After a dismal season last year, the Knicks entered the NBA Draft Lottery with a good chance to land a high pick. They wound up with the #6, and were arguably bumped out of the top 5 by their draft nemesis in recent years, the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls won the lottery with only a 1% chance of doing so.
The presumptive #1 right now is Derrick Rose, a PG out of Memphis. He lead his team to the NCAA finals and his draft stock skyrocketed. Rose has presumably knocked college player of the year Michael Beasley out of the top spot. (No, Tyler Hansborough doesn’t count, he will suck if he makes the pros, trust me). Miami may grab Beasley with the #2, but rumors abound as to what they will do, and this willaffect the subsequent picks at Minnesota, Seattle, and Memphis.
So what should the Knicks do at #6. Honestly, I will have to speculate a lot because the draft is so uncertain at the top. Memphis may trade their pick, and one rumor had the Knicks sending David Lee and Malik Rose to the Grizz for Brian Cardinal. I will march on MSG with torches burining if they move one of the only good pieces on the team.
If they keep the pick, mock drafts have the Knicks picking Danilo Gallinari, a 19 year old Italian player. Scouts and people who follow such things tout his father’s ties to new Knick head coach Mike d’Antoni, as the two were formerly players together in the Italian league. Here are some highlights of the kid at work.
I am slow to the party with Euros, and I am not sure that his game would necessarily mesh with the Knicks current roster. However, the Knicks do have a new GM in Donnie Walsh and a new coach whose style differs radically from that of Isiah Thomas. The team could be in store for a big overhaul, but Walsh has also stated that his ultimate goal is to be well under the salary cap by the time free agents like Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade and most importantly LeBron James come on the market.
Personally, I would love to see the Knicks swing something to get OJ Mayo. Mayo is a point guard who could orchestrate and up-tempo offense, get his own buckets, and thrive on the Ny stage because of his swagger.
Check him out here:
A true big-man is another need, but if the Knicks take either of the Lopez stiffs I will again march on MSG with torches blazing. I would love to see the Knicks get a PG to bring along behing Marbury, or take their shot at Mayo via a trade.
