I know, I know Mike Sweetney comes to mind, but two mock draft sites 
that I really value have the Knicks taking two different players. One, I have to say, looks an awful lot like Wayne Brady.
Craig (Wayne Brady) Brackins, Iowa State-
NBA Comparison: Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Strengths: A combo forward who possesses a soft touch and a natural knack for scoring the ball … He is a decent athlete, runs the floor well and has a great wingspan … Has the versatility to operate on the perimeter as well as back people down on the block … With his back to the basket he shows great patience and has a nice variety of crafty moves; he utilizes shotfakes, shows an effective turnaround jumper and a mini hook …
Earl Clark- Louisville
“…It was at this point last year that Earl Clark really began to take off as a prospect, utilizing his outstanding physical tools to help spark Louisville onto a long win streak, and in the process catapulting his firmly name into the NBA draft picture. It wouldn’t be a bad idea for Clark to go through a similar type of resurgence right around now, as he doesn’t seem to be having the type of year many predicted from him when he announced his intentions to return for his junior season.
Clark’s scoring rate is slightly down in fact from last year, as is his efficiency, and not by a small margin. His 2-point percentages have plummeted (from 54.4% to 47.6%) as he’s struggled to take on a much bigger role in Louisville’s offense, while he’s getting to the free throw line less, rebounding worse, getting less steals, picking up less blocks, and committing more turnovers…”
I know it’s too early to be thinking draft, as this team does have a playoff run in it. That said, as it stands today, who do you guys want?
I don’t understand those at all. The last thing the Knicks need is a “combo forward”. We should not, under any circumstances, draft a 3 or a 4. I’d love to trade down and get Thabeet, Monroe, or Rubio.
What do you think about Mullens?
Sorry…That would actually be trading up.
It’s a tough call between those two. In terms of need we have alot of needs but I dont think the forward spot is one unless one of them is a great shot blocker. One mock draft website I saw the Knicks picking this prospect:
Willie Warren
Point Guard. Oklahoma
Warren will be able to score anywhere he wants to on the NBA level. He already has NBA 3-point range and has as much explosion to the rim as anyone in this draft. He has a confident handle and great poise on the floor. He reminds me of Adrian Peterson in the way he has and uses his strength.
I think this team definitely needs a backup point guard, shot blocker and shooting guard. If we can get one of those type of players in this draft I think we will have had a successful draft. I personally would love to see Donnie Walsh pull of a draft deal to get Thabeet or Ricky Rubio (if he declares for the draft) but those are pipe dreams. How would anyone feel about the Knicks drafting Stephon Curry? He brings shooting to a system that favors that and I heard he’s developing into a pretty decent point guard.
Stephen Curry to replace Nate. And to lure Lebron.
Excellent post.
He doesn’t fit with what we have, but I watched one of his game this year and Brackins was flat out awesome…He looked like Kevan Durant in a power forward’s body…I would love him on the Knicks, but this really is the one spot we don’t need with Chandler, Gallinari and hopefully the King.
I know that as of right now he’s projected as a mid-1st round pick, but if we end up with a pick in that area, my guy is Gerald Henderson. He’s a natural scorer who has shown improvement every year at Duke (i hate Duke btw). Love the kid, he can do it all. Think D-Wade 2.0
tommy dee’s got jokes! wayne brady?! i spit up my drink reading that.
chad ford has the knicks taking stephen curry at 6. he’d be a great pickup for d’antni’s system. we’re not getting rubio or brandon jennings from where we’ll probably end up but i would absolutely drool if we could pick up jeff teague from wake or willie warren from okie. this draft will be interesting.
Your boy’s got jokes…
I really like teague, but I am almost positive we have zero chances for him. I really would like the knicks to grab a pg who can score. With that in mind, Steph Curry can score from anywhere, and has toned up his pg skills. Whether or not they transfer into the league is something we will have to wait and see. As stated above by danisrob, Curry also adds appeal to Lebron, and the more things we have in place to lure him, I fully support.
I don’t think the knicks should take gerald henderson. he is a great player, but he is a 3, and we are already loaded with those. We need a shotblocking center which i feel we can trade for (plus I’m not sold on Thabeet or the other big’s in this draft class), and a pg for the future.
And Funkel81, d-wade 2.0 is not henderson, but russell westbrook! I wish the knicks would have managed to get him because he is going to be a very special player in the NBA.
IF Rubio comes out he is top 3 for sure. I
My PG Board (biggest need for LT) would be
Rubio
Willie Warren
Jeff Teague
Jrue Holiday
Strephen Curry
Brandon Jennings
Ty Lawson
Il start any of those on my 2010 Lebron Team
Stephen Curry is a great passer. Bobby Knight thinks he’s one of the best.
Henderson plays the 2 alot as well though. But What about Wayne Ellington he can light it up. Or we can draft Danny Green in the 2nd round that will be a steal.
we need someone with the physical strength to contribute right way at the 2. I;m sold on Henderson, sign me up.
I really dont like this draft @ all tbh, thabeet would already be gone, as will harden, rubio might not even enter due to his huge buy-out clause which is around 7 mill euro…all the other players mainly the big-men are going to be a hit or miss Monroe, Mullens, etc.
Now as ive stated b4 I honestly think we should make a move spencer hawes draft day…..the kings will get a top 5 pick…..with the exception of harden (who the kings have little use for due to K-mart) all the players projected to go first 5 will be bigs, I honestly dont see the kings reaching for Jennings or Teauge, (though their main concern in the draft will be getting a PG) the Knicks could pick up either hell maybe even lawson whose value could rise depending on how UNC does in the tournament…..So the final deal would look something like
NYK Sends
’09 1st Round Draft Pick
’09 2nd Round Draft Pick
Curry/Jeffries
SAC Sends
Hawes
Thomas
’09 1st rounder (their later one)
with the late first round pick we could get collinson from UCLA
Rubio would be a dream but there could to be up to SEVEN point guards in the lottery so we can get someone to replace duhon for much cheaper.
Willie Warren is really making a scene in OK.
One thing I would like to clarify is that NBADraft.net Mock Draft puts the players in order of who they deem to be the best not in terms of need. Don’t forget we have no idea who will be declaring themselves for the draft.
As for who I think they will take. Stephen Curry. He is a shooter and is learning the point and if Lebron comes he won’t need to be an excellent point guard.
Of course if he comes out this year.
Funny Tommy that you posted this as I started checking out the mock draft boards after the horrendous defeat to the Heat the other night.
I’d like to see us move up in the draft to get an elite PG or center. The centers tend to be more projects, but we clearly need help there. I just don’t know that we’ll be able to move up in the draft. If we don’t then do we just take the best available player?
We’ve got plenty of forwards, why draft another? Our pressing needs are at C and, SG, PG is a lower priority.
It all depends on where we pick. All of the household names at C will be gone in the top 8; Thabeet, Hill and Monroe will probably go very quickly. The only other C that would be on the board for us is Mullens, but he’s pretty raw, would be a project and we can get a project in the second round. Guys like Connor Atchley and Slava Kravtsov are worth taking a chance on.
I’d love to get Gerald Henderson, but his stock is rising every day, he’ll be gone in the first 10 picks. If he’s still on the board when we pick, then he’d fit in very well with us. Has the elite athleticism, the shooting ability, the high basketball IQ and defensive ability to really help us.
If he’s not on the board, then I’d trade down, get Evan Turner from OSU, a 6’7″ athletic swing that can pass, shoot, dribble, rebound and defend. He has the versatility to play 1-3, OSU runs their offense through him and his game kinda reminds you of Brandon Roy, I think he’d be incredible next to Nate, compliments him very well.
Another guy that we could also trade down to get in the teens is James Anderson, from Oklahoma State; they run a D’Antoni-style offense with 3-4 swingmen, lots of movement and passing, hitting the open man. JA is their star player, a guy that can shoot it, more of a classic SG, 6’6″, a good defender and very athletic. The knock on him is his handle, which could use some work. Also, he’s not a lock to declare, may just test the waters, take another year to polish his game.
I think the Knicks should draft a pg, a real pg not an undersized 2 who may or may not be able to run an NBA offense (Sorry Teague). If Robinson does take off next year we will need a 2, but 2 guards are a dime a dozen nowadays. Young, true pgs are a much hotter commodity nowadays. If Rubio trickled down to the Knicks, we should bite. I know his athleticism is a concern but his composure, bball IQ, passing abilities and his professional/olympic experience means he might be able to take over D’antonis offense on day 1.
Stephan Curry, who is much more realistic as a 7-14 pick is the next best thing. If he can make an amateurish Davidson squad a tourney team, within a couple of season he could probably cook up something with Lee, Chandler, Gallo, (Harrington? Nate?) Imagine opposing teams trying a full court trap a S.Curry/Nate backcourt. If Curry is taken as well, it might be worth taking a chance with Brandon Jennings. He hasn’t stunned anyone in Europe, but he’s quite athletic, has courtvision and can drain the tres, things D’antoni wants in a pg. Johnny Flynn or Ty Lawson would suffice if the Knicks get a later pick.
If we were to replace Nate in with a SG I’d pick James Harden would supplement Krypto’s hustle and energy nicely. He also knows how to find a shot like Nate. If he’s gone then G. Henderson and Tyreke Evans next.
Thabeet and Monroe are obvious C picks. Mullens, Aldrich and Brackens and Jerome are more realistic for Knicks draft positioning.
Lastly the Knicks might find second round gems in AJ Price (if the Huskies don’t make a deep run), Josh Heyvelt and Danny Green.
obviously, if we have a shot at rubio, that’s the move.
while we’re daydreaming, here’s an interesting thought. i am a huge fan of thabeet and would kill to pair him with bosh. bosh would neutralize thabeet’s biggest potential weaknesses – defending away from the basket and finishing without dunking. bosh is so smooth moving around 8-10 feet from the hoop, and could use his athleticism to contest lots of mid range jumpers without worrying about defending the basket. his ability to force bigs out lest he knock down a jumper could generate loads of easy baskets for thabeet. regardless of his mediocre hands and offensive moves, when thabeet catches the ball at the hoop he’s either finishing or going to the line.
agreed with all those who say a combo forward is the last thing we need. it’s gotta be true pg, true sg, or c. i think steph curry can be a very good pg for d’antoni, though i question his ability to defend any of the bigger pgs. i’d be ok with warren and henderson too, depending on how the cookie crumbled. and if we end up lower than we think and jennings slips, by all means, let’s roll the dice.