NFT: Knicks talk - Zion Williamson

just one minor correction - he was 13-13 against 'Cuse, 13-19 last night against UNC. Still incredible, of course.

Amazing player. Looks like a man among boys.

Florida State was pretty impressive against UVA, this will be an interesting game.

and can handle it very well and I'm sure he'll be at a minimum a good NBA player.

But he basically just bullies his way to the basket in college. That doesn't work in the NBA.

He'd be the perfect fit on the right team, but if the knicks take him and strike out in free agency, Knicks fans are going to expect him to be LeBron James and he isn't. Does not have that kind of skill set.

Heard that incredible stat line during the game last night and thought he did it against NC.

He's just fun to watch.

Odds are, they won't. Classic knicks. Have the perfect tank season when they flatten the odds and a truly ridiculous #1 player is available.

On the other hand, getting him would probably help in our recruiting of FA's--either this summer or next. I think we get helped there with #2 or #3 as well, although they won't be nearly as good. I still think that if Ja Morant is there if we are up at #2 or #3, there might be an intriguing trade opportunity. I'm fine with Smith Jr., and there are certainly teams that would crave a top pg.

not sold he will be elite at the next level

The Knicks could use Zion, Morant, or RJ Barrett.

In comment 14341898 Heisenberg said:

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Odds are, they won't. Classic knicks. Have the perfect tank season when they flatten the odds and a truly ridiculous #1 player is available.

I think we need Silver to pull the 2019 equivalent of dog-earring the lottery card the way Stern did to let the Knicks get Ewing

He's a volume shooter who, if he's not scoring consistently, doesn't really contributing, IMO. He also has piss poor shot selection. As of now, I'd take Zion, Morant and possibly Culver over him.

Zion deserves to be #1. He's actually finally developing a 3-pt shot. Hit 2-3 last night; 1-1 against Cuse. Let's hope it continues to develop.

that if knicks get number 1 it is being traded to the pelicans right?

So I am not getting too attached, he’ll play his career somewhere else. I do wonder how he’s going to translate but I would take him number one without hesitation.

Those are the two real “franchise pieces” for an NBA team. Zion can block shots but he’s not a guy you can expect to be an elite rim protector in the pros. He also has a good feel for passing and can handle the ball, but he’s not a guard who can run the offense like a LeBron.

It makes him so unique. I still think he’s the hands down #1 from this draft because he’s a two way player who is the best finisher in ages. But I’m not sure if he’s a guy who can solely carry a team unless he really is a transcendent talent.

Would Blake Griffins career be disappointing from Zion? Zion has a little more of a guard type of face up game but Blake is the guy he reminds me the most of from recent years. I think Zion will be better but how much better?

I don't know what you guys are watching but Zion is going to be a great NBA player. He is a bigger, faster, more athletic Carl Marlone. He has star written all over him.

In comment 14341950 JerseyCityJoe said:

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I don't know what you guys are watching but Zion is going to be a great NBA player. He is a bigger, faster, more athletic Carl Marlone. He has star written all over him.

He is not bigger and he doesnt have the offensive game that malone had, now i am not saying he wont become that bit right now he is not

disagree with most people comments. he will get better. LBJ had a great rookie season but he got better at shooting as he aged.

Zion also is the best defender in the country, i think.


The suns do not deserve back to back number 1s. this needs to change Cleveland had 3 in 4 years. If you win it the year before the best you should be able to get is 4.

knicks are a truly bad team at the moment and obviously have been bad for 16 of the last 18 years

in the NBA. I might get killed for this, but Morant is the guy I want.

and seems like a good kid, too. I'm a Knicks fan and, for Zion's sake, I hope he doesn't come here. This franchise is an absolute abomination to professional sports and will continue to remain as such until Dolan sells the team.

Overwhelming college player, likely meh NBA player.

In comment 14341977 BUgiantfan said:

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and seems like a good kid, too. I'm a Knicks fan and, for Zion's sake, I hope he doesn't come here. This franchise is an absolute abomination to professional sports and will continue to remain as such until Dolan sells the team.

I will saying being 19 and the biggest star in the New York takes a special
Person. Hopefully it’s him.

In comment 14341977 BUgiantfan said:

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and seems like a good kid, too. I'm a Knicks fan and, for Zion's sake, I hope he doesn't come here. This franchise is an absolute abomination to professional sports and will continue to remain as such until Dolan sells the team.

Are you sure you’re a Knicks fan?

In comment 14341977 BUgiantfan said:

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and seems like a good kid, too. I'm a Knicks fan and, for Zion's sake, I hope he doesn't come here. This franchise is an absolute abomination to professional sports and will continue to remain as such until Dolan sells the team.

So Knicks are building right way, if they sign 2 max guys are they still an abomination?

the warriors were god awful run franchise until they drafted curry and thompson...

Sixers tanked for years..

We could probably keep the guards we have and still be decent with that front line.

...why?

Isn't the answer obvious?

We are talking about the fucking Knicks, the laughing stock of the entire sports world.

In comment 14341962 nygiants16 said:

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He is not bigger fand he doesnt have the offensive game that malone had, now i am not saying he wont become that bit right now he is not

Depends on your definition of bigger. He’s 2 inches shorter than Malone was, but 30 pounds heavier.

At this point he would enter the NBA as the second heaviest player @ 285. The heaviest is Boban Marjanovic @290, but he’s 8 inches taller.

has zero bearing on the knicks getting the number 1 pick, the odds do not change if you are the spurs...Nothing more the knicks can do..

In comment 14341979 Stan in LA said:

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Overwhelming college player, likely meh NBA player.

Gives me every confidence he’ll be an elite NBA playwr

In comment 14341950 JerseyCityJoe said:

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I don't know what you guys are watching but Zion is going to be a great NBA player. He is a bigger, faster, more athletic Carl Marlone. He has star written all over him.

He has no mid range game at this point
He is a bully down low.
I could see him being in foul trouble a lot in the NBa

Not sure what the cost would be to go from say 4 or 5 to 1, but we have the bullets. Knox, DSJ and a couple of firsts. Some combo of those should do it. If the plan is to sign KD/Kyrie, then those 2 guys are expendable.

I, too, think Zion would help with recruiting.

He scores inside because of his incredible quickness and agility. He gets his defender moving one way and goes around him the other way.

I do agree that some of those shots get blocked in the NBA. But I have little doubt he is a 25+ ppg scorer in the NBA.

In comment 14342071 Eli Wilson said:

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Not sure what the cost would be to go from say 4 or 5 to 1, but we have the bullets. Knox, DSJ and a couple of firsts. Some combo of those should do it. If the plan is to sign KD/Kyrie, then those 2 guys are expendable. I, too, think Zion would help with recruiting.

Honestly from 4 to 1. I’m think 5 first rounders. And that’s not a joke

To play the 2.
Has length, speed, and plenty of room to get better.
Plus A+ Afro

If it was intended humor but, who is Carl Marlone? Karl Malone is who I assume the comparison was supposed to be

shorter PF like Adrian Dantley or Charles Barkley or Mark Aguirre or even Larry Johnson or Wes Unseld than he is like anyone we've seen lately. Though, I also think he's more explosive than all of those guys. Some of those guys were Hall of Famers, and some were just good. Hard to tell what he will be.

In comment 14342031 Del Shofner said:

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We could probably keep the guards we have and still be decent with that front line.

Amazing defensively but in today's NBA you can't have TWO guys who can't shoot on the floor simultaneously for extended stretches. Which is why likely either/or will be dealt (for a 3rd player) if and when we get a big two in FA (likely KD and Kyrie)

In comment 14342097 Phil in LA said:

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shorter PF like Adrian Dantley or Charles Barkley or Mark Aguirre or even Larry Johnson or Wes Unseld than he is like anyone we've seen lately. Though, I also think he's more explosive than all of those guys. Some of those guys were Hall of Famers, and some were just good. Hard to tell what he will be.

Does he develop a jumper or even a mid range game like Johnson or Barkley had?

and a turnaround.

In comment 14342097 Phil in LA said:

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shorter PF like Adrian Dantley or Charles Barkley or Mark Aguirre or even Larry Johnson or Wes Unseld than he is like anyone we've seen lately. Though, I also think he's more explosive than all of those guys. Some of those guys were Hall of Famers, and some were just good. Hard to tell what he will be.

Wes Unseld - that may be a good comparison and given that he's in the HOF, I'd take it...

In comment 14342083 Vanzetti said:

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He scores inside because of his incredible quickness and agility. He gets his defender moving one way and goes around him the other way. I do agree that some of those shots get blocked in the NBA. But I have little doubt he is a 25+ ppg scorer in the NBA.

Agreed - has the look of a bull in a china shop, but he's a lot more skilled than just that. Yesterday he faced up his man at the 3 and had a quick little crossover that you rarely see a big make. Honestly for all the love we gave KP on handle, Zion is as smooth and more explosive, IMO more than just because he's shorter. His hands are strong but skilled enough for banks & soft touches around the rim. He also shows post skills. I wouldn't count on a J but could see continued elite efficiency in the paint & around the rim in short order

On D he's about as ready as a raw talent can be. Great positioning, motor, rebounder, lots of steals for his size & of course the redic highlight real blocks. He has legit chance at being a top defender IMO even if the O doesn't translate

I'd be real happy w/ Barrett, Morant would be 3rd but a great grab. Still Zion to me is the easy answer today

In comment 14342103 Pan-handler said:

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In comment 14342097 Phil in LA said: Quote: shorter PF like Adrian Dantley or Charles Barkley or Mark Aguirre or even Larry Johnson or Wes Unseld than he is like anyone we've seen lately. Though, I also think he's more explosive than all of those guys. Some of those guys were Hall of Famers, and some were just good. Hard to tell what he will be. Does he develop a jumper or even a mid range game like Johnson or Barkley had?

He has too.
His shot today is ugly.
There are a lot athletic bigs in the NbA to hang with him down low.
His off defense is good but his straight up defense will cause a bunch of fouls

Reminds me of Blake Griffin coming out of college.
Blake add a mid range game

most of those guys had many more college games to develop than Zion will. And a bunch of them went into early, health related decline.

Didn't think of that. I'd think ZW is a much better defender tho day 1

I know it doesn't always happen, but IMO getting a J shouldn't be / isn't impossible. Not claiming it's easy either, but we've seen enough guys at least build a useful J if not guys like Blake who went from no J to a real solid one w/ 3 range in a few seasons

If it was intended humor but, who is Carl Marlone? Karl Malone is who I assume the comparison was supposed to be

In comment 14341979 Stan in LA said:

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Overwhelming college player, likely meh NBA player.

You guys crack me up.

Zion is far and away the most dominant player in college hoops this year. Opposing coaches rave about what a different type of player he is. Every mock draft has him going #1 overall, and the order of selection hasn't even been settled on yet.

But there are some dudes on a Giants message board that think he will be "meh". OK, we all have our opinions, but I suspect every single NBA team would select him first if they had the chance.

Zion is a freak and its not all atleticism, if you watch his game he has great instincts and has the ability to be an elite defender on top of his unprecedented offensive efficiency

He's a culture changer. Hyper competitive and plays with an attitude that's contagious - he'd be a megastar with the Knicks. I'm not getting too attached though - he could easily wind up in NOLA if we win the lottery.

chance he's not a Knick. I wouldn't get too worked up.

In comment 14342178 DonQuixote said:

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In comment 14341979 Stan in LA said: Quote: Overwhelming college player, likely meh NBA player. You guys crack me up. Zion is far and away the most dominant player in college hoops this year. Opposing coaches rave about what a different type of player he is. Every mock draft has him going #1 overall, and the order of selection hasn't even been settled on yet. But there are some dudes on a Giants message board that think he will be "meh". OK, we all have our opinions, but I suspect every single NBA team would select him first if they had the chance.

Your right everyone that gets drafted #1 goes straight to the hall of fame.
He is agruable the best player in college basketball but that doesn't make him a great NBA player.
He has holes in his game and is not the finished product.

Is there anyway someone would trade the first pick. Say it was the Suns, would they take the #2 pick and Smith jr or Knox for #1 or is it untradeable with with Zion being #1?

Zion is not all power, he’s finess plus power. His change of direction and explosion is impressive for someone his size. Plus he can pass and already has a little handle. He will likely develop a shot. I am more worried about his knees.

In comment 14342319 GMEN46 said:

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Is there anyway someone would trade the first pick. Say it was the Suns, would they take the #2 pick and Smith jr or Knox for #1 or is it untradeable with with Zion being #1?

Sure. They would swap for Smith Jr. And Knox. And next year’s #1.

If Knicks finish with the worst record they at least can fall no farther than 5th in the lottery.

I'll take whatever I can get from this lousy season.

After last night, I’m not so sure. Might be better to just keep Zion

But would rather not gut the team. And if the pick is Zion yeah, it's kinda splitting hairs but I keep Zion. IMO day 1 he can effect the game like Mitch on D, but with a lot more bball skill & IQ (as good as Mitch is). Really high floor & huge ceiling given he clearly has O skills

if we're getting at least one other big name in FA. If he's 1 of 3 fine, but obviously if they strike out in FA or even just get the worst of the group, I definitely keep Zion and likely any pick, certainly Barrett & Morant

They have a 5 game “cushion” between themselves and the 4th place Bulls. Not that it matters this year, but they are also 3 games clear of the Suns for worst overall.

Stats during his three game reign that will blow your mind.
Link - ( New Window )

In comment 14341922 nygiants16 said:

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that if knicks get number 1 it is being traded to the pelicans right?

Yes its quite possible unless they really fall in love with Zion and think his NBA game will advance quickly to the point of being close to AD level.

Otherwise win now mode will be in full effect if KD and Kyrie come meaning bring in AD.

But 4 in the win column.