Post by irish2u2 on Jul 12, 2009 14:49:25 GMT -5
It occurs to me the NY Knicks are surrounded by questions and not just David Lee and Nate Robinson. The purpose of this thread is optimistic though I fully understand and in part even agree with a more cynical point of view.
I am going to concentrate on what we have right now. We don't have David Lee, Nate Robinson or LeBron James.
We DO have Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry, Darko Milicic, Al Harrington, Chris Duhon, Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas, Larry Hughes, Jared Jefferies, Saer Sene and Morris Almond.
First Gallinari because IMHO he is the most essential key to our team's success next season and the ability to attract elite free agents next summer. The first "what if" is Gallo's health. A 100% healthy Gallo is something we did not see last year in his limited debut. A lot of Gallo's game depends on his physical ability which to me is the most exciting aspect of this talented young player.
According to reports Gallo is approaching 100% health and he is noticeably bigger and hopefully stronger. Gallo is a legit 6'11 and with his ability to shoot from the perimeter and off the dribble, his passing, his ballhandling which allows him to get to the basket and his overall basketball IQ he could indeed be a special player. Gallo is a team player too which only enhances his worth and impact to the Knicks.
Besides health the real question is what position does he play? Right now he is "pencilled in" as a PF but Gallo can play any frontcourt position which again raises his impact on the Knicks.
Wilson Chandler. We all saw the same things last year. Chandler was a much improved player and one of the few two way Knicks. He is a physical specimen at 6'8 and he can play SG, SF and even PF in a "small ball" alignment. An improvement in his shooting and a switch to a position where his height and athletic ability will be maximized while filling a dire need for the Knicks can be a reality. A guy like Wilson at SG could be a major factor. What if Chandler can make the switch? A 6'8 SG who can shoot, defend and rebound and who is wildly athletic seems like the perfect piece of the D'Antoni puzzle.
Eddy Curry. I don't see him as a piece of the future as a player but maybe he can help this team by being a trade asset. Curry's one lone strength as a basketball player is his ability to score in the post. I would be one of the first to admit his approach is sometimes to bull over opponents on his way to the basket but the fact remains when he wants to he can get his shot at the basket and he is effective. Losing weight, getting into better shape should help him in the "effort" areas of the game like defense and rebounding though again in all honesty Eddy is not a basketball (or apparently financially ; ) genius. Eddy's basketball IQ may be questionable but his low post ability is a commodity in the NBA. What if we can get a payoff in the form of cap relief and a young player or draft pick back for all the money invested in Curry? It's a possibility.
Darko Milicic. All the scouts and pundits were not wrong that this big man has an impressive skill set for a center. He is no Dwight Howard but he is athletic enough and he can shoot from the foul line on in which makes him a good fit for the Knicks. He's a coaches son who knows the game but has suffered from too high expectations, Larry Brown and culture shock. He is older and wiser now and maybe this is his last chance. What if Darko seizes that opportunity and becomes the player Joe Dumars though he could be when he drafted Darko ahead of Carmello Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade? A legitimate 7 footer who can shoot, pass, rebound and even defend seems like the answer to a prayer.
I will lump Al Harrington, Chris Duhon and Jared Jefferies into one group because ultimately they all fill a need on the Knicks or any team. I know Harrington takes much deserved criticism because he doesn't always play smart and any guy who costs us two games with the same idiotic stunt of hanging on the rim (even if one of the calls was nebulous) has to be considered beyond redemption but sometimes we as fans overlook all the facts.
All Harrington was our leading scorer and his numbers were pretty good in shooting from the field, beyond the three point arc, the foul line and rebounding. He is athletic. He has NBA size. He "can" play defense. The market for guys like Harrington has dramatically declined but Al Harrington off the bench could be an asset and his free agent price in 2010 is going to be affordable. There is also the factor that Al can also play both forward positions and flexibility is a key component to Mike D'Antoni's approach. What if we kept Al beyond this season as a scorer off the bench especially if we lose Nate Robinson?
If Chris Duhon was the backup PG on the Knicks he would be amongst the best in the league. Like Harrington I think the market for Duhon, especially after this year's infusion via the draft of young and talented PGs, will be very affordable. Chris in a backup role allows two possibilities. We can take an older PG as a short term investment because Chris can start and it allows us to develop Toney Douglas at a more reasonable rate. What if we kept Duhon who after all now holds the franchise record for assists in a game? If Nash doesn't sign an extension wouldn't Duhon be a nice backup for him?
As popular as it is amongst Knick fans to slam Curry, Q and Harrington I always had a special measure of respect for Jared Jefferies. His inconsistencies are frustrating but he always gave his best and at times his best was pretty good basketball. The best move with Jared is to trade him but if we can't what if we kept him? Do we really suffer when he is on the floor? Objectively speaking he is a player with length who can handle the ball, pass, defend and even occasionally even shoot the basketball. He is another 3 position versatile player and he adds an additional guy who can get the ball upcourt when pressured. He's overpaid to be sure but he is a good team guy who has had his moments.
I will put Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas, Morris Almond and Saer Sene in the same group too. Only Sene has real NBA experience but all 4 are young and athletic and except for Sene all are very skilled.
A lot of pundits had Jordan Hill as the second best player in the draft. He dropped to the Knicks because teams needed PGs more than PFs. Knick fans have to understand Hill is not Channing Frye. The only things Frye and Hill have in common is race and alma mater. Their games are very different with Hill being stronger, more athletic, better off the boards and defensively and able to mix up his midrange and post game better. I like Frye and his game actually fits the Knicks now but he is not very athletic and somewhat passive. Hill is athletic and not passive. He can bang down low and he can board. What if Hill gives the Knicks a tall, athletic scoring and defensive option off the bench right out of the gate. It's never smart to depend on rookies unless they are superstar types but the Knicks can give Hill something most rookies don't see and that is PT.
Toney Douglas may not have been projected a top 10 pick but he excelled in the extremely tough ACC and he has physical ability and skills just like Jordan Hill. He got lost in the shuffle because there were so many PGs in the draft this year but he did well for FSU at PG and came up big in big games. TD has attitude and like Hill he will get some PT as Duhon's backup. What if Douglas is more than just a NBA PG caddy? He's been compared to Ben Gordon offensively but the big difference is Douglas can play PG and he can play defense. Think Chauncey Billups.
Almond has prototypical NBA SG size and one skill he excels at which is shooting. He's more than just a long range gunner but here is a possible scenario where a good player is in the wrong system. At Utah Jerry Sloan was enamored of Ron Brewer, Jr. for good reason. Brewer is a good offensive player and one of the best man defenders at SG in the league. Almond wasn't a fit for what Sloan prefers of his players. Utah's system was not a fit either. A team that moves the ball up the court fast and works at getting open perimeter shots is going to be a team Almond's skillset fits. What if Almond is closer to Allan Houston than Kevin Houston?
Saer Sene is raw but he is tall, wildly athletic and he can block shots. What if Sene is the next Birdman? All he has to do for the Knicks is come in and play defense. Nothing more is expected and playing opportunities might increase if Curry is traded or fails. Three legitimate NBA centers is not a bad thing. ; )
Finally there is Larry Hughes. We saw a few glimpses of what he can do last year but keep in mind the rust was thick on his game when we acquired him. Larry Hughes makes for a nice trade pick especially if his game shows any spark of his Washington days. Hughes is made for a wide open offensive game and he does excel at getting in the passing lanes. The right playoff team might find him very valuable making a playoff push.
Lots of "what ifs", huh? Now figure the odds against none of my what ifs coming true? ; ) Even cynics know the sun must shine on our butts at least once in awhile. ; )
I am going to concentrate on what we have right now. We don't have David Lee, Nate Robinson or LeBron James.
We DO have Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry, Darko Milicic, Al Harrington, Chris Duhon, Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas, Larry Hughes, Jared Jefferies, Saer Sene and Morris Almond.
First Gallinari because IMHO he is the most essential key to our team's success next season and the ability to attract elite free agents next summer. The first "what if" is Gallo's health. A 100% healthy Gallo is something we did not see last year in his limited debut. A lot of Gallo's game depends on his physical ability which to me is the most exciting aspect of this talented young player.
According to reports Gallo is approaching 100% health and he is noticeably bigger and hopefully stronger. Gallo is a legit 6'11 and with his ability to shoot from the perimeter and off the dribble, his passing, his ballhandling which allows him to get to the basket and his overall basketball IQ he could indeed be a special player. Gallo is a team player too which only enhances his worth and impact to the Knicks.
Besides health the real question is what position does he play? Right now he is "pencilled in" as a PF but Gallo can play any frontcourt position which again raises his impact on the Knicks.
Wilson Chandler. We all saw the same things last year. Chandler was a much improved player and one of the few two way Knicks. He is a physical specimen at 6'8 and he can play SG, SF and even PF in a "small ball" alignment. An improvement in his shooting and a switch to a position where his height and athletic ability will be maximized while filling a dire need for the Knicks can be a reality. A guy like Wilson at SG could be a major factor. What if Chandler can make the switch? A 6'8 SG who can shoot, defend and rebound and who is wildly athletic seems like the perfect piece of the D'Antoni puzzle.
Eddy Curry. I don't see him as a piece of the future as a player but maybe he can help this team by being a trade asset. Curry's one lone strength as a basketball player is his ability to score in the post. I would be one of the first to admit his approach is sometimes to bull over opponents on his way to the basket but the fact remains when he wants to he can get his shot at the basket and he is effective. Losing weight, getting into better shape should help him in the "effort" areas of the game like defense and rebounding though again in all honesty Eddy is not a basketball (or apparently financially ; ) genius. Eddy's basketball IQ may be questionable but his low post ability is a commodity in the NBA. What if we can get a payoff in the form of cap relief and a young player or draft pick back for all the money invested in Curry? It's a possibility.
Darko Milicic. All the scouts and pundits were not wrong that this big man has an impressive skill set for a center. He is no Dwight Howard but he is athletic enough and he can shoot from the foul line on in which makes him a good fit for the Knicks. He's a coaches son who knows the game but has suffered from too high expectations, Larry Brown and culture shock. He is older and wiser now and maybe this is his last chance. What if Darko seizes that opportunity and becomes the player Joe Dumars though he could be when he drafted Darko ahead of Carmello Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade? A legitimate 7 footer who can shoot, pass, rebound and even defend seems like the answer to a prayer.
I will lump Al Harrington, Chris Duhon and Jared Jefferies into one group because ultimately they all fill a need on the Knicks or any team. I know Harrington takes much deserved criticism because he doesn't always play smart and any guy who costs us two games with the same idiotic stunt of hanging on the rim (even if one of the calls was nebulous) has to be considered beyond redemption but sometimes we as fans overlook all the facts.
All Harrington was our leading scorer and his numbers were pretty good in shooting from the field, beyond the three point arc, the foul line and rebounding. He is athletic. He has NBA size. He "can" play defense. The market for guys like Harrington has dramatically declined but Al Harrington off the bench could be an asset and his free agent price in 2010 is going to be affordable. There is also the factor that Al can also play both forward positions and flexibility is a key component to Mike D'Antoni's approach. What if we kept Al beyond this season as a scorer off the bench especially if we lose Nate Robinson?
If Chris Duhon was the backup PG on the Knicks he would be amongst the best in the league. Like Harrington I think the market for Duhon, especially after this year's infusion via the draft of young and talented PGs, will be very affordable. Chris in a backup role allows two possibilities. We can take an older PG as a short term investment because Chris can start and it allows us to develop Toney Douglas at a more reasonable rate. What if we kept Duhon who after all now holds the franchise record for assists in a game? If Nash doesn't sign an extension wouldn't Duhon be a nice backup for him?
As popular as it is amongst Knick fans to slam Curry, Q and Harrington I always had a special measure of respect for Jared Jefferies. His inconsistencies are frustrating but he always gave his best and at times his best was pretty good basketball. The best move with Jared is to trade him but if we can't what if we kept him? Do we really suffer when he is on the floor? Objectively speaking he is a player with length who can handle the ball, pass, defend and even occasionally even shoot the basketball. He is another 3 position versatile player and he adds an additional guy who can get the ball upcourt when pressured. He's overpaid to be sure but he is a good team guy who has had his moments.
I will put Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas, Morris Almond and Saer Sene in the same group too. Only Sene has real NBA experience but all 4 are young and athletic and except for Sene all are very skilled.
A lot of pundits had Jordan Hill as the second best player in the draft. He dropped to the Knicks because teams needed PGs more than PFs. Knick fans have to understand Hill is not Channing Frye. The only things Frye and Hill have in common is race and alma mater. Their games are very different with Hill being stronger, more athletic, better off the boards and defensively and able to mix up his midrange and post game better. I like Frye and his game actually fits the Knicks now but he is not very athletic and somewhat passive. Hill is athletic and not passive. He can bang down low and he can board. What if Hill gives the Knicks a tall, athletic scoring and defensive option off the bench right out of the gate. It's never smart to depend on rookies unless they are superstar types but the Knicks can give Hill something most rookies don't see and that is PT.
Toney Douglas may not have been projected a top 10 pick but he excelled in the extremely tough ACC and he has physical ability and skills just like Jordan Hill. He got lost in the shuffle because there were so many PGs in the draft this year but he did well for FSU at PG and came up big in big games. TD has attitude and like Hill he will get some PT as Duhon's backup. What if Douglas is more than just a NBA PG caddy? He's been compared to Ben Gordon offensively but the big difference is Douglas can play PG and he can play defense. Think Chauncey Billups.
Almond has prototypical NBA SG size and one skill he excels at which is shooting. He's more than just a long range gunner but here is a possible scenario where a good player is in the wrong system. At Utah Jerry Sloan was enamored of Ron Brewer, Jr. for good reason. Brewer is a good offensive player and one of the best man defenders at SG in the league. Almond wasn't a fit for what Sloan prefers of his players. Utah's system was not a fit either. A team that moves the ball up the court fast and works at getting open perimeter shots is going to be a team Almond's skillset fits. What if Almond is closer to Allan Houston than Kevin Houston?
Saer Sene is raw but he is tall, wildly athletic and he can block shots. What if Sene is the next Birdman? All he has to do for the Knicks is come in and play defense. Nothing more is expected and playing opportunities might increase if Curry is traded or fails. Three legitimate NBA centers is not a bad thing. ; )
Finally there is Larry Hughes. We saw a few glimpses of what he can do last year but keep in mind the rust was thick on his game when we acquired him. Larry Hughes makes for a nice trade pick especially if his game shows any spark of his Washington days. Hughes is made for a wide open offensive game and he does excel at getting in the passing lanes. The right playoff team might find him very valuable making a playoff push.
Lots of "what ifs", huh? Now figure the odds against none of my what ifs coming true? ; ) Even cynics know the sun must shine on our butts at least once in awhile. ; )
