How about a quote?

by Tommy Dee on May 31st, 2009 at 10:25 am

So apparently the only player that Donnie Walsh would trade up for is UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet, or so says the Post’s Marc Berman. As for a quote from Walsh saying just that? Nah, not gonna find one.

“… When Knicks team president Donnie Walsh last succeeded in the lottery 21 years ago, the former Pacers president jumped to the second pick and selected 7-foot-4 Marist graduate Rik Smits, who led a Pacers renaissance.

“I remember he had to duck through the door every time he walked into my office,” Walsh said. “I haven’t had a player whose had to duck since.”

It is why Walsh is so intrigued with Hasheem Thabeet, UConn’s 7-3 junior shotblocker. Walsh interviewed Thabeet during the Chicago NBA Draft combine Wednesday and is the only prospect he views worthy enough to give up a decent asset to move up from No. 8 in the draft. The Knicks were last in shotblocking the past two seasons…”

Again, shot blocking is the biggest need, but there’s no chance Walsh takes Thabeet (let alone give up an “asset” for him) and by the way that’s the 15th prospect that Berman has mentioned. How about saying who the Knicks SHOULD take?
  • joeyballz

    Thank you T-D, Berman is a joke. I think he is the Isiah Thomas mold in which he sometimes takes us New York fans as idiots with his reporting.

    The only significant stories he has ever produced were on Marbury and I supposed that is because fro and frack had a little deal going between each other. Marbury would give him the story first and Berman would not be allowed to negatively criticize him in the media.

  • KBT1615

    I trust Donnie. I like Thabeets Shot Blocking as much as anybody but I don’t think we should trade up for him but Hey, I Trust Donnie.

  • Funk

    there is no way that DW trades up for Thabeet. I just don’t see it happening. This draft is loaded with young, talented guards, and that is another area that we need major help in..

    The way I see it, Walsh is hyping up Thabeet to make other teams second guess themselves come draft time, allowing us to have a better chance of selecting who we really want. If he can make Thabeet seem like he is going to be an absolute force in the NBA, and convince a team like Memphis to take him at #2, it would allow us to pull a trade with OKC and grab Rubio. Ultimately I believe this is the plan.

  • DanL

    Pretty frequent tactic for Berman…manufactures news but offers no sources or quotes. Or falsely attributes quotes or his own ideas to players or coaches without support in the form of quotes…

    For example, from a blog post on March 29 entitled “D’Antoni must adjust for Eddy”, Berman writes…

    “When Duhon chose the Knicks over Orlando last July, he didn’t realize the team was more concerned about 2010.”

    But Berman didn’t offer a quote from Duhon, or even try to explain why Duhon signed a 2 year deal that ended in 2010…

  • renenyg1

    The Funk your right on,IMO he will only trade up for Rubio but will settle for Curry at eight.I hope S.Curry doesn’t go before eight.That’s why he exploring trading up and doing this dance for Thabeet because their a chance Curry might be gone so it makes good sense for trading up.The Funk called it this a a full fagazy courtship.

  • jcmoney

    I dont see this guy being the 100% bust that a lot of people think he is. He doesnt look clumsy out there. He looks more athletic and competent then most guys that big. I could see him having a huge impact on the pro game. Maybe not immediately. Maybe it takes him a year or two. But legitimate centers are hard to find in this league. There is Shaq, Dwight, Yao.

    The guy averages almost 11 rebounds a game in college, and that number usually doesnt go down much or at all in translation to pros. He may not average 4 and half blocks a game in the pros, but he’s going to be altering so many shots and thats what we need more than even an actual blocked shot. Just the threat to make people alter there shots and think twice before driving. The kid seems to be remarkably athletic for his height, not your average lumbering big. I like him, I dont think he is so bad for the team.

    A 7’4 big may be a little much for D’Antoni ball, but he can even hit a jumper, I think he might put you over the edge. At worst he gets injured and becomes Ilglauskus.

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