Knicks Draft Recap
With the 17th pick the Knicks selected Iman Shumpert. The Knicks hope Shumpert will provide a defensive presence to the team that so desperately needs to improve that side of the ball. Shumpert is not known for his offense, shooting only 27% from 3-point land as a junior at Georgia Tech, but coach D’Antoni was very impressed by his offensive abilities at his workout on June 9.
“His knock was he couldn’t shoot, but as soon as he got the ball, his form was perfect and he made shots,” D’Antoni said. “You can say it’s one day. But by his form, we think he can become very good shooter. If that’s the knock on him, we’re excited about that. His best qualities are defensively and athleticism, but his workout is one of the best we’ve ever had and we’ve been drafting high the past three years. We all turned together at the same time and said, ‘Wow, this is pretty good.’ ”
The 17th pick was a little higher than Shumpert was projected to go. Some experts didn’t even have him being drafted till the second round. Iman knows his defensive ability is why he was chosen, and is excited about his helping the Knicks improve on that end of the floor.
In the second round the Knicks bought the 45th pick from the New Orleans Hornets. The Knicks decided to fill their need for another big by selecting former Kentucky center Josh Harrellson. The 6’10” 270 pound, Harrellson was not much of a factory at all his first few years of college, averaging only 1.3 points as a junior. He put together a solid senior year after Enes Kantner was ruled ineligible, averaging 7.6 points, 4.7 rebounds.
Harrellson may not be ready for the rotation as a rookie, but unless the Knicks pick up another big body in free agency, he is likely to get some minutes due to the fact that the Knicks only have one center under contract, Ronny Turiaf.
Knicks Looking to Deal Toney Douglas?
Toney Douglas
No formal deals have been made, but the Knicks have had talks with Timberwolves about trading Douglas for Jonny Flynn. Minnesota finally signed Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio who was taken one pick ahead of Flynn in the 2009 draft. Flynn has been somewhat of a disappointment for the 6th pick in the draft. Medical issues have hampered his short career so far. Last year he played only 53 games after having hip surgery.
Toney Douglas has also had medical issues of his own. He is coming off major shoulder surgery. This surgery could make him tough to deal, but because of the Rubio signing, Flynn has become more expendable. The Knicks are looking to upgrade their back up to Billups, someone who could also take over the starting job once Billups moves on.
Another option could be Ramon Sessions who may become available for a trade if the Cleveland Cavaliers pick former Duke point guard, Kyrie Irving, with the number one pick in next week’s draft as expected.
There have been rumors that the Knicks may attempt to move up from the 17th pick in the draft, or purchase a late first round or second round pick.
Good News for Billups!
So Chauncey Billups received some good news yesterday…His knee is fine! An MRI showed no further damage. Billups will now be able to start training for next season right away. This is not only good for Billups, but good for his trade stock. The Knicks who are looking for a Center, could end up trading Billups. Billups expiring contract is a very valuable asset to have, and the Knick’s could end up getting a legitimate starting center in return for it.
It has been rumored for the past year that the Knicks are trying to assemble their own “Big 3″ following the model of the Miami Heat. Although after seeing the results of this years NBA finals they may want to re-think this model. The Mavericks proved that a well-rounded deep bench playing together as a TEAM is much better than 3 superstars. The Knicks may be in better position than the Heat though if they were able to sign Chris Paul or Deron Williams next summer, and trade Billups for a starting center like Nene or Chris Kaman.
The Knicks intentions will be more clear after the June 23 draft.
Is Jerome Jordan the Answer at Center?
Jerome Jordan who was drafted by the Knicks last year, but was not signed may be able to help fill one of New York’s biggest needs next year. The 7 foot 235 pound center was the Knicks second round pick last year. Nicknamed the “Jamaican Hurricane”, Jordan played college ball at Tulsa, and has spent this last year developing his skills in Serbia.
Jordan seems excited about the opportunity of playing alongside Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony next season. He is headed to New York to meet with Knicks staff, but probably will not work out because of surgery he underwent 3 weeks ago for a ruptured appendix.
while Jordan will probably be playing a key role for the Knicks next year, he probably won’t be signed until after lockout ends. A new CBA is likely to be more favorable to the team.
Jordan has only been playing organized basketball since he moved to the United States at age 17, but is able to block shots, rebound, and is an efficient low-post scorer who can pick and role.
Walsh Gone; Glen Grunwald to Serve as Interim GM
Donnie Walsh who has helped rebuild the Knick’s program as President and General Manager has decided to leave the organization. Owner Jim Dolan wanted Walsh to sign a multi-year deal. Walsh gave the following reason for moving on, “I don’t know if I can be up to that, I don’t know if I can commit to that, because I’m getting older,” he said. “I do this job only one way – and that is full forward ahead. It’s 24-7 with me, and I think that’s what it takes. “I didn’t think I could do it over a multi-year period. I just didn’t.”
At age 70 Walsh has had a history of health problems, undergoing several surgeries the past 3 years.
Although both parties say the parting ways is mutual, the deal Walsh turned down is said to have included a 40% pay cut.
Walsh also insisted that Dolan’s involvement in the teams push for Carmelo, and involvement in other negotiations did not bother him. He did however, say that Isaiah Thomas’ influence on Dolan was “annoying,” but only because the press made it a big deal.Walsh replaced Thomas as the team president. He also hired Mike D’Antoni to replace Thomas as the head coach.
Friday, Walsh had the following to say about his relationship with Dolan, “I had a very good relationship with Jim,” Walsh continued. “He treated me very well. I never could understand reports that he wasn’t or that we weren’t getting along. I worked with owners before and there’s a give-and-take all the time but it never goes to the core of the relationship. That’s the way I felt about Jim. I didn’t think he and I were going to agree on everything but basically he wanted a good basketball (team), I wanted to give him a good basketball team.”
Walsh is still under contract through the June 23rd draft, after which Glen Grunwald, the senior vice president of basketball operations, will take over as interim GM in July. Walsh will serve as a consultant and mentor for his replacement next year.
After learning Walsh will no longer be the GM, Coach D’Antoni who has one year left on his contract, has expressed his continued desire to be the Knick’s coach. His agent gave the following statement, “This is the team Mike wants to coach,” said his agent, Warren LeGarie. “He spent two years putting it in position not only to have a winning record but a playoff appearance. This is where he’d like to continue to coach as long as they want him.”
NBA Players union files claim against owners
Its looking less and less likely that the Players Union and the NBA are going to come to an agreement within the next month after the union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.
Chris Sheridan of ESPN reportes:
The union for NBA players filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board Tuesday, seeking an injunction that would prevent owners from imposing a lockout when the current collective bargaining agreement expires June 30.
The players’ union, less than a month after receiving the latest formal proposal from the owners, is accusing the owners of negotiating in bad faith.
The complaint, in part, alleges the NBA is “making harsh, inflexible, and grossly regressive ‘takeaway’ demands that the NBA knows are not acceptable to the Union.”
The complaint further alleges the NBA is engaging in “classic ‘take it or leave it’ and surface bargaining” with the intent of running out the clock on the CBA, “until the NBA locks out the represented employees in order to coerce them into accepting the NBA’s harsh and regressive demands.”
The NBA issued a statement in response to the complaint.
“There is no merit to the charge filed today by the Players Association with the National Labor Relations Board, as we have complied — and will continue to comply — with all of our obligations under the federal labor laws. It will not distract us from our efforts to negotiate in good faith a new collective bargaining agreement with the Players Association,” the league said in a statement.
I’m hoping they reach an agreement soon. The thought of a year without the NFL or NBA is not a very pleasant thought.
More 2011 Draft News
When asked about the draft Donnie Walsh had the following to say about the draft,
“Guards — I wouldn’t say specific,” Walsh said. “You can always use help at guards. You can’t be guard-poor. It’s always good to be guard-rich. But even saying that, someone out there we think is really good, you got to look at him.”
“There are needs,” Walsh added. “I always look at the draft if we get a guy whose good, who could fill a need, that’s wonderful. But it may come down to who’s the best player. You can’t pass on a great player.
Walsh, who still has not official agreed to return next year made a terrific pick with the 39th pick last year, choosing Landry Fields. Fields made the first team All-Rookie team as the Knicks starting shooting guard last year.
If there are no defensive minded big men left on the board at number 17 the Knicks may want to think about drafting a point guard. Chauncey Billups is in the final year of his contract, and Toney Douglass has yet to prove that he can be point guard of the future. The best point guards in the draft are Duke’s Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight of Kentucky, and Kemba Walker of UConn. However, all these prospects are likely to be long gone by the time the Knicks pick.
Point Guards that may be available include Josh Selby of Kansas, Jimmer Fredette of BYU, Reggie Jackson of Boston College, Charles Jenkins from Hofstra, Darius Morris of Michigan.
If the Knicks are going to choose a Point Guard, Jackson would the prospect I would want them to choose. Reggie Jackson at 6-foot-3 has a 7-foot wingspan. Last season he improved his 3 point shooting from 29 percent to 42 percent. He led the Golden Eagles in scoring and assists.
Will the Knicks get Jimmer?
Jimmer Fredette has agreed to a workout with the Knicks in Westchester June 2. While the high scoring National player of year probably would be a good fit in D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense, is he really what the Knicks need? There is no question Jimmer can score, but the Knicks who have plenty of offense as it is, need to focus on improving their defense this off season. His defensive ability has been Jimmer’s biggest question mark and at 6’1″, Fredette is undersized, but he did show tremendous heart in his career at BYU averaging an impressive 28.9 points a gaime his senior year as a Cougar.
Fredette may not be available at the 17th pick, and I don’t think it would be wise for the Knicks to trade up in order to acquire the Glen Falls native. Although, D’Antoni does love sharpshooters like Jimmer.
Jimmer is not too concerned about the money, he says he doesn’t even mind if he’s not a lottery pick, as long as he lands on a team where he’s a good fit. He had this to say about the possibility of becoming a Knick, “It’s a team that’s definitely intriguing especially with their style of play, being able to get up and down the court, that’s what we did at BYU. That’s how I feel comfortable playing. Obviously, being from New York and liking the Knicks growing up, we’ll see.”
Fredette was worked about by the Knicks as he tested the draft waters last year, but after a strained quad muscle, the workout was cut short. Jimmer pulled out of the draft a few days later after not receiving a guarantee.
Another possible destination for Jimmer could be Utah who own the 3rd and 12th pick. While Jimmer could help the Knicks as a deadly spot up shooter, I think New York needs to focus on more dire needs this off season such as a true defensive minded center.
Who should the Knicks pick in Draft
The Knicks have the 17th pick in this years draft. The draft this year is not very deep talent-wise, but if the Knicks are smart with this pick they should be able to add a player that can help them improve. The Knicks most glaring needs are at Center and Shooting Guard.
Here are some prospects at the Center/Power Forward position and Shooting Guard/Small Forward position that the Knicks should be considering for the June 23rd draft.
1. Kenneth Faried, Morehead State, 6’8″ Forward-Center
If he were a couple inches taller there is no way he would be available for the 17th pick. Kenneth Faried could be the defensive stopper the Knicks have been lacking. Faried is a rebounding machine, pulling down 14.5 rebounds a game last season at Morehead State, something the Knicks could definitely use more of next season.
2. Markieff Morris, Kansas, 6’10″ Forward
Markieff has faced tougher competition than Faried, and even though his defensive numbers are not quite as impressive, his transition to the NBA would probably be smoother. A strong finisher and good shooter from the floor, Markieff would be a good compliment to Stoudemire.
3. Jordan Williams, Maryland, 6’10″ Forward-Center
Averaging nearly 17 points and 12 rebounds a game as a sophomore last season for Maryland, Williams is an excellent post-up player. He is not a very good shooter, even from the foul line he only averaged 56 percent. Preparing for the draft Williams as shown his dedication to improving by losing 25 pounds.
4. Trey Thompkins, Georgia, 6’9″ Power Forward
Although not quite as big as Williams, Thompkins is a more agile big man. He is a good pick-and-role player with good hands and a high basketball I.Q. at 47 percent from the field Thompkins is not a very good shooter. If the 3 big men above are already taken, Thompkins may be worth taking.
5. Nikola Mirotic, Serbia, 6’10″ Power forward
While Mirotic is not as well known as some of the other big men in the draft, he may be worth taking a look at. He does not have a solid inside game, but makes up for that with his job shot. He will need to work on his inside game, but his ability to get out in transition could cause Coach D’Antoni take a look at him.
6. Jordan Hamilton, Texas, 6’7″ Shooting Guard/Small Forward
If the Knicks decide to look for a big man though free agency, Hamilton could be the guy they pick if he is still available at pick 17. He can score from anywhere, and is so versatile he can play any position except for center. This athletic prospect would be perfect for the fast paced Knicks offense.
7. Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA, 6’8″ Shooting Guard/Small Forward\
Defense is something the Knicks need to improve this off season, and if they want to do it through the draft, Tyler Honeycutt may be a smart choice. He will probably be one of the better defenders left by this point in the draft. Honeycutt could also compliment the offense, as he is a great passer who is an excellent transition player.
8. Klay Thompson, Washington State, 6’6″, Shooting Guard
Averaging 21.6 points for Washington State last year, Thompson is a pure shooter that would fit perfectly into the Knicks system. He led the Pac-10 in three pointers last season, and is also a decent defender.
9. Chris Singleton, Florida State, 6’9″ Small/Power Forward
Before being injured much of last season Singleton was projected to be a lottery pick, but may slip to the Knicks at 17. He is a good shooter and explosive under the rim. Singleton could definitely bring a fierce defensive presence the Knicks desperately need. He can steal, rebound, and block.
10. Nolan Smith, Duke, 6’3″ Shooting Guard/Point Guard
Smith doesn’t have the size you want to see in an NBA prospect, but has a high basketball I.Q. and can score all over the court. Last year he averaged 20.6 points per game, and 5 assists per game.
What do you think the Knicks should do with the 17th pick?
Jared Jeffries Undergoes Knee Surgery
Knicks big man Jared Jeffries had surgery on his right knee. The procedure was done to clean out debris and will need 6-8 weeks to recover. The Knicks who are in need of the size Jeffries brings, could re-sign the free agent for the veteran’s minimum.
Jeffries was signed to his second stint with the Knicks after the February deadline. He frequently started at center for the Knicks, but was not the defensive stopper that NY desperately needed last season.