Time to Digest

by Tommy Dee on June 26th, 2009 at 12:13 pm

Okay, so the smoke has cleared and I’ve had some time to collect some thoughts about the direction things are headed.

Coach D’Antoni was on with BT, who asked the coach where David Lee fits now.

D’Antoni was sure to mention that Lee was better than Hill and Darko at this point so the best will always fit.

Which is true. But they will trade Lee away in a deal that can add pieces. That phase is sure to begin next Wednesday and the decision on Lee should happen quickly because Lee will get his offer(s) at 12:01 and Walsh will have to agree to any trade, or contract before Lee inks his name to an offer sheet.

Hill can bring what Lee brings in terms of effort and rebounding, it’s unclear at this point how many minutes they will use him and how productive he’ll be right away. But, without question, Hill is a weak-side specialist, which will at the very least plant the seed in the head of opposing slashers that they have to get around his 7’1 wingspan.

I can also envision a weakside block from Hill starting a fast break and then ending with a trailing pass for a thunder-flush.

Part of the reason I was so high on him.

I mentioned on my TV and Radio appearances that the Knicks wanted a two-way player- hence why Holiday and Henderson were on my mind. And everyone asked me who the Knicks would take and I had no clue based on the fact that I figured they’d get a Rubio deal done. And don’t let them fool you, they REALLY, REALLY wanted Rubio and they could have had him (and still might) but patient Donnie realized the cost was too high.

But the bottom line for me is that I love Hill, and I hope fans realize the dimension that he brings. I simply didn’t believe he’d be around so I never considered him a legit option. I figured a team would have realized that this kid brings a ton.

The team must feel that they lost a million games because of defense and rebounding. They can score- we know this. What they’ve done is sure up a major hole, and the team still has 3 months to improve more.

Hill running the floor and finishing the secondary break…can’t wait.

Overall? A solid step in a long process.
  • Magik_Trick

    D’Antoni’s style of play alone gets us 100 points a game, but allowing more was were we struggled.

    We’ve already added 3 defensive minded players, despite being Rubio-less, we did get alot better, the offseason isnt done yet, so we all just have to stay tuned.

  • Where expiring contracts happen

    EPIC FAIL.

    How is he different than Renaldo Balkman?

    A big man who can run the floor, finish and alter shots are his pluses

    His negatives are: No low post moves, no left hand, not very agile, sub-par jump shot, low basketball IQ

    Just because he was the 2nd best big in the draft, doesnt make him good. There were 17 guards taken in the first round for a reason – this was the weakest big man draft in years.

    Welcome back Channing Frye!

    Sorry if this sounds harsh, but i refuse to drink the kool-aid on this pick. I am in the “Rubio or bust” camp.

  • freubr01

    I don’t doubt DW did all in his power and was left with hill as his only option. I’ve watched this guy, vs. UCLA, AZ St., and Tex A+M and he was not an imposing force on the defensive end, he was slow to help and got blocks due to the fact he was planted in the paint running a zone d which won’t be the case in the League. This does allow us to deal Lee and that is okay by me. But we have to be honest with ourselves and realize the moves to come will be the ones to turn around the team, not Jordan Hill. He will be a big time work in progress. But I trust DW

  • Where expiring contracts happen

    We should have swung for the fences on this one instead of crossing our fingers at No. 8.

    This puts even more focus on signing Lebron in 2010. We passed on taking on more salary in exchange for the #5 pick because we are so enamored with the idea that we can land a superstar a year from now.

    As the team stands right now, theres less of a chance for the Knicks to lure guys over here.

  • j

    jordan hill is known to have a nice mid-range doesn’t he?

    the frye comps can’t be avoided… they profile has similar players now but the difference between them is that hill had better numbers than frye at senior as a a freshmen. jordan hill is at least a better rebounder for sure, and i remember that was channing’s biggest flaw when he was with the knicks.

    frye + rebounding skills + much much more potential = good pick

    and kool-aid is unhealthy for you, stick with the truth.

  • Cheech

    After reading everything everyone was saying last night and finally falling asleep. I woke up this morning with some more level headed thoughts.

    1. Us knicks fans were so destroyed that curry got picked by GS, we started to believe some of our own imaginations. Sure, it seems Rubio is not happy in Minny. And he may even go back to spain. But I think we were trying to make ourselves feel better by believing Rubio to the Knicks was gonna happen. I hate to say it. But it does not seem likely. I think it would have happened already. WE ARE MOST LIKELY NOT GETTING RUBIO. Although, I will continue to hope that we do.

    2. Hill and Douglas are the replacements for Lee and Nate, as many of us know. Nate is no doubbt a goner. Dave is 70% a goner in my opinion. But if we make no more moves this offseason, i fear that we will be much worse than last year. Dave and Nate are/were our best players. And even tho down the line hill may be better than both of them, next year he will not. Unless we trade dave and/or nate for something very good, i just dont see this team fighting for a playoff spot next year. And we need to be, bc it does us no good to stink again (as we have no pick).

    3. Im the most excited about Darko. A big man who can block shots and pass. Awesome. I think he can make a difference.

    4. If we can trade nate for a 2-guard or a point guard then i think we may be able to compete. But otherwise our backcourt is to week. Wilson ca not play the 2. And our front court is logjammed. currently: Lee, Hill, Darko, Danilo, Wilson, Harrington. These guys all need to play. Not to mention it makes no sense to not get Curry on the floor. And what about stinking Jeffries.

    5. Y the hell didnt we take Buddinger? He fell into our laps. He would have been a steal. But apperently he really must have no heart bc everybody passed on him.

    Fianlly, we currently have some talent on this team, but with no point guard and no shooting guard, its all in the front court. If we get rid of dave and nate with out bringing in a difference maker and the 1 or the 2 then we are in trouble.

    Also, now that we have 2 big men and many small/power forwards, there is no need to go after Gortat, Artest, Hollins….we should really try hard to get Nash. He can make alot of things better. And would energize a fan base that is going to be really upset when Dave Lee and NAte leave. Gotta get Nash.

    With all this said i am not mad at DW in the least bit. And i am not even disapointed with this draft. We did the best we can. I just wish it would have been a little different. Plus since i am a huge david lee fan it hurts me to draft his replacement.

  • Where expiring contracts happen

    Better than Frye no doubt, (slightly worse jump shot though) but not the major piece that we need long-term like some folks here are convinced he is.

    And he is not the second coming of Amare either, despite what D’Antoni says to the media.

    I would check out his workout with the Warriors that is on YouTube. I wasn’t terribly impressed so I am not at all shocked that GS passed on him.

  • Dan C

    Awesome. Knicks spend the 8th overall selection on an athletic big who can rebound, alter shots, and dunk. He can’t play in the half-court, in the post, can’t create his own shot, can’t shoot, and judging from last night’s interview, he’s less than excited to be in New York. But don’t worry, he’ll unleash thunderous dunks every other game! Players like this don’t come around that often in the NBA. Amare Stoudamire, Kenyon Martin, Chris Wilcox, Melvin Ely, Drew Gooden, Nene, Hakim Warrick, Stromile Swift…I can keep going here…

    This is a case of a lot of people looking at a shiny new toy (Hill in this case) and gushing over it’s shiny and newness. The truth, which we all know, is that within 18 months, he will be the subject of trade rumors abound and has zero chance of signing either an extension or a second deal with this team. Neither side will be interested. We now have a rent-a-dunker.

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