Post by kgooglog on Jun 27, 2009 7:29:15 GMT -5
I am in agreement with DA that the Knicks, Donnie Walsh, in particular, are deserving of an "A" for Draft Day. George Willis, one of the few sportswriters (The NY Times), who I still respect, quoted Walsh as saying "I like guys who have to stoop low to get through a door", in reference to Jordan Hill emerging from the Knicks practice facility yesterday. Willis wrote a very nice piece in today's issue of the Times which focused on Hill's game, his family, and the obstacles which had stood in his way, but failed fortunately in keeping Jordan on the right track. What was also a nice change of pace was that Willis wrote about Jordan Hill, and not about the story of today and for the next few weeks, which will be Rick Rubio.
New York Newsday, The NY Post, The New York Daily News, and a plethora of other media sources have certainly dedicated enough columns about Ricky, more so than actually discussing Hill, Toney Douglass, as well as what Bill mentioned in a previous post, the coup that Donnie managed to pull off in trading Q-Rich for Darko Milicic, a deal which does not hurt the Knicks salary cap freedom in the summer of Lebron.
And the best part of draft day remains the fact that it has yet to end for New York, as the Knicks are putting on a full-court press to obtain Rubio, which, if it happens, and most sources intimate that it will, results in New York basically obtaining 4 players, all of whom were first round draft picks.
From all accounts I've heard, Jordan Hill is actually taller than 6'10, and is close to 6'11, which, if he remains a Knick, will allow him to move into the pivot. Milicic is only 24 and close to 7'1, and despite one of my comrade's remark that Darko's clouded career had nothing to do with his torturous experiences with tyrant Larry Brown, it most certainly hurt Darko's confidence in wanting to prove he was worthy of the second overall pick by Detroit 6 years back. Darko blocks shots and his major problems seem to be confidence and poor coaching. I believe Mike D will solve both problems. Toney Douglass will provide strength as a combo guard and while I do not expect him to be Chris Paul, I do think he will play his tail off on defense and be a more than adequate reserve on a Knicks team which plays no defense. And than there is Ricky Rubio, who is currently a Minnesota Timberwolf player.
I've already cited the sources, but those elite executives, scouts, and family members of the young neophyte, believe that the Wolves will trade Rubio to NY and the discussions mayl continue into the middle of July 2009, when David Lee and Nate Robinson are able to be marketed. I am of the belief that Minnesota's selection of a player who had openly declared prior to the draft that he didn't wish to play for their franchise, was a move that will backfire on them and here is why. Rubio is in no hurry to join his new team, did not show up for the team's announcement or introduction of him to the organization and the T'Wolves' fans, has his agent working fervently to work out the details of his "dream" of playing in New York, and Walsh has already established contact with David Kahn, his former "student".
Rubio is not making an idle threat to return to his Euro team for 2 more years, for it would cost him about $6 million dollars to break his contract, and his rookie scale pay is approximately $2.7 million dollars in his first year. Ricky has also stated that he will immediately report to the Knicks if a trade is consummated. With all things considered, I think Walsh and the Knicks have Minnesota by the short and curlies, and will not have to throw Minnesota our most promising player in Wilson Chandler in any deal for Ricky Rubio. In fact, a name being bandied about is Jared Jeffries and a possible future conditional first rounder for Ricky. Of course, there are the standard sign and trade scenarios involving one of the two RFAs we have, and in this hypothetical deal, July 9th is the key date.
Most intriguing, however, and the best scenario in my book, would be the Mobley contract, which Minnesota desperately covets due to enormous financial constraints of the franchise. This, along with reports that the Wolves do not want Hill and are not supposedly interested in David Lee due to his PF position being filled by Al Jefferson, make me believe that the Mobley contract in exchange for Brian Cardinal, will be sufficient to "sway" Kahn into making this a very rapid transaction.
I think Rubio is a gifted, special player, but I would not just hand over Wilson Chandler, Lee or Nate, plus a valuable contract for an unproven 18 year old, who basically has the Wolves backed into the corner. No NBA team wants their #6 draft pick to play 2 more years in Europe and then possibly sit out until his rights are relinquished. Not even the inept Minnesota Timberwolves.
I give them Mobley's 80% insurance covered contract, take Cardinal's asinine salary off the T'Wolves' hands, and snag the Ruby off their hands, for this can get really ugly for Minny, really fast. If they want Jared Jeffries, than they don't get the Cuttino contract.
My point is simply that Minnesota has little choice but to accept their punishment for making an ill-advised draft selection, assuming that Ricky Rubio wants to be part of one of the worst teams in the NBA. Not happening.
Okay, they can have Jared Jeffries, too. I am not heartless ; )
New York Newsday, The NY Post, The New York Daily News, and a plethora of other media sources have certainly dedicated enough columns about Ricky, more so than actually discussing Hill, Toney Douglass, as well as what Bill mentioned in a previous post, the coup that Donnie managed to pull off in trading Q-Rich for Darko Milicic, a deal which does not hurt the Knicks salary cap freedom in the summer of Lebron.
And the best part of draft day remains the fact that it has yet to end for New York, as the Knicks are putting on a full-court press to obtain Rubio, which, if it happens, and most sources intimate that it will, results in New York basically obtaining 4 players, all of whom were first round draft picks.
From all accounts I've heard, Jordan Hill is actually taller than 6'10, and is close to 6'11, which, if he remains a Knick, will allow him to move into the pivot. Milicic is only 24 and close to 7'1, and despite one of my comrade's remark that Darko's clouded career had nothing to do with his torturous experiences with tyrant Larry Brown, it most certainly hurt Darko's confidence in wanting to prove he was worthy of the second overall pick by Detroit 6 years back. Darko blocks shots and his major problems seem to be confidence and poor coaching. I believe Mike D will solve both problems. Toney Douglass will provide strength as a combo guard and while I do not expect him to be Chris Paul, I do think he will play his tail off on defense and be a more than adequate reserve on a Knicks team which plays no defense. And than there is Ricky Rubio, who is currently a Minnesota Timberwolf player.
I've already cited the sources, but those elite executives, scouts, and family members of the young neophyte, believe that the Wolves will trade Rubio to NY and the discussions mayl continue into the middle of July 2009, when David Lee and Nate Robinson are able to be marketed. I am of the belief that Minnesota's selection of a player who had openly declared prior to the draft that he didn't wish to play for their franchise, was a move that will backfire on them and here is why. Rubio is in no hurry to join his new team, did not show up for the team's announcement or introduction of him to the organization and the T'Wolves' fans, has his agent working fervently to work out the details of his "dream" of playing in New York, and Walsh has already established contact with David Kahn, his former "student".
Rubio is not making an idle threat to return to his Euro team for 2 more years, for it would cost him about $6 million dollars to break his contract, and his rookie scale pay is approximately $2.7 million dollars in his first year. Ricky has also stated that he will immediately report to the Knicks if a trade is consummated. With all things considered, I think Walsh and the Knicks have Minnesota by the short and curlies, and will not have to throw Minnesota our most promising player in Wilson Chandler in any deal for Ricky Rubio. In fact, a name being bandied about is Jared Jeffries and a possible future conditional first rounder for Ricky. Of course, there are the standard sign and trade scenarios involving one of the two RFAs we have, and in this hypothetical deal, July 9th is the key date.
Most intriguing, however, and the best scenario in my book, would be the Mobley contract, which Minnesota desperately covets due to enormous financial constraints of the franchise. This, along with reports that the Wolves do not want Hill and are not supposedly interested in David Lee due to his PF position being filled by Al Jefferson, make me believe that the Mobley contract in exchange for Brian Cardinal, will be sufficient to "sway" Kahn into making this a very rapid transaction.
I think Rubio is a gifted, special player, but I would not just hand over Wilson Chandler, Lee or Nate, plus a valuable contract for an unproven 18 year old, who basically has the Wolves backed into the corner. No NBA team wants their #6 draft pick to play 2 more years in Europe and then possibly sit out until his rights are relinquished. Not even the inept Minnesota Timberwolves.
I give them Mobley's 80% insurance covered contract, take Cardinal's asinine salary off the T'Wolves' hands, and snag the Ruby off their hands, for this can get really ugly for Minny, really fast. If they want Jared Jeffries, than they don't get the Cuttino contract.
My point is simply that Minnesota has little choice but to accept their punishment for making an ill-advised draft selection, assuming that Ricky Rubio wants to be part of one of the worst teams in the NBA. Not happening.
Okay, they can have Jared Jeffries, too. I am not heartless ; )
