The Jerome James/Eddie Curry Fitness Clock

Isiah on Gallinari

Alan Hahn's piece quotes Isiah Thomas and and Kevin Wilson who at least paint the Gallinari selection appropriately:

Another point that might make some Knicks fans wary is that Isiah Thomas played a role - albeit small - in the Gallinari decision. Walsh dispatched Thomas to Europe in May to watch Gallinari and he came back with a glowing report.

"The kid won't back down," Thomas said.

Wilson said that's one part of his game that makes him unique from most European players.

"American guys over there heard he was the man, so they wanted to put him in his place," Wilson said. "They would pop him, they would elbow him and they would hit. He wouldn't get rattled. He would just go down, make a basket on them and look at them. Stand right up to them. He didn't get intimidated.

"We're going to have to work with him, wait on him, encourage him, develop him, play him and let him take his lumps. It'll make him stronger and make him better. And he will get better."

In other words, Gallinari is a project not a messiah.

Actually, I'm okay with that but I would have been far happier with another pick no matter how remote of someone who could come in, make the team and contribute next year.

Oh, well.

The Friday Morning Hangover

I'm not reading anything I like about Gallinari. There's a lot of pom-pom fans out there parading around calling all of us who question the pick idiots but I must insist on asking again, "Where's the logic?"

We aren't the Spurs who can stash Euros away like unbaked goodies because we have nothing to lose by doing so.

All the scouting reports point to a kid whose upside will be little more than an average player. No lateral quickness, defensively challenged, and arriving with an entitlement mentality that has the management shipping the far grittier David Lee out of town.

I miss Isiah but I miss Larry Brown more.

Joe Alexander, we never knew ye.

Skunked Again?

Gallinari is a nice kid, no doubt about it. But the instant appearance of a Reebok "Rooster" sneaker gives every indication that the draft is as corrupt as the game. What the hell is that about? Reebok knows the pick before ESPN does?

True fans of sports teams are sick of the insider trading and incestuous dealing of former players scratching each other's gonads.

The selection of a Gallinari implies that the Knicks will continue to limp along for many years with no relief in sight and that is disconcerting to those of us who have lived through multiple iterations of this same "rebuilding" pattern.

It also means we're stuck with another prima donna who won't be traded until the next change of management (sad that the clock starts ticking already).

At #6 the Knicks needed a talent who could make a difference this year. The Knicks turned a blind eye to an awful lot of gifted players for the marketing rights to Gallinari. Isiah would have done better.

The problem starts when the ESPN salesdesk starts with "He's not really an athlete but..." Call me stupid but the one thing I expect a #6 pick to be is an athlete. Drafting a slow SF isn't precisely my idea of progress. And, quite frankly, I don't want my 6'10 guy putting the ball on the floor all that much.

Sorry if I sound grumpy but I have a very bad feeling about this pick - call it Freddie Weiss syndrome.

The Knicks are starting to freak me out with their ability to F"up with uncanny regularity with a total disregard for whoever calls the shots.

I look at the Nets who have crappy positional picks but getting wholesome players all the way through. Just maddening.

Is Artest in play tonight

Vegan Fish Tacos reports

Peter Vescey is reporting that Ron Artest will in fact opt out of his contract with the Kings. New York will likely be a heavy suitor, and Artest has long said he wants to play there. For Sacramento, drafting a PG like Augustin will still be a priority, but depending on how the Knicks view ther chances of signing him, their draft/trade strategy might change, with players like Balkman and Lee becoming more expendable.

Thorn is just a genius

The NJ trade just announced sending Richard Jefferson for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons is simply brilliant.

Yi will pack the seats. But that means the Nets are unlikely to be drafting Gallinari. The Knicks can move back to any early teen pick and grab Gallinari at a much more sensible draft position.

I would still love to see the Knicks pursue the #8 pick aggressively. Redd is probably still on the block as will be Gadzurik. Curry, Crawford and Nate is a fair package, no?

Finally, a Great Trade proposal

The NY TImes (Howard Beck) is reporting a potential Knicks/Portland trade that makes great sense for both teams.

According to executives with two teams, the Knicks are discussing a swap of first-round picks with Portland. The Knicks would send the No. 6 pick, forward David Lee and another player to the Trail Blazers for the 13th and 27th picks and a player, possibly Steve Blake or Jarrett Jack. (Portland is acquiring the 27th pick from New Orleans.)

The deal could make sense for the Knicks if they believe that none of the players they want will be available at No. 6. In a deep draft, they could acquire two useful players instead of one, while perhaps unloading an unwanted contract. Blake or Jack could fill their need for a point guard.

Now, I would insist on Steve Blake and presumably ship out Jerome James considering how lop-sided the trade is toward Portland.

But I agree with Beck, it offers the Knicks a nice player at 13 and a wildcard at 27. Blake is a perfect PG choice.

And I hate the idea of losing Lee but... here's a trade worth thinking about.

Keeping Cool

On another blog, Chip Stern posted a link to a Draft Express analysis of draft statistics worth studying and annotating.

The article statistically and indirectly explains why trading David Lee is a bad idea.

The meat of the argument might assert that Lee has already established himself as a top notch sixth man in a position where wash-outs far outnumber players who stick around. Lee is still on the upside ramp to being in the league five years at which point his trajectory is heading toward either an all-star or solid-starter rating. add to that the fact that he plays the game intelligently and you have a player who you don't trade for a pocketful of potential.

The article also explains why some GMs are confused about Westbrook and Alexander moving into the top tier of potential draftees. The answer of course is that the risk associated at picks Six through fifteen are largely dictated by drafting intelligently. A smart GM at fifteen can get the same chance of success that a GM gets randomly at six or seven. A few weeks ago, both Alexander and Westbrook were rated as players to be considered in the teens.

But as more GMs get hip to the way things work, they realized that success in the NBA is not a matter of draft pecking order in this 6 -15 zone as it is about identifying the right talent among a group of peer athletes. Westbrook and Alexander moved up not because they're more likely to be stars but because they are more likely to succeed for the teams picking them. Their work ethic and character trump the players more likely to be head cases.

GMs who rate players on strict physical endurance metrics fail to understand this simple but obvious fact.

However, I do disagree with the Draft Express analysis when it asserts that drafting big men is a dramatically higher risk than front-court personnel. First, comparing the success rate of two positions versus three introduces a fudge factor that is strictly statistical noise.

But more importantly, big men - even those who struggle - have higher trade values generally speaking than guards and swingmen of a similar caliber.

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The most important conclusion for the Knicks however might be that looking to the draft for instant relief is a fool's errand. The reason I like a guy like Westbrook is chemistry not raw talent. D'Antoni plays a game where defense is not an organized methodology. The players on the floor need to innately play defense in a highly dynamic game. Westbrook simply owns a profile that adds value with D'Antoni coaching. Other teams drafting early might have much better options depending on their teams and game styles.

For the same reason, Alexander is intriguing. Under D'Antoni, this is a kid who has yet to define his game. Considering the existing high-flying acrobatics, Alexander could become a very, very entertaining player quickly.

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The way I see it, the Knicks should pursue a starting point guard via trade or resign themselves to Marbury. Based on the Draft Express article, pursuing a high draft pick from the last four years who is available would yield a 2011-playoff ready talent.

Hinrich, Barbosa, Crittenton, Conley, Douby, and Ridnour are high draft picks from recent years who still have a few years left to find their NBA legs as PGs. The Knicks should take a serious look at any or all of them in draft night trade talks. they come with their early year dues paid.

And Jay Williams, Dujuan Wagner, and Reses Gaines might be worth a summer league look as back-ups with a potential to surprise.

The Mecca's Mock Draft Prediction - Wednesday Morning

1. Chi - Derrick Rose

2. Mia - O.J. Mayo

3. Minn - Beasley

4. Seattle - Love

5. Memphis - B. Lopez

6. Knicks - Russell Westbrook

7. Clips - Randolph

8. Milwaukee - Alexander

9. Charlotte - R. Lopez

10. Nets - Gallinari

Memphis Discussions?

I have posted repeatedly about potential Memphis trades. i think there's real potential for a trade that helps all sides.

Memphis is a cost-conscious team, they want to resign Kwame, and they have some contracts that, for them, are oppressive. The return on investment is simply not being realized. Let's also assume that an entertaining player would dramatically help their gate receipts.

The latest rumor says they are willing to trade #5 with the stipulation that the trading partner assume Brian Cardinal's contract. The rumor that's being circulated speculates Lee and Rose for Cardinal and #5 (Chad Ford - Insider).

Ford, of course hates the Knicks and would love to convince them to trade off real assets for ether. Draft picks will always be crap shoots. People who argue that David Lee is chopped liver are delusional. Lee is a solid contributor so if he's being dealt we needd to get that much back.

Let's look at sensible options that accomplish the same result.

How about Darko, Cardinal, and Conley, three underachieving, highly paid disappointments and #5 for Curry, Rose, Balkman, and Nate plus Rose buyout money.

Memphis can re-establish Curry's game (and Curry needs a change of scenery), Balkman and Nate provide young, inexpensive excitement for a team that needs all the gate interest it can muscle.

For NY Conley and Darko become D'Antoni reclamation projects, Cardinal assumes the role of a deep bench player who waves a towel until he's bought out. Key for the Knicks is #5 to couple with #6 for further transactions or rolling the dice on young talent to complement D'Antoni's plans.

Detroit Interested in Zach!?

Okay, since everybody else is playing around with possible trades how about mine?

Wallace, Prince, Stuckey and #29 for Zach, Rose, Balkman, Collins, and #6?

What the Mock Drafts are predicting...

I've read through dozens of mock drafts and here are the results predicted....

OJ Mayo 21 expectations

Danillo Gallinari 20

Eric Gordon 17

Augustine 9

Randolph 8

At the other end of the spectrum garnering but a single vote are these potential Knicks...

Blake Griffin, Donte Green, Darrell Arthur, and DeAndre Jordan.

I still think the pick gets traded.

I Miss Bo Diddley