Chris Taft, 2005 Draft and David Lee Memories

by Tommy Dee on July 15th, 2010 at 3:13 pm

Via Knickerblogger

But the final name David Stern announced before ceding the night’s emcee duties to Russ Granik was not Taft, it was Lee: a four-year senior who had averaged a workmanlike 11 and 7 in his time with the Gators and who projected to offer similarly steady but unspectacular production in a bench role for the Knicks.  For a team with absolutely nothing to get excited about, this seemed like a classic example of Isiah buying a nice new set of snow tires when he couldn’t afford a car (to say nothing of the fact that, in Kurt Thomas, the Knicks already possessed a set of the same model of snow tires, and a more broken-in set at that).  The pick was illogical, miscalculated, and hubristic.  And it was just about the only thing Isiah got right in his time at the helm.*

*I’ll spare you the effort of looking it up: Taft eventually went 42nd overall, somewhat coincidentally to the same Golden State Warriors that now employ Lee.  He played in 17 games, averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds, underwent back surgery and hasn’t played basketball professionally since 2006.  Again, remind me I wanted this guy the next time I criticize a personnel decision. more.

I dismiss Lee’s stats to a fault. I think people who believe that his offense is a fluke are being misguided. Defensively, he was overmatched and underwhelming guarding 4s and 5s. What it always came down to was space and at the 4 position, Lee just didn’t have the mid range game. I think he will in Golden State and have the chance to shoot it a ton. He’ll be effective.

The real point here is the importance of hitting the jackpot late in any draft. It’s not easy. I can name 10 people I know who wanted Taft, the local product from Xaverian. Isiah truly got Lee right, and that could be looked at as an important moment in franchise history if the Knicks can spin Anthony Randolph in a package for a star player of if he becomes one himself

Ironically, I liked Turiaf very much at 30.
  • knicks497

    Why are you already peddling Anthony Randolph for a star is he becomes one himself? What would be so wrong in keeping the guy? Especially if he does hit his ceiling like many are flirting with, his next contract wouldn’t be of “star” value… it would be anywhere from like 9-13 million, saving 4-5 million lost by trading for a Melo-like player.

  • Russ

    You wouldn’t trade Anthony Randolph (plus a few players) for Melo?

  • HawthorneWingo43

    Lee had no midge-range game?

    I would beg to differ. He seemed to have developed quite a nice mid-range game last season (as he improved his game each season he was with us). The only thing David hasn’t done offensively is hit 3-pointers, which quite frankly, we never needed him to do.

  • gbaked

    had… not has.

  • SlowDeath

    oh man im just glad that tommy is back…this blog serously suffered without him!!!!

  • knicks497

    Now, of course. But you’re going off Randolph’s talent now.

    If that 2% chance he becomes a diamond in the rough superstar, then the prospect of getting Melo is kind of pointless, right? Trade a superstar for a superstar? He’s also 5 years younger…

    Dont mistake me for saying he WILL become a superstar, but who knows

  • Chris Alvino

    Yeah a lot of people been saying that haha.

    Anyway, I watched Chris Taft play in high school against St. Ray’s and I was not impressed with him at all. He was a giant in high school, but he struck me as lazy and dis-interested. He was Big East ROY at Pitt, which surprised me based on what I saw out of him in high school.

    I thought he was highly overrated.

  • Bloop33

    What is this David Lee Appreciation day?

  • CircleLimit4

    Looking back the 2005 draft was weird. There were some disappointments, some pleasant surprises and a lot of flat out busts. I don’t know if Isiah really knew what Lee could do or if he just got lucky.

    I remember wanting Jason Maxiell to fall to us in 2005, I thought he could be a better Anthony Mason. After he was snatched up I didn’t really care and was convinced the 30th pick would be a throwaway. For all of his faults defensively, Lee did earn his keep as a 30th pick.

  • mustarda

    It’s next month, I can’t wait!

  • Bloop33

    I pray AR-4 steps it up to the tune of David Lee’s 07-08 campaign, that would be huge for us. He’s the perfect compliment for zone defenses as well, something we will def be employing a lot more, especially against teams like Miami. He’s long enough to disrupt passing lanes very effectively and then its off to the races.

    We just need his stock to rise to the point he’d look nice in a package with Chandler and maybe a Felton to acquire a CP3.

  • ds2488

    Unfortunately, that was about the only thing Isiah got right in his tenure with the Knicks. Well, at least that turned into Randolph, Azubuike, and Turiaf.

    David Lee was a great, great draft pick. At least he hasn’t trashed the Knicks and/or Mike Dantoni on his way out the door. I will be cheering for him, even if I was somewhat disgusted by his play down the stretch last year. As a Knicks fan, unfortunately Lee had/has been one of the few bright spots these past few years.

  • Bloop33

    I don’t think there will ever be another Anthony Mason lol. What a classic that Mase was!

    I’ll never forget going to the movies in middle school in Westchester with this badddd little red head (huge cans for a 14 year old) to see “Bad Boys” and Mase strolled up to get tickets with his son. He was rocking a big yellow rain slicker coat and hat! lookin like a big black “Gortons Fisherman” Dude was like a yellow cheese bus strolling up to the theater. The good ol’ days man.

  • jgilch82

    Taft was a freshman when I was a senior at Xaverian. He had a good freshman year at Pitt … mobile, athletic, long, and good hand. He should have stayed at Pitt at least another year.

  • gotoguyy

    Google prior drafts going as far back as you’d like and check the first round players names plenty of busts and some nice scores too. I’ll put David Lee in the later column. I, like others here was glad he was a Knick! And even as a free agent we got back equal and hopefully better valve in AR the other 2 could help us to!

  • cms9675

    I agree that developing randolph should a priority. I. Think he will end up having a much better career than lee will. The west will end up swallowing lee up whole. We can stop dreaming of melo, atleast until we know more about what he wants.

  • Melo2NYplz

    Im not even gonna lie I really liked Chris Taft back in 05 n thought he was gonna be a good player.

  • cms9675

    I know right! There are three things that are getting old really fast. 1. Lebron talk
    2. Lee vs Amare talk
    3. Melo and Paul talk

    Why can’t people be happy with what we already have?

  • Melo2NYplz

    just disregard whatever knicks497 said

  • SlowDeath

    soorry chris no offense! haha

  • JeffM729

    A couple of points here on David Lee. First he is the best white American basketball player in the league. Second he could have been locked into a long term contract at a very low cost in a prior season. having Lee at $6-8 million would have been a steal.

    Finally Anthony Randolph has a long way to go before being compared to David Lee. Let’s see if he can even manage to start for the Knicks. He is so totally over hyped it’s not even funny. He only shot 44% from the field and started 8 games. Yeah, lots of potential, right…..

  • Melo2NYplz

    totally agree with you

    i really liked randolph since his days at lsu hes got a ton of potential

    some of these fans r just overhyping the kid his platea is a more athletic lamar odom
    they prolly never even watched him play besides watching a youtube clip

  • chubby

    Screw you JeffM!!! People here having AR-4 creaming session. David who?

  • Starksfor3

    This just in! I have an impeccable source who just spotted Isiah Thomas and LeBron James dining at a Chick-Fil-A outside Tallahassee.