usually makes Thomas drool.

"I don't think I look like Tracy McGrady," Green said Friday at the Chicago pre-draft camp before taking his physical. "People say that and I'm like, 'Yeah right.' Tracy is an outstanding player. It's a compliment but I don't see it at all."

Problem is, the McDonald's slam-dunk champ has yet to work out for any team yet or interview with GMs. When asked what he has to work on, Green said, "Mental toughness."

His proudest attribute? "I take pride in my jumping ability."

The knock on Green is he doesn't fit into a team concept or have a grasp on fundamentals. Still, because of his athleticism, he has the highest upside of any player potentially available at No. 8. Many project he won't be there for the Knicks, though the other marquee high school player, sweet-shooting Martell Webster of Seattle, should be. Thomas thinks both high schoolers are ready to contribute next season.

Thomas considers swingman as dire a need as center in a draft with precious few pivots. Tim Thomas is in the last year of his contract and Thomas will try to trade him. Penny Hardaway is history. And Thomas doesn't expect Allan Houston to get healthy.

Two swingmen rising into lottery contention are New Mexico's Danny Granger, who had a sensational workout in Chicago and will visit the Knicks Friday, and Texas A&M shooting guard Antoine Wright. Thomas watched Wright work out on the day of the draft lottery at the Reebok Gym in Manhattan with 11 other teams.

Wright considers himself a "Ray Allen-type" while Granger said he'll remind people of Scottie Pippen. "I'm an all-around player," Granger said.

*

Knicks assistant Mark Aguirre skipped Chicago to work out with 6-10 center Jackie Butler, 20, and Trevor Ariza because a lockout looms July 1 and the Las Vegas summer league could be canceled.

Webster is someone that IT could consider at 8 just cuz he has a chance to be the next Allan Houston. Gerald Green could be the next big thing, but is more of a risk. You can't pass him up at 8, although he won't be there. If you can trade the 8th pick and Sweetney to move up and get him you have to, but nothing more than that, unless it's for Bogut or M Williams. Other than that it looks like Frye could be the pick. You have to be satisfied just cuz he's a true center and solid in every area of his game. He has no real holes in his game. With that you already know he's not going to be a bust. He will be better than Mohammed because he can just do more. He's athletic so you can run with him, and he plays with his back to the basket plus can knock down shots. As for defense he's a solid rebounder, shot blocker, and post defender. He's the one guy in the draft we can take with the 8th pick, and has a chance to be top 10 in the nba right away at his position. Just because of the lack of good true centers, you have to consider he will be a good player in the nba, and be good right away.

knicks are picking Frye, there is no doubt in my mind. you dont go to arizona for 4 days, hold special workouts, have guys jump up into the top 10 because of some unkown promise--its a piece of a puzzle that fits together

I'm still holding out hope until pick 9 that we will be taking someone other than Frye.

But this is great to hear. I would have liked to have read Sweetney's name in there, but having our two 20 year olds working out with Aquirre is still a plus nonetheless.

Posted by BRIGGS:

knicks are picking Frye, there is no doubt in my mind. you dont go to arizona for 4 days, hold special workouts, have guys jump up into the top 10 because of some unkown promise--its a piece of a puzzle that fits together

read the articles, dude. IT made his AZ expedition almost two months ago. the article you keep harping on was the first week of june, saying IT made the trip 6 weeks ago. that's mid-april. that's pretty damn early to make a promise to anyone. i would assume he's rethought the draft with everything happening since then.

the article: http://www.ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=9626&page=1

i'm just saying there are all these unconfirmed reports and leaping to conclusions about this guy. IT did a background check on him shortly after his play in the NCAA tournament. he worked him out in the weeks leading up to the draft. that in no way equates to a promise. but guys like chad ford or briggs throw in words like "secret" and start talking guarantee based on "reliable sources" and hunches, and that's where the hype comes from.

grat news, i thought for some reason they were throwing jackie butler to the shtter, hes a power 4 who can step over and play 5. for those of you whop want Robert morris--Jackie Butler is the same dm thing, probably better.

Posted by BRIGGS:

grat news, i thought for some reason they were throwing jackie butler to the shtter, hes a power 4 who can step over and play 5. for those of you whop want Robert morris--Jackie Butler is the same dm thing, probably better.

no briggs Morris is taller and more of a defensive stopper/shot0blocker than Jackie who might become a beast on the blocks offensively. I could live with a developing frontline of :
C-Morris 6-10/6-11 266
PF-Butler 6-9 250
PF-Sweetney 6-8 270

with Marbury, Wright, Crawford, Ariza in the wings.
pretty much have everything covered there if it all panned out