- West still viewed as "very likely"
- Wade-2. The Knicks (Chance: 10 percent). You hear the Knicks name bandied about some because of their approximate $27 million in cap space and Wade's friendship with Carmelo Anthony. But, again, would a rebuilding team sink big money into an aging Wade? The Knicks would be more apt to go after Detroit free agent Greg Monroe, 25. But if they don't get him, Wade could be a short-term stop-gap and provide some sizzle in Madison Square Garden.
Raissman-Collins critique of Jackson was a spool of cotton candy compared to the tirade Adam Schein launched on SXM radio. This got personal. He called all Jacksons soliloquies cringe inducing, adding that even one more day of Jax as Knicks prez will be disastrous for the franchise.
Phil Jackson needs to resign, Schein demanded on SXMs Mad Dog Radio. He has been an horrendous executive.
Schein appeared to soften a tad when he described Jackson as absolutely tone deaf, clueless and irresponsible.
Phil Jackson cashes a check from Jim Dolan, Schein said. Other than that, he does nothing. On the contrary, being a condescending jerk takes enormous energy. Its a lot more than doing nothing. Please, give Phil credit for something.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/raissma-moves-change-image-phil-jackson-knicks-article-1.2272073
Kid speaks like perfect English and might as well be an American kid. That makes me feel a whole lot more okay with it, strangely.
http://youtu.be/9znwIJov3F8
I don't think he's gonna have a problem fitting in in this country.
Stats: 16.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.7 assists, 48.4 FG percentage, 43.5 3-point percentage (27 of 62), 78.5 FT percentage.
Notable: From Mbour, Senegal and went to high school in Japan. Speaks five languages. Second-team All-MAC.
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Wow. I'm just going to take the L for today.
Lol.
Hey what do I know. I might end up being dead wrong.
From the videos I've seen, he looks like he can kill it rolling to the basket with the ball. I hope he won't just be a spot up shooter, I'm just thinking that matched up against NBA 4s and 5's, what's his success rate going to be? I can visualize him playing a Gallinari-like game. I'm not sure if I can visualize him facing up or backing down in the post unless he gets bulkier. Would be crazy if it happens.
And he will get bulkier-he's only 19! Also,with all the alleged negativity from Melo about KP's experience, the 3 drafted ahead of him are also 19 & didn't play the last 2 years in a professional league against men. KP's best may not be for another couple of years but his size & shot will make a definite contribution this year!
Grant
As good as KP looked, Grant's workout, I think, was more impressive.
1)Darko did not played before he got drafted in ACB league which is the 2nd best league in the world, he played in Serbian league, which I consider even not a TOP 5 league in Europe.
2) Porziņģis was coached in Sevilla with ex-NBA player/assistance coach Scott Roth who was the main reason why Porziņģis got bigger minutes in ACB league last season, and Roth in one interview said, that his main focus on Porziņģis was to make sure that Porziņģis translate as soon as possible to NBA game when he gets there. (Scott Roth was with Mavericks, when they got Dirk and with Grizzlies when they got P.Gazol.) Darko did not had this type of coach in his Serbian club...
3) Darko English was not great when he got in the league and he was with championship contenders Pistons and he did not had a passion for a game like Porziņģis had, he is gym rat!
4) And final point Porziņģis have great people around him-his family. His brother was a Latvian National team member and decent player in Europe, he is next to him and is with him for past 2-3 years, that is big + for him, cause New York is big city, and easy it can become like when our last NBA player from Latvia Biedrins, got big contract for 5 seasons and did not wanted to play anymore... his brother will be there and just will not allow him to stop from his dreams. Darko did not had people around like Zinger.
About Porziņģis attitude, he have learned a lot in a MONTH! You have seen that TMZ Interview before the draft? Where he said that learning Latvian is a waste of time and he said f*cking Latvia? He was trying to say joke, but in Latvia it was a very big deal, everybody was so angry about that and a lot of his fans were just disapointed. But what he do in next few hours? Apologize on social networks to all the fans, and in Morning news in Latvian National television via Skype apologize to all the fans again, one thing is to apologize in social networks, but other thing is to apologize again online in National television morning news, where thousands of people are watching! That is impressive.
About his weight he has put 10 lbs from May and now he is over 230 lbs, he have deadly jumper, he like to jump/dunk over peoples (that one dunk what he did on Tavares in ACB league, I was like what the hack), he is excellent off rebounder, with all the put backs and he use his height to get those boards, only thing is that he is not that great def rebounder in numbers(maybe because in Europe there is a slow game and no one in ACB average more than 10 or even 9 rebounds), other thing why he doesn't not get def rebounds is because when he usually try to get his position, he lost it, because of his lack of strenght, but it can be fixed in near time. He has range, he can shoot from anywhere three ball with high %, not that great of a passer, but usually are trying to find teammates for easy basket, if I could find that one video, where he made a no look pass in last seasons ACB game, to show that he can make great pass to teammates. He is big time prospect with a lot of upside, and few guys are saying he don't have a post move? Yes he can't get really close to the basket because of his lack of strength, but he is comfortable turning over either shoulder to get to his jumper or fadeaway shot. He have a potential to be a great player. And imo he can contribute faster than a lot of guys think. Great pick by Phil Jackson.
P.S.
Porziņģis will have a big summer, first of all summer league, then Eurobasket 2015 in Rīga, then after that he will go to New York to training camp, busy summer for him.
Have some questions about Kris I can answer, have following him for a long long time.
In April on Latvian TV sports show, there was five people who are really close to basketball, and they were talking about his frame, and there was a debate, if he can be able to add muscle and one person who is close with few NBA scouts said to him (especially Grizzlies scout was one of those, because there is Latvian player in their system Jānis Timma, who was before drafted by Grizzlies and before this years draft traded to Magic), that his shoulder structure can add a lot of muscle like 20 or more lbs, and one more interesting thing, when Biedrins went from Latvia to Warriors he was even thinner than Porziņģis, but after two years was from that skinny guy to muscled center in NBA, and they both frames are pretty similar right now, so if Knicks personal trainers will work with him right, it will not be so much of a problem.
Biedrins weight gain (listed as 250 on wiki):
My friend text me and told me about it, i didnt hear it
I think the chances Deandre leaves are very slim, and even if he does, I think he heads to Dallas because he is from Texas.
Robin Lopez could be overpaid by Portland since everyone there seems to be a free agent. He's also from West Hollywood so I think the lakers are going after him since Gasol said he has zero interest with the Lakers.
I'd be shocked if it was revealed that either one of these guys were seriously considering the Knicks.
According to the New York Post, Phil Jackson would like to re-sign Jason Smith this summer.
Smith surprisingly managed to play in all 82 games last season, averaging 8.0 points, 4.0 boards and 1.7 assists in 21.8 minutes per game. Phil Jackson would like Smith to be his backup center next season, but his playing time would depend on who the Knicks bring in this summer during free agency. In terms of fantasy, Smith is more of a deep-league asset.
Source: New York Post Jun 28 - 9:33 AM
Look at LeBron now - one great player does not make a team.
So all these guys like Schein who can sit in the clouds and judge Jackson can KMA - because Jackson gets points from me for making the moves that need to be made and taking the heat for it. It's not Jackson's fault he didn't get Picks 1-3 - Jackson is right to go raw upside over conventional talent imho - and Porzinga looks like the real deal to me.
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Gordon is pretty washed up but can hit a 3.
However, there are several articles around suggesting they want Smith and Shved back. Getting Shved would mean they are done at pg, and have a couple of guys, including Galloway, who can play some two--unless they get a taker for Calderon, which would ironically mean more need at the 2 with the swing guards needed at the 1.
They will still need to find a starter at the two, and more bigs including a near-term starter at the 4 or 5, assuming Monroe takes one of the starting big slots but the other is open. I still believe the rumors about West are just that, unless he takes a huge cut.
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Imagine a 7'2 250 lb beast with a 38' inch vertical and 3pt shooting ability.
Dude is Dirk mixed with Dwight Howard.
Hearing that the Knicks -- besides presumed free agent targets such as L-Aldridge/G-Monroe/D-Carroll -- will get a meeting with David West
He doesnt make it seem like West is a lock but does confirm interest
Imagine a 7'2 250 lb beast with a 38' inch vertical and 3pt shooting ability.
Dude is Dirk mixed with Dwight Howard.
Haha thats getting me pretty excited to see him. Given his enormous wingspan, I think he'd be able to put on 20-30 pounds in less than 2 years and I don't think thats a stretch. Heck, I went from 140 to 180 in a matter of 2 years with inconsistent workout routines and not ideal nutrition. I'm still relatively weak so I'm probably not the best example compared to professional athletes that have the greatest trainers in the country (lol).
And I get the "fit" thing wit Jason Smith but at some point, being a bad basketball player and negative on the floor should outweigh the whole "perfect for the triangle" mantra. Alrich isn't a fit but he can block shots and get rebounds. He's a plus defender which is something you'd want out of your 4th big. What does Jason Smith really provide that KP doesn't?
Dude is Dirk mixed with Dwight Howard.
Wants a decision by july 3rd or 4th
I'm sure the idea that he went 3, to the 76ers, who are in the situation they are in, must have been such a drop off, which would explain any "disappointment."
Again, I think this is just rumor and story to make a story.
Someone was going to get salty about not being in LA. There were questions about Okafor's passion to be great and being in Philly doesn't help those going away. He's probably the worst guy out of the top 3 to end up in Philly.
I'm sure the idea that he went 3, to the 76ers, who are in the situation they are in, must have been such a drop off, which would explain any "disappointment."
Again, I think this is just rumor and story to make a story.
Sounds very plausible. The Sixers have to trade either he or Embiid sooner rather than later. They just have to.
Jackson may have created a game theory problem for himself: in order to get to a position of having enough cap room, he needed to blow the team up. And in blowing the team up and then going with a down-the-road player like Porzingis in the draft, he may have made the team unattractive as a landing spot for a high-level talent for the coming year.
I'm not saying Porzingis was the wrong choice, just that with the team not having a pick next year, Jackson needs to play this perfectly AND get lucky in order to end up with a decently high-level team after two years of cap space this summer and next.
We will see. Maybe he needs to go with short contracts and hope to get lucky later on.
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He also said that he wants to sign a 2 year deal with an opt out after one. I have no issues with these guys maxing out their value, but this would not be good for the knicks. Assuming he is solid this year he will def opt out and we will be stuck paying him more money, if he doesnt opt out that means he played pretty poorly. Im sure there would be a team willing to offer him the full max on the 1 year deal, but id much rather get him for say 12 mill if he wants this opt out after the first year.
No, if we don't get Calderon we can only get 2 out of the 3.