Draft Preview: Big Men
by Tom Kertes


NEW YORK, NY, June 22, 2005 -- The New York Knicks are the most vertically challenged NBA team in the paint. More than in other area, the Knicks need to improve on defense.

Make no mistake, these two indisputable facts have more than a little to do with each other. Talk to any Knicks player about areas of potential improvement and he’ll tell you “we need a big guy to take up space, throw his body around, defend physically, and block shots.” Talk to Kurt Thomas and the hard-nosed 6-9 power broker will look at you imploringly: “I’ll do any thing for the Knicks, you know that,” he says. ”But, for the good of the team, we need a real big man in the middle. I’m a power forward.”

Last season the Knicks finished 22nd in the NBA in rebounds and last in blocked shots. And those numbers don’t even begin to tell the full story: besides his rejections, a legitimate life-size shot-blocker changes the arc on many more attempts at the basket, turning good shots into not so good shots. And, at its simplest common denominator, basketball is about getting better shots than your opponent; more often than not if you do that, you win.

A top rejection-ist also allows the perimeter defenders to play more aggressively, creating better defensive chemistry. And, on the other end of the floor, the chemical benefits of another top low post attacker -- to go with Michael Sweetney and Mo Taylor -- would be immeasurable as well.

Thus, while Knicks President, Basketball Operations, Isiah Thomas has flatly stated “we’ll pick the best player available”, expect him to look hard and long at improving the inside situation in the draft. These will be the top post players available on June 28th:

Player Career Summary
1. Andrew Bogut (7-0 C, Utah)

An utterly unusual talent, in that he’s the best passing big man the game has seen in eons. The question is will the rest of his skills -- he’s not the most athletic big man around -- stand out enough to allow him to become an NBA star?

PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: Top three.

2. Channing Frye (6-11 PF/C, Arizona)

Mysteriously undervalued until recently, his outstanding NCAA Tournament has finally opened scouts’ eyes. Extremely smart and athletic, Frye has reportedly drawn some Knicks interest as a big man who can do it all.

PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: 6-15

3. Andrew Bynum (7-0 C, St. Josephs H.S., NJ)

This 285-pound high-school giant has great court intelligence, a live body, and soft hands. Upside seems unlimited, as he was an honor student both on and off the floor (22.0 ppg, 16 rpg, 5 bpg. as a senior).

PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: This week, Bynum has refused to work out for the Nets (picking 15th), engendering rumors that a lottery team has promised to select him.

4. 4. Charlie Villanueva (6-11 PF, Connecticut)

A tremendous overall talent with great lift, as well as tremendous touch and power, Villanueva’s long arm makes him a constant threat to block shots as well. He can score in a wide variety of ways from almost anywhere on the floor. In spite of his outstanding play down the home stretch for UConn, a reputation for inconsistency continues to dog him.

PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: Mid to low lottery.

5. Chris Taft (6-11 C-PF, Pitt)

A mystery man with a great body who hasn’t delivered as a player as yet on either end of the floor. Still, his upside could be enormous.

PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: Low lottery.

6. Fran Vazquez (6-10 PF, Spain)

Lots of scouts like this 22 year-old’s long arms and fine versatility. However, his European numbers are just OK (11.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.2 bpg. for Unicaja Malaga in Spain’s First Division).

PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: Low lottery.

7. Andray Blatche (7-0 C, South Kent Prep, Conn)

Nineteen year-young high school center is long, very athletic, and runs the floor and shoots well. Must get much stronger physically.

PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: Low lottery-20.

8. Sean May (6-8 PF, North Carolina)

Another Mike Sweetney, in that he’s not yet in top physical shape but can do it all under the basket. In fact, May is by far the most well developed offensive player among the big men this year.

PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: 13-20

9. Martynas Andriuskevicius (7-2 C, Lithuania)

Owns great size and coordination but this 20 year-old has hardly played in Europe. Is he the next Zydrunas Ilgauskas -- or the next Nicoloz Tskitishvili?

PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: 3-20

10. Wayne Simien (6-8 PF, Kansas)

One of an amazing number of outstanding, but too short, power forwards available on June 28th. Three inches taller, and this fine fundamentalist would be the No. 1 pick in the draft.

PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: 17-30

thanks; that was a nice read.

It's strange how a lot of lottery teams appear very interested in Frye but many people here don't want him.

Posted by EnySpree:

I want Charlie Villenueva and Channing Frye!!!!! Then hope a good player falls in the Knicks lap at #30.

That means trading for another lottery pick!!!!

wow, tim thomas AND charlie villenueva on the SAME team!?!?!? isn't that against the laws of physics or something when two of the same people from alternate universes meet??!?!?