Draft Preview - Swing Men
Pure outside shooting is THAT important. The Knicks still finished mid-league in the major NBA shooting categories -- 11th in field goal percentage and 14th in trey accuracy -- which, given their relative lack of inside size, was actually rather impressive. They had plenty of overall offensive juice, enough to post their highest average (97.3 ppg.) since 1994-95, good for 14th in the league as well. But NBA offense is more than just about scoring points; it’s how you score, and when you score. And that’s where a premiere pure shooter with profound range comes into the chemical equation.
Stephon Marbury (115 treys) and Jamal Crawford (185, second highest in club history) had outstanding home run seasons -- but they are streak, rather than, pure shooters. A pure perimeter gunner with range stretches defenses, opening up all kinds of driving lanes for the Marbury and Crawford-type slashing scorers; that type of player’s very presence creates superior shots for others, an essential chemical factor the Knicks simply did not have. A pure perimeter gunner is also a priceless weapon in those all-important end-game situations, an area the Knicks struggled in so mightily last season.
Thus look for President, Basketball Operations Isiah Thomas to give prime precedence to a pure perimeter shooter with range and athleticism on June 28th. These will be the top swingmen on the board:
Player |
Career Summary |
|
1. |
Marvin Williams (6-9 SF, North Carolina)
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Tar Heel freshman is so naturally gifted that he may go No. 1 in the nation in spite of not even starting on the National Championship team (and not playing particularly well in the Final Four). Williams, just 19 years old last week, is a do-it-all super-athlete with an unbelievable upside who, reportedly, out-worked out Andrew Bogut in Milwaukee by a wide margin, throwing the Bucks’ boardroom in a tizzy and the top selection up for grabs. PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: 1 or 2. |
2. |
Gerald Green (6-8 SF, Gulf Shores Academy, TX)
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High school swinger is a highflying TNT-type with deep three range, drawing comparisons to Tracy McGrady. G-Money won the McDonald’s All-America Game dunking contest and has averaged an unreal 33 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists a game as a senior. PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: 2-6. |
3. |
Danny Granger (6-8 SF, New Mexico)
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A mature senior who can literally do it all (18.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.1 spg, 2.0 bpg, 43.3 per cent treys), Granger has made a real name for himself in postseason action, leaping from deep sleeper all the way to surefire lottery inhabitant. Besides his terrific talent and vast versatility, he’s a passionate leader with an outstanding understanding of the nuances of the game as well. The Knicks, reportedly, are extremely interested.
PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: 5-10 |
4. |
4. Martell Webster (6-7 SG-SF, Seattle Prep, WA)
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High school-er is already a terrific long-range shooter with an NBA-plus body. Must vary his game by improving off the dribble -- and off the ball. PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: Mid to low lottery. |
5. |
Antoine Wright (6-7 SG-SF, Texas A&M)
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An athletic slasher with a profoundly purified “J” -- he shot an outrageous 44.7 per cent from trey territory last season in face of triple teams -- Wright got lost on some poor college squads for a long while. The scouts are aware of him now, though, often mentioning him as a lottery-type talent. He’s another player who may be just Wright for the Knicks.
PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: 7-13. |
6. |
Yaroslav Korolev (6-9 SF, Russia)
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In spite of scant production for CSKA MOSKVA at the senior level, this 18 year-old with the unique combination of coordination, athleticism, and size is seen as perhaps the most talented foreign player in the draft. PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: 7-20. |
7. |
Hakim Warrick (6-9 SF-PF, Syracuse)
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A top athlete but a classic ‘tweener, the 219-pound Warrick is not powerful enough to be an NBA “four” and doesn’t own the pure perimeter skills of a star small forward. Still, experience, guts, and overall gifts will likely make him a solid NBA contributor. PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: Low lottery-25. |
8. |
Francisco Garcia (6-7 SG-SF, Louisville)
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A do-it-all athlete with excellent handling and shooting skills, he must get both physically stronger -- Garcia is a rail-thin 195 pounds -- and more aggressive in order to fulfill his potential at the NBA level. PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: 15-25 |
9. |
Rashad McCants (6-4 SG, North Carolina)
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Outstanding as a shooter, driver, and to-the-rim exploder, McCants is the most talented offensive operator in the nation, bar none. However, his long-standing rep for moodiness on and off the floor appears to be well earned. PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: 17-25 |
10. |
Linas Kleiza (6-8 PF-SF, Missouri)
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A deep sleeper who stands out at both forward positions by playing with a special brand of fire, smarts, and physicality, the furiously fundamental Kleiza has been clearly held back by the turmoil at Missouri. He led the 2003 World Junior Championships in scoring (29.1 ppg.) and field goal percentage (58.4). PROBABLE DRAFT SPOT: Kleiza will likely last until the second round -- but would be a steal 10-20 spots higher. |
NEXT BEST: Joey Graham (6-6 SF, Oklahoma State), Ersan Ilyasova (6-9 SF Turkey), Luther Head (6-4 SG, Illinois), Bracey Wright (6-3 SG, Indiana), Kennedy Winston (6-6 SG, Alabama), Julius Hodge (6-8 SG-SF, North Carolina State), Mickael Gelabale (6-7 SF, Spain), Alan Anderson (6-6 SG, Michigan State), Angelo Gigli (6-10 SF, Italy).
