NBA DRAFT - Knick fans, are you happy?
No big surprises happened. Portland didn't mess this thing up and not take Oden. The huge trades that were talked about involving Amare, J. O'Neal, Kobe or KG didn't happen either. A few teams showed they know what they're doing and Danny Ainge proved once again he should have no part of a front office job and Paul Allen proved again that he's the richest mofo in the room by spending about $9M last night in buying draft picks from multiple teams. I think this is going to go down as one of the deepest drafts in years, maybe one of the best of all time. Although I'm not a fan of his, Dick Vitale agrees. That's saying a lot since there were 4 franchise players chosen in the 2003 in Lebron, 'Melo, Wade and Bosh.
First let's see about the Knicks draft and their trade that jettisoned Steve Francis' contract and Channing Frye to Portland for Zac Randolph, Dan Dickau and Fred Jones. At first glance, talent-wise, the Knicks fleeced the Blazers. I think Portland should have been a little more patient. The Blazers were originally in talks with the Nets in a trade for Richard Jefferson and then settled for Channing Frye, they should have held out for Marcus Williams and a bad contract for Randolph. With this trade, this means the team now has Aldridge, Frye and Josh McRoberts at the 4 on that team. I never knew this before he came to New York but, Francis has an incredibly low basketball IQ. I would think that Portland doesn't want this guy leading that young team on the court. If Zac Randolph can stay out of trouble and get along with his teammates, this should be good for the Knicks, but those are two big if's. He has enough range on his "J" to compliment Curry and can take over the offense from time to time. More importantly, does this open the door for a trade for Kobe like the one I proposed before? Curry, Balkman and Crawford for Kobe?
Has anyone seen Wilson Chandler play before? I haven't. I don't know if the "experts" are afraid to bash Isiah since he has shown that he knows how to pick players in the draft, but they were high on Chandler last night. Jay Bilas was saying how this guys game is made for the pros and that he should be better in the pros than college. Later that night, the Knicks traded 2008's 2nd round pick to Portland for the 2nd rounder this year in Demetris Nichols of Syracuse. He's a pure shooter who was lighting it up in pre-draft camps and may be able to stick on the team because of his stroke. Unfortunately, he doesn't have much else.
What is Danny Ainge thinking? IS he thinking? Ray Allen for Jeff Green (who I love), Wally World and Delonte West? So they can squeak into the second round of the playoffs for one year? Ainge just made the West look even better for the next 10 years. I think Green will be the perfect complimentary player for Durant and he could have been that for Pierce and Jefferson. How does Ainge still have a job exactly? Everyone bashes Isiah but THIS guy gets a pass? When he started they had just come off of consecutive runs to the Eastern Conference Finals. Now they just stink. I'm glad Ainge sucks at his job though or i'd be real mad.
The Bulls made it easy to keep hating them deep into the next decade by selecting Joakim Noah. I thought this was a bad pick for them. Don't they already have athletic guys with no offensive game to speak of in Big Ben and Tyrus Thomas? They should have taken Spencer Hawes. With Big Ben and Thomas, they would have had defensive players that would have been able to cover up Hawes' deficiencies. Paxon has done a great job building that team but I don't think that Joakim "I'm a big punk" Noah will be much good in the NBA and especially on that team.
Detroit made a nice pick with Stuckey. He can play both guard spots and can score. And thankfully for Ed, it looks like they'll be holding onto Chauncey.
Don Nelson continued his love affair with foreign players by picking Marco Belinelli of Italy. Later that evening Michael Jordan traded Brandan Wright to GS for Jason Richardson. Luckily for MJ he's probably the greatest player of all time because right now he's looking more Danny Ainge in the front office. Why would he trade for Richardson at this point in his career for a team building from scratch? Charlotte is not one player away at this stage of their franchise.
Atlanta picked up yet ANOTHER PF in young Dominican, Al Horford who I think is going to be a stud. I think they should have picked up Mike Conley, but they made up for it when they picked up Acie Law who reminds me of Sam Cassel. He's got that old school game and he is clutch do this might work out for them after all. I'm going to like seeing Law play alongside Joe Johnson. What do they do now with Shelden Williams?
Do you guys think any other trades are going to happen?
12 comments:
It's Mike Conley not Marty
Isiah proved once again last night in the draft what his forte is. So maybe he's not The czar like Phil Jackson when it comes to coaching but he's a wizard in the draft. Thomas has always had a great eye for young talent ,alah Tracy McGrady, and I think he struck gold again with Wilson Chandler. Orchestrated by a trade that I feel was great for the Knicks and Curry ( if he stays in NY and doesn't get traded ), now he doesn't have to see double teams every night. Zach Randolph gives them a strong post up player to go along with Curry on the block surrounded by a flurry of Fast, young and athletic small forwards to run and gun and pick up the tempo. Last Season, eventhough the knicks struggled through another disappointing season, they were fun and exciting to watch. Now we just have to win some games and we'll have MSG rocking again BABY!!!
The Knicks fell off the stupid truck and landed in the road to insanity. What the hell was Isaiah thinking trading for Zach Randolf. Why does he keep trading for or signing other teams problem children. The only time Randolf recognizes a pass is when it's thrown to him. The dude is a black hole and now your going to play him with the Knicks current black hole in Eddy Curry who allergic to the whole concept of passing out of the double team. To me this trade is almost as bad a decision as his Jerome James and Jared Jefferies.
Ed,
Who did they give up for Zach Randolph??? Steve "Bum Ass" Francis..... I hate to see Frye go but were loaded at that position and I think we're going to see alot more from Balkman at that position with an offensive upside over Frye. Not to mention that Frye was a defensive liability. He couldn't stay in front of the quicker small forwards and would get muscled on the post. Plus, we get Fred Jones which in my opinion is like a Dwayne Wade with explosive hops and super quick. And I'm sure Isiah is not done yet.....Kobe is not beyond the Realm of possibility here buddy.
I'm not sure if this means anything, but its interesting. I went to nyknicks.com and on the top of the screen they used to have all the big players photos come flying in from the side and their signatures written next to them. You all know what I'm talking about. They had everyone. Now... the only one's that are looping are Steph, Crawford, Lee, and Robinson... could it mean the knicks are looking to do a fire sale?
I think rick makes a good point about freeing curry from the double team... because of Ed's good point about Curry not really knowing how to pass out of it so much. I think its a good addition. I have faith in players coming to a different situation and playing the way they need to play in order to win. HOpefully randolf can do that. in all honesty, I'd rather see randolf posting up than Frye, whether they pass or not. and all I have to say is BYE FRANCIS...don't let the door hit your old, washed-up ass on the way out.
Francis was awful. He is the perfect example that there are some guys that cannot lose any of their athleticism or theyre done. After he couldnt blow by anyone with his first move, he would just dribble and move laterally for 10-12 seconds, do nothing and get noone involved. Randolph did make strides last season in terms of passing out of the double team, even though there wasn't anyone to pass it to. The stats prove it. We'll see if they can co-exist, if they get the chance to.
Thank goodness and good riddens, Randolph is a cancer and I'm so glad the Jail Blazers unloaded him. Ed is absolutely right, that guy does not pas or play d. How are Curry and Randolph going to fit on the block together. I just hope Portland unloads Franchise before his feet hit the ground in stumptown. Either way the furture looks bright in the great NW.
I think the Zach Randolph trade was a good gamble. Yes, I know we're taking on two more years of almost-Steve Francis-money but Randolph's only 26 and is a legit 20-10 guy. He's put those stats up consistently over the last three years in the West and with virtually no offensive help around him to keep the double-teams honest. We say he's a cancer but what do we really know about Zach Randolph's personality? Only what the papers say. 'Sheed went on to the Pistons and won a championship despite his reputation, which was worst than Randolph's. I know the Knicks don't have the locker room chemistry that the Pistons did but let's not forget that Randolph's from Detroit and grew up idolizing Isiah. I think this move makes sense on the court and finally gives us someone who's going to go to the line 10+ times a game and shoot a high pct, that alone may've gotten us into the playoffs last year. I think too much is being made about the fact that he doesn't pass enough. Neither does Carmelo, Rashard Lewis, Dirk or most other legit scorer without Randolph's reputation. Last year we had Eddy Curry and not much else so it was easy to play defense on us.
I think the Celtics' trade wasn't an awful one. They simply committed themselves to winning now with Paul Pierce. Ray Allen helps them tremendously in that respect along with Al Jefferson. I hear that there may be something else in the works involving Jermaine Oneal and the Celtics.
I agree with Lou that the Bulls could've done more to improve their weaknesses through the draft. But I disagree about Jason Richardson. I think he gives Charlotte a real two guard to play with that young backcourt and frontline. If they sign a Rashard Lewis or re-sign Wallace, they should be a playoff threat.
Anyone have any thoughts on the 2 other guards the knicks got in the trade...... Fred Jones is best known for winning the Slam dunk contest a couple seasons ago and Dan Dickau is best known for getting cracked by Iverson. Fred Jones could fit in nicely as a high-energy, high-rising bench player but Dan might be doing the waterboy "Now thats some good H2O"
I like both of those guards, in limited roles. Youre right Rick, Jones could provide a nice, athletic compliment off the bench and he actually plays defense. As for Dickau, its hard for him to find a fit on this team simply because of all the guards we have. I think he is a "pure" PG and might fit nicely backing Steph for 15 minutes a night. He has a nice handle and good passing instincts, but we have too many guards. Maybe there will be another trade in the near future to clear up some of the logjam at guard. I heard this rumor: Rashard Lewis really wants to come to NYC, he might threaten to leave Seattle via free agency to Orlando, if he does, Seattle might have to sign and trade him to NYC. What the package would be im not sure. But there are to Washington natives on the team in Crawford and Nate. I dont know if that would be enough, maybe Balkman or Randolph Morris too? Still wouldnt match up salary wise, but if Seattle is afraid that they would lose Lewis for nothing, they might be motivated to trade him to get something useful.
Since you mentioned it and now that I think about it..... We have alot of guards but how many of them are "pure point guards" with the pass first, shoot second mentality.......we have none. Not since the days of Action Jackson have we had pure point guard to play the role (unless you want to count Rick Brunson). Not to say that Dickau is the second coming but it would be interesting to see how he can run the offense.... too bad cause I don't think its going to happen
I just heard on the radio that rashard lewis is signing a deal with orlando. And there are rumors about the knicks being interested in everyone's favorite problem child, and hip hop sensation, Ron Artest.
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