After looking at scouting videos, I may have changed my personal take slightly in favor of Mudiay over Russell, but for those who I have been down on Russell, I encourage you to take a look at the the video I posted. There is also a weaknesses video for Russell and for Mudiay as well.
Russell may not be the athlete Mudiay is, but to say he cannot create his own shot is borderline disrespectful. This kid's feel for the game is unreal.
So give me whoever is left on the board, Russell or Mudiay. I think both of them are going to be better players than Okafor and maybe even KAT. The importance of the big man down low is why those two guys are going first, not because of pure talent. They are turning into the QBs of the NBA draft.
D Russell Strengths - (
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I also think Okafor is an exceptional talent..
There is a thread with 5 or 6 full games of Mudiay
Agreed
What kind of future GM are you?
I really don't think Hezonja's floor is that low. Guys who can hit the 3 are worth their weight in gold in todays NBA.
I think we should settle ourselves down on Mudiay. Just a week ago we were talking about KAT like we were getting the #1 pick. Numb yourself to the pain and stop focusing on a prospect.
If I had to choose between the Europeans, I'd definitely take Hezonja. It's way easier to visualize what he could be.
This is why team scouts need to see these players live. When I saw Winslow against Gonzaga, I saw a guy who made big 3s, despite not being a great jump shooter. He grabbed huge offensive rebounds. He got to the line when Duke needed to hold Gonzaga off. I was just so impressed by the numerous ways he helped them win games. The lone part of his game that's lacking is the one area a player can improve with hard work and by most accounts, Winslow is a hard worker.
None of these things affect the Knicks, but it's interesting to compare/contrast these players.
wingspan is 7'9".
SEVEN FOOT FREAKING NINE!
With all the focus on Gasol, Aldridge, Jordan and to a lesser extent Lopezs and Koufos, I think this guy is going to be got at a good deal.
Per 36 Numbers:
PER: 20
PPG: 16.7
RPG: 11.8
BPG: 2
His main flaw is defensive rebounding but if we got Monroe I think he could take care of that.
Ajinca can also shoot jump shots.
Did I mention he has a SEVEN NINE WINGSPAN?
Alexis Ajinca Scouting Video - ( New Window )
Based off what?
The advanced numbers all attest to his defensive presence. He has been a net positive on the floor for New Orleans. He is long and athletic.
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What kind of future GM are you?
A lazy one. It takes me days to get through a movie if I watch it at home. Summer League will be around by the time I finish watching those 5 games.
I'll probably watch one of them if I start truly believing Mudiay falls to us. But I'm a Knicks fan, so I know I better get used to Frank Kaminsky as our future.
Appreciate the relevant insight. If that is the "reality" I am sorry because I don't know why you are wasting your time posting on this thread.
relax it is not going to be Kaminsky..Knicks have the 4th pick not the 8th they are going to get a good player
Dude... that's the definition of battered wives. They don't find the good in their husband. They say that to justify the beating. LOL
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In comment 12296551 AnotherGiantsFan said:
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What kind of future GM are you?
A lazy one. It takes me days to get through a movie if I watch it at home. Summer League will be around by the time I finish watching those 5 games.
I'll probably watch one of them if I start truly believing Mudiay falls to us. But I'm a Knicks fan, so I know I better get used to Frank Kaminsky as our future.
If they're picking Kamensky it's because they traded down and picked up another asset in the process.
Ok.
There is literally no other discussion than which of the top 4 will fall to us.
I'm not a Phil apologist but was gambling on Larkin really such a bad move? I mean I still think he might have a solid career as a good backup.
And Larkin sucks.
And Larkin sucks.
Larkin wasn't very good but a then 21 year old former 18th overall pick (the year prior) is EXACTLY the kind of player we should be gambling on.
" At 5-11, 175 pounds, Larkin's small size and shaky jumper restrict his ability to score, but he displays commendable floor general attributes. To that point, Larkin ranked 14th league-wide in assists per turnover (2.72) and also finished fifth in steals per turnover (1.12)."
We should definitely be gambling on young guys, but I'm thinking more along the guys of Thomas Robinsons who have just been thrown around and hasn't quite found a home instead of a SG in a PGs body.
We should definitely be gambling on young guys, but I'm thinking more along the guys of Thomas Robinsons who have just been thrown around and hasn't quite found a home instead of a SG in a PGs body.
I'll roll the dice on any player recently picked in the first round, especially a guy who went just after the lottery.
I agree on rolling the dice. But there's rolling the dice, and then there are just bad trades.
I agree on rolling the dice. But there's rolling the dice, and then there are just bad trades.
Tyson Chandler looked like the ultimate loser his final year here. He had the flu about 5 times, looked disinterested and seemed like a turdball. It wasn't some amazing trade (even at the time) but I don't remember people thinking it was terrible either.
I agree on rolling the dice. But there's rolling the dice, and then there are just bad trades.
Do you honestly think people were beating down the Knicks' doors for a player who quit on the team the previous year? I don't. I think the team with a history with him took him back, just like we've seen the Giants do with players.
You're also forgetting that the Mavs took Raymond Felton back too. Felton picked up his option earlier this month, which he was definitely going to do. The Knicks had no interest in having him on their roster taking up salary cap space.
And there is absolutely no reason why we had to trade him at that moment. That's what contracts are for.
Not having ants in your pants gets you 2 first rounders for Timofey Mozgov.
Like I've said previously. I don't mind the trade in retrospect because it was so horrific on an otherwordly scale that it actually got us a top 5 pick. But there is no doubt that we've lost the trades we made. I don't know why that statement always attracts arguments on here. I thought it was common knowledge.
- Said his preferences are to come play in either Dallas or LA. However, said he would NOT play with Rondo.
- Said he just finished building a house in Dallas that took him 3 years.
- Said while he would love to play in Dallas, he's worried that it would be awkward with Dirk coming off the bench behind him.
- Said he thinks Lebron is great, but Kobe is on another level and he has always had a very deep regard for him.
- Was asked who the toughest guy he's ever had to guard is and his response was "Tim Duncan, by far".
I'm pretty good friends with this guy and he would have no reason to lie or embellish this story to me, so it gives me a little hope to know that Dallas is a frontrunner. Also leaves me a little worried that LA will no doubt land Okafor or Towns and be able to offer a max deal to Aldridge and that he has such a deep regard for Kobe. Sounds like the only thing Dallas has going is the fact that he is from here and lives here during the offseason. Was a little surprised that Aldridge wasn't more tight-lipped about the situation as players during this time usually are.
And there is absolutely no reason why we had to trade him at that moment. That's what contracts are for.
Not having ants in your pants gets you 2 first rounders for Timofey Mozgov.
Like I've said previously. I don't mind the trade in retrospect because it was so horrific on an otherwordly scale that it actually got us a top 5 pick. But there is no doubt that we've lost the trades we made. I don't know why that statement always attracts arguments on here. I thought it was common knowledge.
Actually... most people who reviewed the trade thought it was a fair one. I don't remember anyone blasting the deal.
You have more of an argument about the Smith/Shumpert deal, but the truth is they just wanted J.R. Smith gone. I do think there's an argument to be made about that one. However, it still doesn't matter to me. I didn't see either player as part of anything with this team. I was tired of waiting for Shumpert to grow a set of balls and I was tired of J.R. Smith chucking up ridiculous shots. Moving them was addition by subtraction.
He was. He averaged a double-double and had a PER over 20, but he played like he played the first season for us. He didn't dog it.
I've been hard on Phil but you gotta look at what he had to work with. He doesn't have many 1st round picks and Shumpert didn't look like he was going to be worth whatever teams were going to offer him in FA, at least not with the Knicks, so instead of just not matching his offer he used his contract to get rid of some salary in JR this coming year.
Some people argue we could've gotten more but what is "more" with Shumpert? What team was readily giving a 1st rounder for him? We don't want future contract commitments so instead of acquiring assets we got cap space, which looks to be valuable as we can now sign 2-3 quality guys in FA and nab a top 4 pick.
I know how brutal its been, but believe it or not this is the FIRST year we can truly build around Melo instead having to work around STAT's contract and forcing those 2 to fit with each other for how ever many years its been.
These next 2 offseason are the ones that will define Phil's tenure in NY.
Of course he deserves accountability for that.
I don't think Phil is a failure though. I just think he's had a rough start.
So the issue is the Knicks were not forward thinking- if they get 3 players put of this offseason that gives them 6 nba players on the roster- they killed their depth---- they want to win.... Why not keep the "trouble guys" until the offseason and then 1) bring in a vet leader who doesn't put up with shit- example would be David west type personality--- bring on 3 additional players and now hardaway goes from you 5th best player to barely getting minutes- They got nothing back- and now have a roster that is bare
And taking on a bad contract old pg was stupid as well- especially because at the time they were still hoping to be a playoff team. He stinks. Terrible deal.
Everything he has done in his short stint has been a fail.
That sounds negative, but thankfully for the Knicks those were minor things in the grand scheme. Phil will be judged by what he does with this pick, and this and next free agency--- if he does well then everything is a home run.
And they got out of Smith's player option for next year, which would have been dicey if he stayed in NY and was unmotivated.
It's a win/win/win/win situation. In one way this could be construed as the best possible scenario as Phil can't possibly be second guessed in the aftermath. Unless he decides to trade the pick which would be a mistake imo.