Monthly Archives: June 2008
Leave it to an out of town clown, er, “writer” to sum up Chicago’s feelings on the Knicks’ pick of Gallinari.
DRAFT GRADE: D
New York Knicks. It didn’t take the New York fans at the draft long to start booing. Welcome to New York, Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni. They said it would take awhile, but New Yorkers aren’t that patient. They booed loudly and often as Italian forward Danilo Gallinari walked across the stage. The question is if LeBron James wants to play with him. Anyone seen Frederic Weis? Ouch.
Sam Smith
Last year I had a long e-mail exchange with Smith who admitted to me that he was trying to razz Knick fans. Here is another example of Smitty trying to placate Knick fans, the one’s who booed the pick other night.
I can’t really blame him, those dopey Knick fans gave him the ammo. But, to relate the kid to Weis shows equal ignorance, meaning he’s never seen him play.
But hey Sammy, why let facts get in the way of a good story, right? A “D” is way off base here, which means whatever credibility you had just drove off in your clown car.
Honk Honk.
Ken Berger of Newsday discusses the Knicks point guard situation in this morning’s Newsday. Names that he cites as realistic options for the Knicks include Monta Ellis, Raymond Felton, and Steve Blake among others. He also names some lesser known quantities such as Jordan Farmer, Beno Udrih, and Kyle Lowry.
Peter Vecsey weighs in on why the Gallinari pick is not so bad, but buried in that article is the fact that the Knicks may be making Beno Udrih their focus. Problem with that is the inability to offer Udrih more then the mid-level exception.
I have to admit I have not watch enough of Udrih from the West Coast. He averaged 12 points and 4 assists for Sacramento last year. He sounds like the solid point guard that could thrive in the D’Antoni system. Berger also points out that Baron Davis would love to play in New York, but that the Knicks don’t see him as an affordable option. Right now I predict the Knicks will try to sign a Udrih or Arroyo type point guard. I don’t think they give away David Lee unless cap flexibility comes with such a move.
It’s clear with the selection of forward Danilo Gallinari, Donnie Walsh has added a good, young and
talented player to the roster. In fact, he should factor into the rotation right away with a defined role, something that few players on this team have.
That said, knowing what we know, Walsh is actively looking to get his point guard. However, with the Nets still awaiting the okay to build in Brooklyn, (which we hear has a next-to-no chance of happening) and by clearing cap space the other night, we have an all out cross-river brawl on our hands between Walsh and Rod Thorn.
Again, the Brooklyn decision has major ramifications, as Lebron James would factor into the Nets plans. I’d be shocked if he spurned the Knicks to play in Newark. Either way, it appears that King James in Brooklyn is a long shot, that is until the Supreme Court makes the ultimate decision.
So here’s Walsh, trying to clear space for 2010, but he has to monitor this Nets situation clearly. Should James go to Brooklyn, Walsh has to make a run at a Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul or Chris Bosh.
That said, with guards that amounted to the WORST team assists in the league, Walsh knows his next priority.
Here is a couple of options Walsh can consider at Point Guard.
VIA TRADES
Raymond Felton- Simply put the engine D’Antoni needs. He’s not a great shooter, but is a terror in the open court. He thinks pass first, not surprisingly since he’s a Carolina product. Can Walsh convince his old buddy Larry Brown to work out a deal? We think so.
Kirk Hinrich- With Derrick Rose on board, Hinrich becomes expendable, but there are two problems.
- Any deal with the Bulls would have to include the contract of well-traveled Larry Hughes.
- Hinrich’s deal goes past 2010.
Steve Blake- Even with Bayless coming on board, I think Blake is a long shot. The Blazers need a veteran someone to get the ball in the right places, and Blake does just that.
VIA MLE
Carlos Arroyo- Walsh has said he could be active in the FA market without overspending, which sounds like offering Arroyo the MLE. This would be the last resort for Walsh, albeit a solid one.
Chris Duhon- Not Hinrich, but a heady PG with strong IQ that could make a good platoon situation with Marbury. Reminds me a ton of Charlie Ward.
Other MLE Options (not a chance)
Jayson Williams, Earl Boykins, Tyrone Lue.
Prediction
I really think a deal with Felton and Lee can happen, but Lee has a bunch of leverage should he not like the idea of going to the Bobcats. Maybe the Knicks extend him then make a deal. Charlotte would be a great fit for him. I think Felton, Duhon and Arroyo are real possibilities, which may make Nate expendable.
Off the bat we knew the Augustin pick made no sense for the Bobcats. But that doesn’t mean, apparently,
that Ray Felton is going to be shipped. We speculated Lee and a player, but GM Rod Higgins shot that down today.
Charlotte Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins says drafting D.J. Augustin isn’t intended to supplant Raymond Felton as the team’s starting point guard.
Specifically, Higgins said, there’s “no truth” to a report out of New York that the Bobcats might trade Felton to the Knicks for power forward David Lee.
Augustin should get minutes right away, but I’m not buying shifting Felton to the 2 as a combo backcourt. Felton would be a great “engine” for D’Antoni. Lee is the issue, since he can tell a team that he won’t re-sign if he doesn’t like where he ends up.
Now that everyone has heard the analysis and had time to think about the Knicks selection of Danilo Gallinari at #6 here are some Saturday morning tidbits from the papers.
Ken Berger of Newsday discusses how Gallinari’s game will translate in the NBA
Marc Berman outlines some interesting information about the Knicks international scouting
Alan Hahn talks about the next piece to the puzzle and tells fans not to jump off the ledge
Frank Isola thinks that Gallinari could mean the end of David Lee
Like I said with Tommy Dee on Knicksblog Radio yesterday we all need to calm down for a bit. Lets give Mike D’Antoni and Donnie Walsh some time to work their plan. Part of the outcry is that Knicks fans are so use to the Isiah Thomas era where there was no plan. I do not sense, at least at this point, that Donnie Walsh is going down the same road.
Tagged 2008 NBA Draft, Danilo Gallinari |
I’ve been a Knick fan all of my life. I’ve been through the best of times, I’ve been through the worst of times. I’ve seen good fans come and I’ve seen good fans go. All of those good fans that went… I’m begging you, please come back. Last night’s display of fanhood at the NBA Draft was close to sickening, and for the first time in my life, I found myself doubting the credibility of the Knicks fan base.
Now please don’t get me wrong, I’m fully aware that the people who attend the NBA draft, the feeble-minded callers on ESPN radio or WFAN and the 13-year-old message board posters don’t represent the entire Knick fan base, but if that’s all the rest of the country is seeing, reading or hearing from our fanbase, then… yikes.
Last night, I saw a 19-year-old Italian kid who has more potential than any current Knick or any draftee available at the time get booed on and off the stage after Donnie Walsh made him the 6th pick in the Draft. People have opinions. I have one, you have one. You probably think mine sucks, I probably think yours sucks. But if you’re going to have an opinion, you better have some reason for it.
I’ll keep this short and sweet. Mike D’Antoni has done nothing but win and he knows foreign players better than any coach in this league. Donnie Walsh built the teams that beat our beloved 90s Knicks. Analysts and scouts love the kid and touted him as the best player in Europe this year. ESPN even gave the Knicks an A- for the pick… something proven to be hard for ESPN to do.
But the people who represented the Knicks fanbase at the WaMu Theatre last night know better, right?
The same people who turned to me and said, word for word: “well we just drafted the next Bargnani.” The same people who thought David Lee‘s first name was Jason. The same people who don’t know the Collective Bargaining Agreement exist and continued to propose impossible deals to each other all night. The same people who thought Gus Johnson was Mark Jackson.
Gallinari is the polar opposite of Bargnani, Jason Lee is in “My Name is Earl”, any Knick fan who survived the Isiah Thomas era should know the CBA exists and seriously… how could Mark Jackson be on the stage on TV and in the lobby talking to fans at the same time?
My point is, there is no reason Danilo Gallinari should have been booed last night simply because people don’t know anything about him. If you refer to him as “the Italian kid” then that means you haven’t watched a single clip of him or paid attention to anything the past two months. The constitutes you as not being able to have an opinion. I’m not one to limit speech — I worked on the Howard Stern/Scott Ferrall shows — but please, for your own sake, just keep your lip zipped.
So now the rest of the NBA fanbase thinks the Knicks fans hate their pick. Does the Knicks management REALLY need something else on their plates? In reality, this was the best, most logical pick the Knicks could have made last night. But the same fans who want to tank already for Ricky Rubio next year disagree. Incase you don’t know, Rubio is a 20-year-old point guard from Spain expected to enter the draft next year. I’m sure those same fans have seen just as much of Rubio as they have Gallinari… none.
Read some articles, watch some videos, listen to some interviews. For the rest of the fanbase’s sake.
There’s a tendency, when an athlete comes to an American sports from another country (particularly a
European one), to make fun of them for not understanding our sports culture, as if they are dumb or have never seen fans boo before. The guy’s from Italy. We’re pretty sure he’s dealt with crazy fans before. Knicks fans booing? That’s nothin’. Though he could definitely improve on his ability to appropriately Vogue…more.
Nice job by Mike Silva hosting the 1:00 show. You’re truly was on as was Mike Breen who was kind enough to be interviewed last night.
Great times last night. Thanks to the folks at Butterfield 8, and the SNY crew for coming together on a terrific night. My thanks to the TKB staff: Andrew, Steve and Mike, the Knicks could use such teamwork, already.
I was very pleased I got the chance to meet some of the fans of the site and posters, all of whom share great love for the Knicks, chicks, and beer.
I have to say that at no point did I take McHale seriously with Mayo, but I thought Love in Memphis was a good fit. Either way, I’m not sold on how aggressively Donnie was trying to trade up.
Now comes the task of getting a point guard, and there are options. Look at the Bobcats, look at Memphis or Steve Blake. Either way, I know we’ll have one in place very soon.
Gallinari playing the 4 in D’Antoni’s system is intriguing since it allows for Wilson Chandler to get minute as well. It also gives the post some much needed space. Not sure how Gallinari would fare in the pick and pop, as he could use a little weight, but it seems like all he needs is slight separation to knock down open shots.
As far as the booing goes, and the “USA” chants that tried to make noise, if you were the same person that cheered Maciej Lampe, then consider yourself a suspect fan.
TKB’s 1st Commandment
Thou shalt not BOO a player you’ve never seen play….and don’t underestimate the level of the European Elite league.
Check out this video of Gallinari verses Maccabi Elite.
