May

30

Knicks To Trade Their First-Round Pick?

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under SDC COMMENTARY, Slam Dunk NBA Draft Central 

??????????????????????????NEw York Knicks president Donnie Walsh (left), New York Knicks owner James Dolan (right)

New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh is one busy man since he was hired; firstly, he hired Mike D’Antoni.? Now he is charged with ensuring that the Knicks experience marked improvement through the draft or other means - which is the dilemma that Walsh currently faces.? Does Walsh use the pick (#6 overall) or deal the pick away?

I suppose it depends on who you ask and believe, but according to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Walsh is open to the above possibilities; Walsh mentioned at what was described as a “state of the Knicks” address at Disney’s Wide World of Sports that, “We’re going to look at every option.? Trade it outright for a very good NBA player.? Trade back for multiple picks.? Trade up.? There’s a lot of different things you do. You explore everything.”? It is basketball-speak such as this that makes Walsh?one of the top team executives in the NBA - meaning like a good poker player, Walsh won’t divulge his hand.? Keep’em guessing, in other words.

And the Knicks do have options at their disposal; they have the #6 overall pick, after all.? With that pick, there’s several players that could fall into their lap - point guard Jerryd Bayless (not likely),?combo guard Eric Gordon (a possibility) and small forwards Anthony Randolph and Danilo Gallinari; let’s also not forget the player who I projected as their pick?at #6 - O.J. Mayo.? But as of late, Mayo has seen his stock rise.? There’s the possibility that the Knicks may trade down to get what they are truly missing - a point guard; for that to happen, they may want to get into discussions with Indiana who need a point guard themselves - which I will go into greater detail about early next week in another installment of my 2008 NBA Mock Draft, so stay tuned.

With Walsh openly talking about trading the pick, he may be under the impression that the draft isn’t as deep as was once believed.? What I see happening is this: New York and Indiana will have preliminary discussions about swapping picks, the Pacers will tell the Knicks “Thanks but no thanks” - as tempting as having the Knicks’ pick could be to them - and the Knicks will?draft Mayo with their pick.? As I stated earlier in the week, New York will more than likely draft based on the kind of team that coach Mike D’Antoni wants to mold and shape.? But there’s roughly a month until the draft, so anything can happen between now and then, so stay tuned to Slam Dunk Central?for all of your NBA draft news.



Comments

One Response to “Knicks To Trade Their First-Round Pick?”

  1. Russ Loede on May 30th, 2008 10:57 am

    If We See More Of The Same From The OJ Mayo Who Played Hoops @ USC This Past Season He Will Be A Big-Time Disappointment In The NBA & Especially For The New York Knickerbockers!

    When I watched Mayo he was nothing more than an inconsistent, turnover-prone, shaky shooter. Very ineffective and has not lived up to his hype/potential. I thought he was touted as the best PG prospect since Kidd?

    Mayo reminds me of a stronger version Jamal Crawford. The New York Knickerbockers don’t need another jumpshooter who needs to take 20 shots to get 20 points! They should trade up for Jerryd Bayless or draft Kevin Love.

    Both Mayo & Eric Gordon (Indiana) are going to letdown the team that selects ‘em this June.

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