HOOPLOG: Raymond Felton

Rookie Revue

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 08:54:10 -0800

It’s been about a month and a half since we checked in on this year’s rookies. There are two developments that will go on in the next few weeks that will have drastic effect on rookies. One is a negative: the vaunted “rookie wall” that threatens to hurt rookie numbers across the board. The actual effect of the rookie wall isn’t too clear, and it’s not definitely going to affect anyone in particular, but it’s something to think about. The other development is a positive: with a half a season under their belt, some rooks are going to start figuring out the game, force their way onto the court, and start putting up fantasy-starter-like numbers (see Raymond Felton as a perfect example). Anyhow, let’s go down the list:

Plug n’ Play

Andrew Bogut – Despite Joe Smith’s return to the court, Bogut is still a dependable second center in almost all formats. He doesn’t do anything particularly well other than shoot from the field (53%), but he does chip in enough points, boards, steals and blocks to be a fixture in your lineup.

Chris Paul – He’s the ROY. He’s getting consideration for the All-Star Game (which he shouldn’t, but that’s another story). Needless to say, he’s a great play and if you drafted him this year, odds are you got a steal. However, he’s also a classic candidate for the “rookie wall” effect, as he’s played major minutes all year, he’s small, and he’s charging all over the court at 100 mph every game.

Channing Frye – He’s in Plug n’ Play, but just barely. Less Antonio Davis means the potential for more minutes for Channing, but he’s just not earning them – his shooting is down since the new year and he’s still struggling to top 20 mpg. If he didn’t qualify at Center, he wouldn’t be here.

Charlie Villanueva – We’ve been hyping him since day one, and he’s starting to show some returns. Since the Rose trade, he’s put up 17/7.8 with 2.8 3’s and 1 block, starting numbers in any format. He’s a possible Donyell Marshall clone – and I mean that in a good way. But we’ll see how Antonio Davis cuts into his PT.

Raymond Felton – Felton is a brand new FBB favorite. He starting getting it together in January, and now in February he’s got 20/6.3/8 with 2 3’s and 2 steals. He’s also playing well alongside Brevin Knight, and while we don’t think he’ll maintain these numbers, he should put up at least 15/4/6 with a steal and a three.

Just Not There – Yet.

Sarunas Jasekivicius – I think it’s safe to leave Sarunas on the waiver wire at this point. We’ve waited all year to see him get starter’s minutes, but for whatever reason, he hasn’t gotten them. When Jamaal Tinsley went down with an injury (or eight), the minutes went to Anthony Johnson – not exactly a ringing endorsement for the ex-Terp. Still, we’ll keep him in this category.

Danny Granger – He’s very close to being a Plug n’ Play. In fact, I’m sure I’ll get a lot of flack for this. His last five games have been extremely encouraging, but let’s see him keep it up for another week or two.

Marvin Williams – I don’t think he’ll ever justify being drafted ahead of Chris Paul, but I’ve been impressed with Williams of late. He’s quite simply still learning to play the game. But his athleticism is unquestioned, his improvement has been steady, and he’ll be worth a late-round flyer next year. He’s no Darko.

Nate Robinson – If he can’t get minutes under Larry Brown with Stephon Marbury out, I don’t see any reason why he’ll get any sort of reliable minutes over the rest of the year. If he gets traded, though, there’s always a chance.

Nice Try - Maybe Next Year

Ike Diogu – Last month’s hot pickup is this month’s hot drop. He’s got promise, just not for this year.

Jarrett Jack – Listen – if you try and take minutes from our boy Steve Blake, you’re in for a rude awakening. Still, Jack has played very well and could be a nice fantasy player in the future.

Deron Williams – Milt Palacio? Really? Still probably worth a roster spot – if you’ve got room on your bench.

Luther Head – Last month’s hot pick … oh wait, I already used that line.

Salim Stoudamire – He’s not gonna get the minutes he needs to be productive, but he’s got Allan Houston-esque potential down the line.

Already Maxed Out

Jose Calderon – He’s a backup point guard on a poor NBA team. I don’t think there’s any reason to think he’ll be more than a complimentary piece this year, or even in later years.

Weekend Preview: 11/4-11/6

Fri, 04 Nov 2005 10:08:58 -0800

Here comes the first weekend of regular season basketball action in … well … in a long time. And here at FBB we couldn’t be more excited. 25 games, three days, and we’ll start to see some separation in the fantasy basketball standings. Coming out of the gate strong is important for sure, but making that key pickup is even more important. This weekend is going to be where statistical anomalies turn into real trends, and here’s what we’re going to be looking for:

How are those rookies doing?
Now, odds are you won’t be finding Chris Paul or Andrew Bogut on your waiver wire right now. And if you are, we’d like to join your league. But there are plenty of other rookies who are fighting for playing time and establishing themselves in rotations. Mid-first-rounders like Nate Robinson, Hakim Warrick, Johan Petro, Danny Granger and Joey Graham will either be high-risk pickups or complete waiver-wire fodder after this weekend.

We’ll also see a couple of rookies who were drafted in a lot of leagues prove to be worthless. For example, Channing Frye, who is having trouble finding the court with Larry Brown standing in his way. Raymond Felton is caught fighting for minutes with Brevin Knight – which was expected, but still.

Minutes, Minutes, Minutes
If you’re new to FBB, you might want to brace yourself, because if there’s one this we love to talk about (other than point guards), it’s minutes. And you’re gonna hear a LOT about minutes this year from us. Early surprises are Antoine Walker’s 42.5 mpg for the Heat, and Ron Artest seeing 40 mpg so far for the Pacers considering the depth of both teams.

Injury Reports
Shaq (surprise!), Baron (double surprise!) … does “I told you so” mean anything to you guys? These next few days will be pivotal to both these guys and their backups.

Free Agents Fitting In
Here in Washington, we’re quietly chuckling at the Lakers and their big offseason acquisition, Kwame Brown. But we’re also watching Raja Bell and James Jones in Phoenix, Bonzi Wells in Sacramento, and all the new faces in Cleveland.

Game of the Week(end)
Atlanta Hawks at Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, 10:30 PM.
Now, don’t laugh. The FBB version of Game of the Week has absolutely nothing to do with high-profile match-ups, future playoff teams, or anything like that. We’re looking for games that will be of interest strictly from a fantasy standpoint. Here are two teams with a bunch of question marks in terms of PT and the value of some of their big-name players.

For the Hawks, Joe Johnson found out pretty quickly that you pick up a lot more assists dishing to Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudamire than you do dishing to Josh Childress and Zaza Pachulia. Meanwhile, Al Harrington’s ankle injury throws another wrench in the ongoing Childress/Josh Smith/Marvin Williams

For the Clippers, the big question is if Chris Kaman will be able to recover from his 5-TO, 19-minute performance Wednesday night. Plus, who is this James Singleton guy who went for 14 and 10? Also we’ll be watching to see if Corey Maggette is back in the lineup, and if so, how effective he is.

Overall Rankings: 91 to 120

Thu, 20 Oct 2005 17:00:35 -0800

1 to 30
31 to 60
61 to 90

91. Jamaal Tinsley – The ultimate tease; few can match his 3s/steals/assists combo, but he plain cannot shoot or stay healthy.
92. Eddie Jones – Certainly on the downside of his career, but can handle lots of minutes and hit 3s with the best.
93. Al Harrington – Won’t ever have a huge breakout like some had hoped, but should be solid as long as minutes are there.
94. Morris Peterson – See above.
95. Gerald Wallace – His big numbers (for his position) in steals and blocks will do a lot to offset his seriously lackluster shooting.
96. Ricky Davis – He’ll start, yes, but averaged 33 mpg last year and wasn’t anything all that special.
97. Sam Cassell – Could be a disaster, but Livingston is young and injury-prone; can’t forget how consistently awesome Sam was the three years before last.
98. Mike James – As long as he’s starting, he’ll be well worth using.
99. Mike Sweetney – Needs to lock down starting job, but will be a rebound/FG% monster if he does.
100. Sebastian Telfair – If he could shoot the 3 he’d be better, but 6.7 apg and 1.4 spg in April make him an OK option.
101. Mehmet Okur – As always, potential is there, but he’s usually frustrating to own with Sloan getting much of the blame.
102. Joel Przybilla – Ask the folks who drafted Mark Blount and Samuel Dalembert last year how reliable big men who finish strong are.
103. J.R. Smith – Hasn’t shown he can do anything but shoot a bunch of 3s; don’t go crazy with the kids.
104. Troy Murphy – We’re never too high on non-hustle stat guys, but if the Warriors run enough he should have some value.
105. Ben Gordon – Have to think he’ll break into the starting lineup eventually; still is a pretty one-dimensional player.
106. Raja Bell – Someone will probably jump the gun thinking he’ll replicate JoeJohn’s numbers from last year; that’s quite unlikely, but he should be solid.
107. Al Jefferson – Pick him up in January after the guy who drafted him too early gets frustrated and drops him.
108. P.J. Brown – Keeps on plugging away; needs to get that FG% back up to around 47%, but will be underrated as usual.
109. Wally Szczerbiak – His strong percentages make him worth having around, especially if he can get back up to 15 shots per game.
110. Nenad Krstic – Another one of those strong-finish big men to be wary of, especially since he doesn’t block many shots.
111. Brendan Haywood – OK, a bit of a homer pick, but it’s not unreasonably to expect 2 bpg with very nice boards and FG%.
112. Erick Dampier – He might be interested, he might not. His 12/12 with 2 blocks from a couple years is hard to ignore, but honestly, you probably should.
113. Eddy Curry – All of the big men in this batch have major questions, so just pick one you like. Could be an offensive force, but don’t expect any rebounds or blocks all of a sudden.
114. Jameer Nelson – He seems to be buried right now, just can’t understand why; 14.9/4.0/4.6 with 1.5 spg and 1.2 3pg after the break shows he’s more than ready.
115. Bonzi Wells – Is slated for lots of PT, but doesn’t have the greatest game and can get on coaches’ bad sides quickly.
116. Theo Ratliff – Even in a very off year averaged 2.5 bpg; if Przybilla isn’t for real should get a chance to reclaim his starting job.
117. Darius Miles – Perennial tease, but Portland is very thin this year and he does get a decent number of steals and blocks for his position.
118. Eddie Griffin – Yet another perennial tease, but he can be very effective with only 25-28 mpg.
119. Raymond Felton – We think he’ll get there eventually…
120. Brevin Knight – But until then, these two are going to hurt each other’s value.

Eastern Conference Preview - South East Division

Tue, 27 Sep 2005 17:00:33 -0800

Miami Heat

What can anyone say about a team with Shaquille O'Neal and Dwayne Wade? Of course the Heat will be the favorites to go to the NBA finals.

As great as the Heat were last season, look at what they have done in the off season. They acquired Jason Williams and James Posey from the Grizzlies, signed free agent Antoine Walker and now solidified their bench with the *gulp* veteran Gary Payton. That's right, if you read the Atlantic division preview, the HEX is still on. Actually the HEX is on for two reasons, the "glove" just adds to the old HEX i put on Alonzo Mourning for being sick, too sick to play in Toronto, but not sick enough to hang from Shaq's nuts like Payton is. Good thing Shaq's got two, right?

Is there another guard capable of taking the spotlight off of Lebron James? Dwayne Wade may be the only one right now, in the way that he cuts to the basket and plays defense with no fear and no regard for his own body.

Shaquille O'Neal must look at this year as the year to take it all again. O'Neal is definitely on his way down, his skills are going to erode rather quickly as they usually do with big men. Too many years of pounding on those knees and ankles and too much abuse from the double and triple teams and hack-a-shack's. How many more Shaq "quality" years are left?

This is another lineup that looks as deep as can be. Williams starting at the point backed up by a future Hall of Famer in Gary Payton, Walker starting at power forward backed up by Udonis Haslem, who had a break out year last year (we'll just pretend it had nothing to do with playing next to Shaq), and of course, Shaq backed up by, *uh-hem*, Alonzo Mourning.

I will understand if they Heat win a championship. Wade deserves that kind of success, i just don't like those "cleaner fish" who travel from team to team, only looking for a way to win a championship. Learn from Reggie Miller people...

My Picks:

Best Player: Shaquille O'Neal
Best Rookie: Wayne Simien
Prediction: 1st (Central), 1st (East)

Washington Wizards

I'm the wiz. I'm the wiz. The Wizards laid down the law last season. It was impressive to see a team heading into the playoffs not taking any crap from a player. In 2001, Kwame Brown was the first high school player ever taken with the first pick of the draft. Attitude and injuries always seemed in the forefront with Brown and only one of those can be tolerated, not both.

Brown was traded to the LA Lakers in return for Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins. A good move in my opinion, trading a guy that no longer fits into the work ethic of the team for two talented far from superstar players.

The big loss for Washington was having Larry Hughes leave for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It will be difficult to replace that kind of scoring and defensive presence. The Wizards were able to land Antonio Daniels as a free agent, but that's far from replacing anything Hughes gave the team.

The team's strength this year will come from point guard Gilbert Arenas who can score from anywhere and has ice in his veins and the collection of talented big men, led by Antawn Jamison who found new life after coming to Washington from Dallas last season. Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas are two nasty post players to be pitted against, those guys fight for every point and fight hard.

If the Wiz can get over the loss of Hughes and plug the hole with a combination of Daniels and Butler, there is no reason they can't compete in the SouthEast, although taking on the Miami Heat will be tough.

My Picks:

Best Player: Gilbert Arenas
Best Rookie: *
Prediction: 2nd (Central), 4th (East)

Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic are a little bit of an enigma to me. With last season's personnel shuffle following the Tracy McGrady trade, sometimes it looked like the players weren't all on the same page. Doesn't a team led at the point by Steve Francis always seem that way? I thought the same of the Houston Rockets when he was there.

What a great sight to see last year, Grant Hill returning to the court and playing effectively was definitely a sweet story and although his season was cut short towards the end, there is hope that he is fully recovered from his series of ankle surgeries and will return to the court again this season, hopefully more confident and more like his old self than last year.

Dwight Howard, "man child" proved that he can play in this league and will someday be a dominant post player, after all, he was just drafted out of high school and he still averaged a double-double through his rookie season. When is the last time that feat was accomplished? I don't hear enough hype about that. Emeka Okafor averaged a double-double as well, but he was drafted out of the college ranks.

I have to say, it would be nice to see Jameer Nelson get some more starters minutes. It seemed the Magic played a more fluid game when Nelson started at the point and Francis was shifted to shooting guard.

It will be interesting to see if Kelvin Cato and Tony Battie can stay healthy this year. I remember thinking before last season that Tony Battie was a big gamble for the Magic, considering his bad knee history while with the Celtics and Cavaliers, but it didn't play as big a factor in Orlando as i thought. That's not to say the injury is completely over with, but if Battie and Cato can spell each others minutes, I'd be ready to let Howard have a bigger role in the post.

What the heck happened with the Fran Vasquez pick? Vasquez was rated one of the top big men available in this years draft and was taken with Orlando's first pick, 11th overall. Shortly after the draft, we started hearing about Vasquez not going to come to the Magic, rather he would stay in Spain and play for Real Madrid. This is a long standing issue with the NBA draft. Players can enter themselves for eligibility, but it doesn't mean that they actually have to commit to the NBA team that picks them. This was an 11th pick though, if an NBA team knows the player has no intention of coming to the league, then they could use that pick on someone that has shown that interest. Come to think of it, i guess the blame could be laid on the Magic organization as well for not doing their homework properly. They just went into the draft thinking, once picked, they could convince Vasquez to come to Orlando.

"I've said, 'No,' because I was afraid to adapt to the American way of life, and of not giving the level they have asked. I'm not a coward, but I prefer to stay in Spain, progress, and who knows? Maybe jump to the NBA in a few years."

Does that sound like a man ready to commit to the NBA? Could they not have known that before the draft? The lure of the NBA life isn't what we think it is, i guess.

My Picks:

Best Player: Steve Francis
Best Rookie: *
Prediction: 3rd (Central), 10th (East)

Charlotte Bobcats

Expansion what? I remember when the expansion Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies came into the league. The two teams didn't look like they had a hope in hell of improving in their first few seasons. It's a different story for the Bobcats through, you can look at that roster and the way Bernie Bickerstaff has drafted and signed talent and see the improvement coming rather quickly.

I had some questions about the drafting of Emeka Okafor. I had heard the stories of his back problems and how it would hinder his play in the extended NBA schedule. Well, i was wrong to doubt the pick, wasn't i? Okafor played above and beyond expectations and from all accounts is learning and developing this off season in hopes of being a bigger part of the team's offense.

There were too big surprises for me when watching the Bobcats last season. Primoz Brezec, who couldn't bribe his way unto the court in Indiana was picked by Charlotte in the expansion draft and proved to be a steal. The guy can play, he can score and rebound with the best of them, and he's young. Now, who the heck would have thought that Brevin Knight would have been among the league leaders in assist, almost averaging a double-double for the season with points and assists.

This season should be interesting for the Bobcats again and there's no reason to believe they won't improve. The Bobcats drafted a great college point guard in Raymond Felton and they are surely hoping the lack of size Sean May has won't be as big a hindrance as people think.

I just don't think the improvement will be significant enough to get them into the playoffs, but it will bring some more excitement to Charlotte.

My Picks:

Best Player: Emeka Okafor
Best Rookie: Raymond Felton
Prediction: 4th (Central), 11th (East)

Atlanta Hawks

Oh woe, the Hawks ended up having another disappointing season. I've been silently pulling for the Hawks for years. The lovable losers of my life.

Just look at their lineup this season and you can see the potential is incredible, but there is much seasoning to be done. Even the addition of Joe Johnson this off season won't bring the Hawks into the playoffs, the supporting staff in Atlanta is not what it needs to be this season, not that it won't be in the future, it's just not there right now.

Much like the Toronto Raptors, you have to question the choice of selecting a player that occupies the same position as your draft pick of the year prior. Marvin Williams is a great talent, but Josh Childress will have something to say about Williams' playing time.

The Hawks would have taken a huge step into respectability if they had signed Eddy Curry to an offer sheet this off season, but the issue of Curry's irregular heart beat and his unwillingness to be tested by Hawks' doctors just soured that deal to such an extent, there was no getting by it.

Because this team is still so young, there is no way to properly judge the future, other than to say it's going to be good, but whether or not the Hawks can hold on to their young guys beyond their rookie contracts is going to be the question.

My Picks:

Best Player: Joe Johnson
Best Rookie: Marvin Williams
Prediction: 5th (Central), 15th (East)

Friday roundup: Bobcats re-sign G Knight

Fri, 19 Aug 2005 09:44:37 -0800

Knight gives Bobcats experience at guard

by Associated Press

Charlotte Bobcats: Brevin Knight re-signed, giving Charlotte an experienced point guard as rookie Raymond Felton adjusts to the NBA.

Knight averaged 9.0 assists last season, second in the league. He is expected to lose his starting job to Felton,...

Let the Raymond Felton Era Begin

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 09:28:53 -0800

The Charlotte Bobcats are reportedly close to ditching their other young point guard--Jason Hart--to Sacramento for a second-round pick....

Jazz Defeat Charlotte

Sun, 17 Jul 2005 22:35:07 -0800

The Utah Jazz and Charlotte Bobcats battled on Saturday night at the Rocky Mountain Review in front of a packed house at Salt Lake Community College. Charlotte played without first round draft pick Raymond Felton who sat out with a strained left groin. Utah outscored the Bobcats 22-13 in the third quarter and notched a 73-69 win.

NBA Draft 2005

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 18:49:52 -0800

I'll keep updating it as we go. Feel free to comment.

1. Milwaukee Bucks select - Andrew Bogut
2. Atlanta Hawks select - Marvin Williams
3. Utah Jazz select - Deron Williams
4. New Orleans Hornets select - Chris Paul
5. Charlotte Bobcats select - Raymond Felton

6. Portland Trailblazers select - Martell Webster
7. Toronto Raptors select - Charlie Villanueva
8. New York Knicks select - Channing Frye
9. Golden State Warriors select - Ike Diogu
10. Los Angeles Kobe's select - Andrew Bynum

11. Orlando Magic select - Fran Vazquez
12. Los Angeles Screw-Ups select - Yaroslav Korolev
13. Charlotte Bobcats select - Sean May
14. Minnesota Timberwolves select - Rashad McCants
____________Last Lottery Pick______________
15. New Jersey Nets select - Antoine Wright

16. Toronto Raptors select - Joey Graham
17. Indiana Pacers select - Danny Granger

18. Boston Celtics select - Gerald Green - 6'7", 190lbs, 19 years old from Gulf Shores Academy (HS)

19. Memphis Grizzlies select - Hakim Warrick
20. Denver Nuggets select - Julius Hodge

21. Phoenix Suns select -
22. Denver Nuggets select -
23. Sacremento Kings select -
24. Houston Rockets select -
25. Seattle Supersonics select -

Draft Night in the Big T.O

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 13:57:43 -0800

Possible Raptors Picks at #7:

1) Martell Webster
Birthdate: 12/2/86
NBA Position: Shooting Guard
College: Washington
Class: HS Senior
Ht: 6-7
Wt: 235
Hometown: Seattle, WA
High School: Seattle Prep

Strengths: The total package ... Has the ability to score from anywhere on the court against any defender ... Unstoppable mid-range pull up J off the bounce ... Acrobatic finisher on the break ... Unlimited arsenal of offensive moves that allow him to tear through opposing defenses ... Threat from both inside and out ... Very active on the boards ... Tight handles, effortless drives to the hole, and an overall ease to which he plays the game ... 20 and 10 capabilities every time he plays ... At 6-6 and a rock solid 215 pounds has the size and versatility to play any position at the next level.

Weaknesses: Relies on outside shot too much ... Must learn to move his feet and play better on ball defense. Notes: At 16 years of age has an understanding of the game that few high school players have ... Has suffered from the injury bug during his Junior season, (specifically an ankle problem) so he needs to show that he can stay healthy ...

2) Gerald Green
Birthdate:
NBA Position: SG/SF
College: Oklahoma St.
Class: HS Senior
Ht: 6-8
Wt: 200
Hometown: Houston, TX
High School: Gulf Shores Academy

Everything this kid does is silky smooth, even hard drives to the lane capped with the empahatic dunk seem easy... Has supreme athleticism, and gets many points off ally oop dunks as well as on drives to the hole... Has a very quick, effortless release on his jump shot. Combine that with great elevation and you have an almost unblockable shot... Most of the shots go in, in fact his jump shot from midrange to outside is one of his defining qualities... Loves to spot up for the open three, or stop and pop for the 15 footer... Overall just a sick scorer from outside ... Even At 6'8 he handles the ball like a guard, often starting (and finishing) the fast break... Loves to run the floor for the ally oop dunk, but also knows when to pass the ball... Most of those passes get right where they need to be ... However, those fast breaks don't just start themselves, Gerald is often the one creating the turnovers... His long arms and tremendous athleticism lead to lots of blocked shots and steals. Often creating the turnover, starting the break, and finishing with a monster dunk... Also rebounds exceptionally well for a guard/forward his size... The total package, an all around player who will do whatever it takes to win. There aren't many with his gifts at his size... With time and effort this kid will be something special.

Weaknesses: Effort seems suspect at times, can often be seen walking or resting on the court... Kind of has that I'll do what I want domineer when on the court, and sometimes appears to put style over substance... Also, he'll be spectacular one game, but then he'll forget to dominate...where is he? Needs to put up the monster performances that brought him where he is on a more consistent basis... Needs to bulk up, right now gets pushed around easily. Will have to improve his leg and upperbody strength to finish his drives... He has broad shoulders and a great frame, just needs to put in the work... Still dominating high schoolers, needs to bring his game to a point where he can do it at the next level as well.

Notes: College could launch his game to a whole n'other level. Early this year, he Began making some noise in Texas, but was relatively unknown until his breakout performance at the 2004 Reebok's ABCD camp, where he averaged about 20 ppg, was named to the all-star team, and won the MVP of the all star game.

3) Channing Frye
Birthdate: 5/17/83
NBA Position: Center
College: Arizona
Class: Senior
Ht: 7-0
Wt: 248
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
High School: St. Mary's

Strengths: Very skilled bigman...Fundamentally sound in nearly every area...Runs the floor well on the break...Great base mechanics on his jumper...Keeps the ball high in the post...Good footwork on the block...Soft hands...Can make his post move with either hand...Steadily improving jump-hook and drop-step...Surprisingly effective spot-up shooter, which makes him a dangerous scoring threat on the pick-and-roll...Outstanding free-throw shooter (about 83%)...Crashes the offensive boards hard...Solid help defender and shot blocker...Enormous wingspan...Boxes out well...Excels at the tip-in and follow-up dunk...Terrific passer out of the post...Solid ball-handler..Defends both the center and power forward position effectively...Always improving his overall game...Even though his scoring average is slightly down, he's a much better overall player now than he was as a junior...Has impressed many scouts with his stand out senior season.

Weaknesses: Still suffers in lapses in concentration/intensity/consistency...Vanishes for large chunks of time (especially on the glass)...Could use another 20-25 pounds of muscle...Has made nice strides in this area, but still lacking a true killer instinct...Has a tendency to commit stupid fouls/turnovers at the worst times...A "tweener"...Lacks lateral footspeed to keep up with most NBA power forwards...Lacks necessary bulk to bang with NBA centers night in and night out...Not a great leaper...Even with his improvements in these areas, strength and stamina still must improve to compete at the professional level...Can let his emotions get the best of him...Lack of lower body strength occasionally leads to him getting muscled off his spot.

Notes: Named to the Pac-10 First Team as a junior...Go-to move is a power-dribble from the left block into the middle of the lane and a mid-range jump-hook with his right hand.

3) Danny Granger
Birthdate: 4/20/83
NBA Position: Small Forward
College: New Mexico
Class: Senior
Ht: 6-8
Wt: 225
Hometown: Metairie, LA
High School: Grace King

Strengths: An extremely well-rounded wing...Can do just about anything on a basketball floor...Ferocious rebounder...Grabs the ball at its apex and isn't shy to protect it with his elbows...Puts up monster numbers, even when facing constant double/triple teams...The unquestioned leader on the floor...Tremendous shot-blocker...Quick hands...Plays passing lanes very well...Always around the ball...Has all the physical tools, instincts, and intensity to be a shut-down defender...Plays with great intensity and passion...Has great range on his always-improving jumper...Has added the 3-pointer to his arsenal (almost 48% from beyond the arc)...Has a better post-up game than other wing players...Improving spot-up shooter...Runs the floor well...Decent ball-handler...Great finisher...Much better footwork (on both ends) than most players his size...Great build...Long arms...Has cut down on the stupid fouls that have plagued his game in the past...Still has some upside left...A gamer.

Weaknesses: Durability is a major concern...Back/knee problems have forced him to miss parts of the past three seasons...His perimeter skills need extensive polishing, since New Mexico requires him to play inside so much...Needs to become a much better passer...Doesn't posses a great first step...Just an average athlete, nothing spectacular...Occasional inconsistencies at the foul line (due to a small hitch at the top of his free-throw stroke)...Sometimes forces his offense too much...Inflated stats because of the Mountain West's lack of talent...The proverbial "jack of all trades, master of none"...Will have to accept being a role player on the next level...Stamina issues...Has never had a positive assist/turnover ratio.

Notes: Only player in college basketball to average over 18 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks in 2004-2005.

4) Antoine Wright
Birthdate: 2/6/84
NBA Position: Shooting Guard
College: Texas A&M
Class: Junior
Ht: 6-7
Wt: 205
Hometown: San Bernardino, CA
High School: Lawrence Academy

No Draft.net Profile but will land between 7th and 13th in draft.

Wright is a lock for the 1^st round, and some even project this Texas A&M swingman to move into the top 15. He's got a great basketball body, and seems best suited to end up on a Western Conference team that loves to push the ball. Playing on Texas A&M, he doesn't have the name recognition as most of the other non-European players in the draft, and very few fans have ever seen him play. But unlike most players in the draft, Wright just simply doesn't have any glaring weaknesses.

Possible Raptors Picks at #16:

1) Joey Graham
Birthdate: 6/11/82
NBA Position: Small Forward
College: Oklahoma St.
Class: Senior
Ht: 6-7
Wt: 225
Hometown: Brandon, FL
High School: Brandon

Strengths: Graham is a tough nosed, no nonsense type, power 3 ... A physical specimen with great leaping ability who finishes very well ... Has a chiseled body with excellent size, wingspan and great strength ... Very tough player, enjoys contact, rebounds and takes the ball inside especially well ... Has a very effective jump shot ... Has range out to 18 feet, with excellent touch on his shot ... Huge hands make him tough to rip the ball away from and give him an advantage on drives to the basket ... Has a solid base and good rebounding fundamentals ... Plays hard, hustles ... Solid defender ... Unlike many draft prospects Graham has the experience of 4 years of progression in college. He is one of the most NBA ready prospects out there ... Extremely strong body, he can bench press over 400 pounds... Has good post skills with face up and back to the basket ability ... Excellent free throw shooter ...

Weaknesses: Plays a little stiff, mechanical... Doesn't have great intangibles relating to ball skills ... His vision, passing and ball handling are just average ... Court awareness and feel for the game are just average ... His ability to put the ball on the floor and create is a work in progress ... What you see is what you get, although he has shown great improvement offensively in his Senior season ...

2) Hakim Warrick
Birthdate: 7/8/82
NBA Position: SF/PF
College: Syracuse
Class: Senior
Ht: 6-8
Wt: 220
Hometown: Wynnewood, PA
High School: Friends Central

Strengths: An unbelievable athlete who can jump out of the gym with the best of them. A highlight real waiting to happen. His incredibly long arms and intensity make him a ferocious offensive and defensive rebounder. Gets off the floor almost instantaneously. Possesses a nice turnaround jumper and decent ball handling skills for a player his size. Has the potential and desire to not only become an offensive force, but a shut down defender as well. A very exciting player to watch with huge potential.

Weaknesses: Everything he does is based on his superior athletic ability. Despite his ball handling skills, Hakim is still very raw. His points usually come from fastbreaks, tip-ins, and putbacks. He tries to dunk everything on the offensive end and block everything on the defensive side. Perimeter game is suspect, despite good form on his outside shot. MUST put on muscle if he has any plans of ever playing pro ball, he is very thin and is easily out-muscled. Free throw shooting and interior defense are also concerns.

Notes: Hakim has the potential to become a very good player, but must learn to rely on more than his other worldly athletic ability. If he learns to collect himself and show some patience, his offense will improve dramatically. It seems as though Coach Boeheim is going to use Hakim on the interior in his early years at SU and then slowly bring him out to the perimeter as his shot and ball handling mature....Nicknamed "Skinny" by his friends due to his extremely slender frame. Upside is definitely there.

3) Andrew Bynum
Birthdate: 10/27/87
NBA Position: Center
College: UConn
Class: HS Senior
Ht: 7-0
Wt: 285
Hometown: Metuchen, NJ
High School: St. Joseph HS

Strengths: A HUGE physical presence. Andrew is the biggest and strongest high school center to arrive in some time. Bynum is a legit 7 footer with great mobility. Offensively Bynum has a small but solid set of post moves, including a very effective baby hook. He is very good at backing down players into the low post and ending with a slam or short hook...Defensively, Bynum is a load in the paint. Although not a prolific shot blocker, Bynum is adept at altering shots and forcing teams to shoot the outside shot. However, he is yet to face a player his size, so his one on one defense has not been truly tested...With time he should develop into an excellent shot blocker...The thing to remember here is that players with his size and mobility are a rarity.

Weaknesses: Raw is the word. While he has been productive in high school, the NBA is a different world. He will be facing players his size on a regular basis. Offensively, his footwork needs much tooling...he rarely shoots the ball outside of the paint. His size won't allow him to dominate like he did in HS. He could really use a small set jumper or another post move. In addition his passing out of the post is very poor and his understanding of defenses is an area of need...Defensively, he needs to move his feet more and become more active. As a rebounder he needs to learn to get in proper position and not rely on his size and athleticism. Additionally, he must stop picking up silly fouls, especially on the offensive end...Lastly, there have been concerns about his weight and conditioning.

Notes: Bynum is a physical marvel...If he works at his game, he could really become a special player. However, this same type of talk was also said of DeSagana Diop

4) Rashad McCants
Birthdate: 9/25/84
NBA Position: Shooting Guard
College: North Carolina
Class: Junior
Ht: 6-3
Wt: 207
Hometown: Asheville, NC
High School: New Hampton School

Strengths: Very smooth, athletic guard with an amazing feel for the game. Takes over games as a freshman. Can get hot and bury an opposing team with his offensive prowess. Has a diverse offensive game with three pointers, intermediate jumpers, and a quick first step to take his man off the dribble. A player with great scoring instincts. Makes great decisions and passes the ball extremely well for a shooting guard. Has excellent quickness and terrific speed running the floor. Can easily gain separation on a defender in the open court. Handles the ball very well, and is adept at creating off the dribble. Has good lateral quickness and foot speed defensively. Fred Jones went 14th in the 2002 draft giving athletic, but undersized shooting guards such as McCants great optimism about their draft potential. In Comparison McCants is a little less explosive but has a far better overall game.

Weaknesses: Undersized 2-guard. Just a shade over 6-3, but plays bigger than his size with long arms and great leaping ability. Still at 6-3, he will struggle to an extent guarding and getting easy looks over 6-6 players night in and night out on the next level. Probably doesn't have the instincts to be a NBA PG. Has the talent to overcome the height deficiency, but remember how great another Carolina freshman Joseph Forte looked. McCants is a more explosive and quicker athlete than Forte, so he will likely make a better pro, however college stars don't always translate on the next level, especially ones a few inches short for their positions. Will need to improve some defensively, as guarding college guys is much easier than pros.

Notes: Was considered a top 10 prospect by many recruiting gurus entering college.

5) Roko-Leni Ukic
Birthdate: 12/5/84
NBA Position: Point Guard
Ht: 6-5
Wt: 185
Hometown: Split, Croatia

Strengths: Plays very fundamental. Takes over games, as he did at Manheim in the 2002 Junior Championships. He's a quick player with great control of the ball, a good distributor, doesn't make a lot of mistakes. A good rebounder for a PG who's never afraid to shoot when left alone. Also a very good penatrator, if his shot is failing, watch out! He has a great future.

Weaknesses: He's a little bit of a streaky shooter. Very slender now, must build his strength. Could use some work on defense but is solid, Just needs to continue to develop.

Notes: He reminds of Tony Parker, not quite as steady a shooter as Parker is but is a little better rebounder, but otherwise there are a lot of similarities. Tony Parker was the first European point guard to succeed in the NBA. Because of Parker, European point guards now feel they can have the same success. Probably will look to play a few years at the top level in Europe before entering the NBA draft.

6) Jarrett Jack
Birthdate: 10/28/83
NBA Position: Point Guard
College: Georgia Tech
Class: Junior
Ht: 6-3
Wt: 202
Hometown: Durham, NC
High School: Worcester Academy

Strengths: Very intelligent guard with good competitiveness ... Jack possess great size, strength and good athleticism for the point guard position ... He is an unselfish player with the ability to find the open man ... Jack has very quick hands and a knack for grabbing loose balls in transition ... Has excellent penetration ability and is a great finisher, but usually chooses to drive and dish the ball out... Jack is a great rebounder for his position and has developed a steady three point shot (college range) ... He can also post up smaller point guards and take advantage of his size...His body and athletic tools also make him an good defender... Overall Jack is a physical point guard with good vision and knack for finding the open man.

Weaknesses: Jarrett doesn't have any glaring weaknesses, except for the fact that he is prone to turnovers ... Doesn't blow you away with talent, but very solid ... He must become better at protecting the basketball ... His foot speed is good, but not off the charts ... His shot hasn't yet developed the consistency or range required at the next level, but is improving year to year ... He must learn to move without the ball and free up his outside shot when the ball is not in his hands.

Summary: All in all Jack is a natural floor leader, who can run a half court team. ...Has all the tools to be a nice guard at the next level....Attended to Mount Zion Academy and is an excellent student.

I would love to see Danny Granger picked at 7. There are rumors of some movement with the number 3 or 4 pick which may change who get's picked at 4, 5 and 6. If these changes land Raymond Felton or Gerald Green in Toronto's lap, you have to take one of those two at number 7.

Felton is a point guard which would backup Alston. If they pick Green or Granger at 7, they should try for a point guard at 16 and i would be very confortable with Jarret Jack. Failing that Roko Ukic would be a good point guard prospect.

If at 16 they want to address size up front, then they may take a chance at Andrew Bynum, who may or may not be able to accept the NBA assignment.

The other rumor floating around is the Raptors trading they 7th pick and Mo Pete to the Hornets for Jamal Magloire. This would definetly ensure a good front court with Magloire and Bosh, leaving their 16th pick to snap up a point guard. There will be a decent one available at 16.

2005 NBA Draft Preview by Gabe Kahn

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 09:39:13 -0800

Welcome to another round of NBA Roulette, more commonly known as the NBA Draft. As always, my crazy friend 'Neal and I get together and see if we can predict where each player will land in the first round using team needs, past tendencies and overall guess work that we like to refer to as "logic." It's a lot like throwing darts while blindfolded without even knowing if you're facing the target. As if it's not challenging enough, general managers everywhere love messing with our guesses by trading their selections even as the draft is going on. Last year, we got five out of 30 picks right, and, here's the kicker, we felt pretty good about ourselves. So take everything we say with a grain of salt, especially because 'Neal is at his caffeinated best during the draft. It's a sight to behold. Trust me.

Like every year, these picks were all made with the assumption that every team will select in this order, and that no trades will be made. Also like every year, I'll slow dance to Lady in Red with the 8-pound piece of machismo that is my dog if that actually happens. Onto the picks:

1. Milwaukee Bucks
Andrew Bogut- How can they pass on a potentially dominant big man when they desperately need a center?

2. Atlanta Hawks
Marvin WIlliams- Yes, they're stacked at the wing, but Williams is the type of player you build around.

3. Portland Trailblazers
Martell Webster- Assuming they keep this pick, and we're assuming they don't, Webster will be their man. Don't expect it to happen, though.

4. New Orleans Hornets
Chris Paul- From day one, Paul's been the best point guard in the draft. After all is said and done, that should still be true.

5. Charlotte Bobcats
Deron Williams- They wanted either Paul or the other Williams, but they'll be content to select the second best PG in the draft and team him up with Emeka Okafor.

6. Utah Jazz
Raymond Felton- Jerry Sloan needs a point guard and will either try to use this pick to trade up and grab Deron Williams/Paul, or he'll be content with the best PG available.

7. Toronto Raptors
Gerald Green- Considered by many to be the best talent in the entire draft, Toronto has needs everywhere except power forward and Green could be in the mold of Vince Carter.

8. New York Knicks
Channing Frye- Assuming Kurt Thomas is traded to Phoenix, Isiah Thomas will need more help than ever at center.

9. Golden State Warriors
Charlie Villanueva- The Warriors are a lousy team with depth at almost every position. Center is the weakest, so they'll take the most versatile big man left on the board.

10. Los Angeles Lakers
Fran Vasquez- Without a good option at the point, Phil Jackson will try to make up for the Lack-o’-Shaq. They’d like to move up and grab Green, though.

11. Orlando Magic
Antoine Wright- Wright is too good to pass up on this late in the draft. Will this move spell the end of the Stevie Franchise era in Orlando already?

12. Los Angeles Clippers
Yaroslav Korolev- Of all the rumors regarding promises, this one seems most likely to be true.

13. Charlotte Bobcats
Danny Granger- With Okafor, Primo Brezec and now Deron Williams, Bernie Bickerstaff now needs to fill up his wing positions. Granger is a ready-made contributor.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves
Sean May- Minny can get away with using an undersized PF because Kevin Garnett can make up for May's lack of length. We like this pick.

15. New Jersey
Hakim Warrick- Jersey hopes that Warrick will remind them of Kenyon Martin.

16. Toronto Raptors
Andrew Bynum- Since the Raptors are going to have to wait for Green to develop, they might as well wait for Bynum, too.

17. Indiana Pacers
Francisco Garcia- Larry Bird would probably like to add to Indiana’s point guard depth, but Roko Ukic has contract issues and Jarrett Jack is too much of a stretch at 17, so he'll try to replace Reggie Miller instead.

18. Boston Celtics
Chris Taft- Danny Ainge has never been concerned with taking the popular player. Ukic is a possibility here, too, and Danny might consider trading down. Say what you want about Taft's attitude, but the kid can play.

19. Memphis Grizzlies
Roko Ukic- The Griz need to replace Earl Watson and drafting Ukic allows them to trade Jason Williams for someone other than a point guard.

20. Denver Nuggets
Joey Graham- Denver needs a shooting guard and they'll be thrilled if a guy as good as Graham is still around this late in the draft.

21. Phoenix Suns
Ike Diogu- Phoenix has a tendency to draft good players, regardless of need. Diogu's ability to play both the 3 and the 4 fits in well with the Suns. Not to mention that it’s rumored Phoenix made a promise to him.

22. Denver Nuggets
Johan Petro- Nene's slow development and undetermined position leaves Denver weak at the 5-spot. The Ghost of Skita will scare Kiki Vandeweghe away from Martynas Andriuskevicius

23. Sacramento Kings
Rashad McCants- Getting McCants should make up for the loss of Cuttino Mobley.

24. Houston Rockets
Wayne Simien- They need a PG, but they need a PF, too. Simien is a bit small, but that's not so bad when you're playing next to Yao.

25. Seattle SuperSonics
Martynas Andriuskevicius – Without any legitimate players left on the board, they'll take a flyer on Andriuskevicius, leave him in Europe for a couple years and see if he develops. Because so many of their players are going into free agency, the Sonics are a real wild card here.

26. Detroit Pistons
Jarrett Jack- The Pistons wouldn't mind having someone to put behind Chauncey Billups besides Lindsey Hunter and Carlos Arroyo. Jack is steady, if unspectacular.

27. Utah Jazz
Julius Hodge- After selecting Felton, the Jazz still have a hole at SG. If they select Hodge, they have an opportunity to go very big with Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko in the front court.

28. San Antonio Spurs
Andray Blatche- The Spurs will eventually need a center. They can afford to wait by selecting Blatche.

29. Miami Heat
Matt Walsh- With Eddie Jones possibly on the outs in Miami, the Heat will need a good role-playing small forward to step up.

30. New York Knicks
Monta Ellis- Troubled that, with Frye and Bruno Sundov, he has too much size, Thomas will take a PG with the final selection in the first round.

Felton is right pick

Sun, 29 May 2005 13:06:03 -0800

Ordinarily I would take information like the Jazz's falling two valuable positions in the NBA draft after the recent lottery and declare it a sure sign of the franchise's imminent collapse. When my high school English teacher described me as her little prophet of doom I committed myself to living up to that label whatever it took. But after briefly lamenting the missed opportunity to merely walk across the street to follow Utah center Andrew Bogut's NBA development I'm embracing the No. 6 pick and pronouncing the Jazz curable over time. The Jazz should stay where they are draft North Carolina point guard Raymond Felton and grow with him. Forget about trading up in the draft. Consider moving down if Felton is likely to remain available. And give the basketball to this guy for the next 10 or 12 years.

Brrr…. Is There a Draft in Here?

Sat, 21 May 2005 17:48:38 -0800

[While KnickerBlogger has been ignoring his blog by shmoozing it up with close friends visiting from out of town, KnickerBlogger's Head College Expert David Crockett has been busy thinking about the Knicks future. In an attempt to become the Mel Kiper Jr. of the NBA, "Dr. C." has gone over the Knicks' needs for the June draft.

David Crockett is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of South Carolina, and can be reached at dcrockett17@yahoo.com.]

On May 24^th the 2005 Draft Lottery will take place in the NBA studios. At that time the Knicks will know where they will draft in what is shaping up as a reasonably talented draft, depending on which early entrants hire agents and stay in the draft. Of course the playoffs will determine where the team’s second first round pick, obtained from the Spurs (via Phoenix), will be chosen. I knew it was time to think about a draft column when I got an email from a buddy of mine, a bona fide Jayhawk backer and Duke hater, comprised of three short sentences:

I hope you’re sitting down when you read this…
I just heard that Shavlik Randolph is going league.
I am incapable of rational thought right now.

So even though much is still to be determined between now and June I thought I’d fire up my Mel Kiper wig and dig into the NBA draft a bit.

First, We Need a Guard
So what do our beloved Knickerbockers need heading into the 2005-2006 season? Well, in a sharp departure from many of the pundits I believe the Knicks’ first priority is in the backcourt rather than at center.

Stephon Marbury had one of the finest offensive seasons by a New York Knick in recent memory in 2004-2005. Though he is not the league’s best point guard, a claim for which he was waaaay overcriticized, “Starbury” demonstrated the kind of skill and maturity – e.g., moving off the ball to facilitate Crawford’s development – few thought possible. According to Knickerblogger's stat page Marbury’s assist ratio (27.3 assists per 100 possessions) ranked him a somewhat pedestrian 14^th in the league among those playing at least 25 minutes per game. However, he was one of only five players on that list who also had a turnover ratio under 10. 82games.com lists Marbury’s PER as a lofty 23.3 and Knickerblogger reports it as a tad below 23; both numbers are clearly in the high-rent district. Marbury’s efg was over 50% and he went to the line frequently, making 35 free-throws per 100 shots from the floor.

Of course, offense was the problem at the world’s most famous arena this season. Offensively, the Knicks’ 103 points per 100 possessions (offensive efficiency) was middle of the pack (16^th) – a far cry from Phoenix’s 111.8 but better than that posted by these playoff teams: Pacers, Nets, Bulls, Pistons, Sixers, and Grizzlies. Unfortunately, in an all too familiar refrain the Knicks sucked eggs defensively this season; just like last season. However unlike last season when the available statistical evidence failed to provide undisputable proof that the backcourt was the primary problem, this season’s stats are much more sympathetic to this point of view. Marbury and Crawford were, simply put, terrible. According to 82games, in 2003-2004 Marbury held opposing point guards to a surprisingly respectable 14.5 PER. (Average PER is set at 15.) This season he allowed an opponents’ PER of 16.5. Marbury gave up more penetration (26% in-close FGAs vs. 21% in 2003-2004) and more free throw attempts per 48 minutes (4.7 vs. 3.6). His opponents shot 48.6% efg and had over 8 assists per 48. These incidental numbers strongly suggest that Marbury’s shoddy defense requires him to post phenomenal offensive numbers just to remain a net positive and that his offense comes at the price of major stress on the frontcourt to cover for his deficiencies.

Certainly, a large part of Marbury’s inconsistency and ineffectiveness on defense comes from his indifference. However, we are also starting to see the ill-effects of 8 consecutive seasons of 38+ minutes per game (mpg) on his body. He has fatigued at the ends of the last two seasons and his knee became a problem as this season wore on. Is it any wonder? He just completed his ninth season averaging 40 minutes per game and a career high in total minutes, 2^nd only to Lebron James. Only in Marbury’s rookie season did he average fewer than 38 mpg. It would simply be foolish for the Knicks to continue to play Marbury 38-40 minutes per night without expecting his body to break down even more rapidly and eventually impact his offense. Marbury can be more effective playing fewer minutes. Jason Kidd has had seven sub-38 mpg seasons, including each season in New Jersey. Steve Nash has yet to average 38 mpg in any season. This season he averaged 34 (not even among the top 50), managing the league’s most efficient offense without a “true” backup point guard no less. If these two guys are playing around 34-35 mpg Marbury should be playing no more.

At the shooting guard position Jamal Crawford looked every bit the “instant offense” third guard he really is this season. At times he was indefensible but as his minutes increased to 38+ his warts became more visible. According to 82games.com, in his minutes at shooting guard Crawford shot almost 50% and had a more than respectable 16.8 PER. However his 18.2 opponents’ PER made everyone he guarded look practically like Peja Stojakovic. Crawford, like his backcourt mate, gave up tons of penetration to opposing guards (26% in-close FG%), and ever the gentlemen, regularly ushered them to the free throw line (5.3 FTA per 48). Whatever additional pressure Marbury put on the frontcourt to mask his defensive shortcomings Crawford matched, only without the consistent offensive production. The Knicks don’t want to be forced to play Crawford more than 20-25 mpg, much less the 38+ he played this season.

The Knicks desperately need backcourt help. On a per 48 minute basis the opposing backcourt is taking more than half its shots from in close and taking 10 trips to the free throw line. The key to defensive improvement is cutting down on the penetration from opposing guards. A shot-blocking center that can erase penetration is a luxury; one most teams must live without. Such players are in woefully short supply and the Knicks would not be wise to pin their hopes on acquiring a ready made center in the draft or the free agent market.

The wiser course of action is to look to the draft for backcourt help. The value appears to be at point guard, with high-quality collegiate point guards available into the 2^nd round. The shooting guard position looks weak by comparison. Which point guards and shooting guards should the Knicks consider with their three picks? I’ve listed a few players the Knicks might consider just to whet the appetite. More will come after the Chicago pre-draft camp and workouts. (Note: comments on college players only.)

Point Guards

Name/College	Availability?	Comment
Chris Paul, Wake Forest	Early first round, 2^nd (New Orleans) to 6^th (Milwaukee), depending on team needs and workouts	Paul was perhaps the most efficient offensive perimeter player in the nation this season. He absolutely lived at the free throw line; amazing for a sub-six footer. On the other hand, Paul doesn’t defend. The Knicks don’t need anymore of that.
Deron Williams, Illinois	Early first round 4^th (Utah) to late lottery 16^th (Toronto) depending on workouts	I really like Williams even though he doesn’t fit Isiah’s “athleticism” mantra. He’s a high IQ, instinctive player. He’s a bit like Andre Miller without the post-up game but a much better jump shooter. He’s best-suited to run a half-court screen-roll or a passing and cutting offense but he can get up and down too.
Raymond Felton, North Carolina	Early first round 4^th (Utah) to mid-lottery 12^th (LA Clippers)	No college player is better than Felton at pushing the ball at the defense. He’s smart, fearless, he defends, and his jump shot is developing. He’s tailor-made for an uptempo team that asks its point guard to penetrate-and-kick. He strikes me as a comparable, though better prospect than T.J. Ford because of his strength.
Jarrett Jack, Georgia Tech.	Mid-lottery 8^th (Knicks) to end of round 1 30^th (Knicks) depending on workouts	Declared but hasn’t hired an agent. Opinions are all over the place on him. His detractors generally point to his turnovers. I love Jack’s all around game, particularly his on ball defense, and his athleticism. If he goes to Chicago and plays well he could solidify his status in the mid-to-late lottery.
Nate Robinson, Washington	Early 2^nd round	Robinson is an exceptional on-ball defender and may be the best pound-for-pound athlete in the draft. Unfortunately, he also may have hurt his draft status more than any other player with a disappointing NCAA tournament.
John Gilchrist, Maryland	Early to mid 2^nd round	He has everything you could ask for from a physical standpoint. His basketball IQ just isn’t there yet. He should have gone back to school.
Luther Head, Illinois	Early-to-mid 2^nd round	Luther is a combo guard who will find his way onto a team as an excellent passer, defensive stopper, and a guy who will take a big shot.
Aaron Miles, Kansas	Late 2^nd round/free agent	Miles has all the intangibles – basketball IQ, pure point guard skills, feel for the game, leadership, toughness, unselfishness – but lacks size and anything resembling a jump shot. He’s small and light. He has to find the right situation, or as I heard someone put it recently, “Hit the Chris Duhon lottery.”

Of the point guards listed I think Williams, Felton, and Jack have the most to contribute to the Knicks immediately. Each could run the second unit. Each pushes the ball and thinks pass-first, but can score if needed. Most importantly, each will play their first NBA summer league game as a better on-ball defender than Marbury or Crawford is right now.

Shooting Guards

Name/College	Availability?	Comment
Antoine Wright, Texas A&M	Late lottery #10 (Lakers) to #30 (Knicks)	Played his entire career on really awful teams but put up good numbers. He’s a willing defender and a potentially dynamite scorer. He has an NBA ready body.
Kennedy Winston, Alabama	Late lottery #10 (Lakers) to #30 (Knicks)	There is a lot to like. Winston has a great body and a great stroke, but can be lazy defensively and is turnover prone.
Francisco Garcia, Louisville	Late first round #20 (Denver) to #30 (Knicks)	Garcia is the Deron Williams of shooting guards. His basketball skills and IQ are his biggest assets. He’ll need to go to a team that values those things and is willing to live with his athletic deficiencies.
Salim Stoudamire, Arizona	Early 2^nd round	More Steve Kerr (pure shooter) than Eddie House (scorer). Unlike House or Kerr though, Stoudamire’s defense will allow him to stay on the floor. Also, he can run the point for a few minutes a night.
Tiras Wade, LA-Lafayette	Mid-late 2^nd round	Big-time scorer with nice size from a small conference.
Alex Acker, Pepperdine	Late 2^nd round/free agent	Alex is another combo guard. An athletic 6’5” with some legitimate point guard skills he could conceivably work his way into round 1.

Overall, I’m not so sure this is the draft the Knicks will find an heir apparent to Houston at shooting guard, particularly once Wright and Winston are off the board. I’m assuming Isiah isn’t silly enough to consider a schoolboy shooting guard (Gerald Green or Martell Webster), particularly since defense rather than scoring is the problem in the backcourt. The Knicks may be best off continuing to develop Ariza as a swing man rotating him with Crawford and Penny.

Coming Soon: We Need a Center Too