Tag Archives: 2008 NBA Draft
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 |Greg Hutchins of the Garden Grasp had this to add after reading my take on the draft. Of course Greg was at the WaMu center and sat in on the Danilo Gallinari press conference after he was picked. Here was Greg’s take:
With optimism at a fever pitch heading into the 6th pick, David Stern’s announcement that Italy’s
Danilo Gallinari is now the future of the Knicks sucked the gravity out of the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden. Fans who longed for an “engine” to push Mike D’Antoni’s offense, were shocked with the Donnie Walsh’s choice.
As one of the reporters on hand for Gallinari’s first interview, it was clear the 19 year-old SF from Armani Jeans Milano was happy to be drafted by New York, but shocked by the intense reaction of a rabid crowd.
Credit Donnie Walsh for the moxy to make such a unfavorable selection, but clearly the Knicks did not address an area of need. Rather, he added another shoot-first perimeter player.
Tommy Dee says……
Not true. Gallinari has complete and polished offensive skills. He’ll excel on the perimeter, but is not “shoot first” – he’s “lights out.” Big difference.
And trust me Walsh will get his PG….
Gallinari may prove his doubters wrong, but the “Darko” factor is now in play. More shocking was Walsh’s inability to secure a second pick in a deep draft or move a contract. Considering the flurry of deals reported, it’s shocking to see Walsh get shutout.
Draft grade: C-
I am not going to give the Knicks that low of a grade since I think they took “one of the best available players that was left”. That is debatable but to give the Knicks that low of a grade might be a bit harsh. I think this pick is one that needs to be judged in a year or two before we can accurately assess its impact.
Tagged 2008 NBA Draft, Danilo Gallinari |I had the opportunity to go to the NBA Draft for the first time last night. The experience was interesting with all the “buzz” going on in the WaMu Theater.
Overall the NBA puts on a great show and knows how to market. There were plenty of stations, both inside and outside the Garden, where fans could be entertained. Additionally, plenty of advertisers had the opportunity to pitch their products (Sprite being the main sponsor of the draft) and give away free goodies.
The interesting part of the draft is that there is not the normal demarcation line between the players and everyone else. There are various “Green Rooms”, but you could easily run into Derrick Rose going to the concession stand as you walked through the building. I actually sat a few rows behind Alexis Ajinca, who went #20 to the Bobcats.
As for the Knicks, I felt bad for Daniilo Gallinari and how he was treated by the fans. It reminded me of how Philadelphia Eagles fans booed Donavan McNabb when he was drafted. I was very unsure of where the Knicks should go this draft. Part of the reason is that the roster was so mis-managed by Isiah that I still don’t know how good (or bad) this team is.
Coach D’Antoni is hoping for Gallinari to be Nowitzki or Kukoc on the high end. If he winds up somewhere in between that is not a bad player. Is this a player that the Knicks could build around? No. But honestly, outside of the first two picks, who really was a building block? How many building blocks are ever taken after the first five picks?
I will talk more about this on today’s draft recap show on Knicksblog Radio, but I hope the fans get over their initial disappointment and support the new regime. Everyone gave Isiah a chance at the beginning so I believe D’Antoni and Walsh deserve the benefit of the doubt.
With that being said, Walsh can’t be wrong on this pick. If Gallinari is anything less then “Kukoc” it could set the franchise back even further. I believe they could get a point guard in a trade that would be as good as a Gorden or Augustin, but with this market who knows.
Give credit to Tommy Dee and the rest of the guys here at Knicksblog for calling Gallinari very early when they found out about New Jersey looking to move up to 5. I had a feeling after Mayo was taken by Minnesota that he would not fall to the Knicks. I knew Gallinari was in the cards once Westbrook went to Seattle. I will be talking more about this trade at 1pm today on Knicksblog Radio Draft Recap.
If you missed the Draft and want a recap click on ESPN’ Draft Recap
Tagged 2008 NBA Draft, Danilo Gallinari |We had a chance to listen to Danilo Gallinari speak right after he was selected at the draft. Take a read of the transcript given to us courtesy of ASAP Sports.
Q: Talk about your feelings about being picked.
DG: I’m so excited, I have no words. It’s a dream for me and I really don’t know what to say. I’m so excited and happy to be here
Q: As I am sure you already know for the most part, European players are pretty much hit or mis; can you explain what makes you different then any other European player?
DG: I just don’t know. I like to say to journalist and coaches that say this — I don’t know, I let you say that.
Q: Were you expecting to go to the Knicks?
DG: I didn’t really know where I was going, so to be here, I am so happy, but I didn’t know.
I know this is a dream come true for you, but was it hard to hear the boos when your name was announced and the city you were going to play in?
DG: It’s part of the game, all of the players have go to hear this. Not ever time you can hear good things. So it’s normal here.
Q: Being a foreign-born player, was it important to be in a big city like New York where some players who have wound up in smaller cities say its a harder adjustment; Was that on your mind?
DG: Yes, I think its a good situation for that, and I think New York is similar to Milan and I would like to be here, and it’s nice.
Q: How familiar are you with Coach D’Antoni?
DG: If I met him? Oh, I met him only one time. My father knows him. I don’t know him like my father. So I met him only one time six years ago.
Q: Do you feel it was unfair to get booed since they don’t really know you or your game?
DG: No I feel normal and comfortable with that. I have no problem and it’s my work to prove to everybody that I am a good player
Q: for people that have not seen you play, what NBA player would you say you are most similar to?
DG: I really don’t know. I will try to bring my European game. Mike D’Antoni played many years in Europe. I played in Europe and now to be here, I don’t really know how to compare me to another player; I don’t know.
Q: How much do you know about the Knicks franchise and the hard times they have fallen on the past few seasons?
DG: I know, I have seen some cassettes in Italy, and I remember the time when Ewing was playing here and New York was doing so well. IN the last two or three year, they didn’t do so well, but I hope in the future that they come back.
Q: Did to talk to Andrea and Mark about this process?
DG: We didn’t talk so much about the process because when we came for the European Championships, everybody was talking about the NBA to them and I didn’t want to rock the boat and talk about the NBA, so we talked about other things.
Tagged 2008 NBA Draft, Danilo Gallinari |I will be at the WAMU Center tonight with Greg Hutchins of the Garden Grasp to cover the NBA draft. I hope to be giving you update posts from my phone if I hear anything. I will also hope to grab some audio to put on the Knicks Blog Radio Show tomorrow. Stay tuned for details on the draft and radio show.
Tagged 2008 NBA Draft |A few interesting tidbits from Newsday’s “The Knicks Fix” as Alan Hahn reports on some NBA scuttlebutt. According to Hahn, the Bucks will be shopping guards Mo Williams and Michael Redd this summer and says the Knicks have showned some interest in Redd. Also, in the NY Post, Brian Lewis profile’s Anthony Randolph “The Shot Blocking Fiend”
Michael Redd is an interesting name but two problems arise when you discuss bringing in another two guard:
1) You first would have to deal Jamal Crawford and
2) Redd’s contract extends past 2010.
I agree with Alan Hahn when he says the Knicks should focus on the point guard situation versus bringing in another scoring guard.
As for Anthony Randolph, I wouldn’t mind seeing a shot blocking, athletic forward in the mold of Marcus Camby back at the Garden.
Its a shame the Knicks don’t have more then one pick because there seems to be some depth in this draft. You can’t justify, as some mock drafts predicted, using the number six pick on what will essentially be a role player.
Tagged 2008 NBA Draft, Anthony Randolph, Michael Redd |Frank Isola of the Daily News outlines who is scheduled today to work out for the Knicks in Orlando. The list includes:
Joe Alexander (junior F, 6-8, 230, West Virginia), Chase Budinger (sophomore F, 6-7, 208, Arizona), Sundiata Gaines (senior G, 6-1, 210, Georgia), Steven Hill (senior F/C, 7-0, 245, Arkansas), JaVale McGee (junior C/F, 7-0, 237, Nevada) and Russell Westbrook (sophomore G, 6-3, 187, UCLA).
Isola also speculates that the names on this group could mean that Donnie Walsh is looking to add another late round draft pick or trade the six pick since none of these individuals are worthy of a lottery pick.
Mike Dougherty of the Journal News gives an interesting take on McGee,Westbrook, and Budinger.
Great read if your interested in some late round talent. None of these individuals stand out to me as difference makers on a ballclub.
Tagged 2008 NBA Draft |Marc Berman of the NY Post profiles LSU freshman Anthony Randolph. According to Randolph the Knicks, Charlotte and Milwaukee are most interested in his services. Berman states that the Knicks have already scheduled a workout for Randolph in June. By the way if your looking for some numbers he averaged 15.6 points and 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks his freshman year. To read more about Anthony Randolph check out his profile at draftexpress.com.
Add another name of intrigue. Draft Express has this analysis of Randolph “It all starts with his physical tools…6-10 or 6-11, incredibly long, left-handed, fluid, quick, explosive off his feet, with great open-court speed…Randolph fits the bill and then some. He does have an extremely lanky frame, one that might struggle to put on significant weight even down the road.” Sounds a bit like Marcus Camby, but we all know how that turned out. Again I am not sure if this is the kind of player worth taking at #6. It sounds like Randolph can be a valuable asset to a club that is closer to contention then the Knicks. For the record I like these types of players and believe the Knicks are going to need a couple more when its all said and done. Remember what Pat Riley said “no rebounds = no rings”. Of course you have to have a foundation to get to the point where you are talking championship. We all know the Knicks are no where near that.
Tagged 2008 NBA Draft, Anthony Randolph |Marc Berman of the NY Post writes today that there is a possibility of the Knicks trading their first round pick. During a state of the union in Orlando Walsh was quoted as saying: “We’re going to look at every option. Trade it outright for a very good NBA player, trade back for multiple picks, or trade up. There’s a lot of different things you do. You explore everything.” Berman also points out how you could argue that picks 3 through 12 are very similar.
All along I have had this feeling that the Knicks will trade this pick. There seems to be no real “impact player” outside of Beasley and Rose. If OJ Mayo is the “best of the rest” that might not be the kind of risk this team wants to take. I am on record as saying that trading the pick for established talent is the way to go as long as you don’t bust the salary cap in the process. Now if a player like Carmelo Anthony is available then all bets are off. I believe its starting to look like the only way to 1) Move contracts like Zach Randolph for cap relief and 2) Get any type of guarenteed peformance out of the six pick would be to package it in a deal. Just a week into writing for Knicksblog and I already have waffled on my thoughts. For the record, I spoke to my friend Anthony Donahue who works for ESPN and is a Knicks season ticket holder and he has a sense that this pick will be traded. “Rice Balls” has a tendency to be correct when assessing the pulse of this team so I will take that into consideration.
Tagged 2008 NBA Draft, Donnie Walsh, O.J. Mayo |Greg Hutchins of the Garden Grasp takes an interesting view of the number six position outlining how few players chosen from that slot have had such little impact in his “Looming Decisions” column. You could also see his brief analysis on some of the top talent in the draft here. 
It’s scary to see how little impact the number six slot has had historically. As a matter of fact, I reviewed the history of the draft at nbahoopsonline.com to see this for myself. You can make your own judgments, but the last true impact player chosen at number six: Larry Bird by the Boston Celtics in 1978.
Tommy Dee writes…Can’t forget Brandon Roy.
Tagged 2008 NBA Draft, Garden Grasp, Larry Bird | ← Older posts
