Knicks NBA Draft Central 2003 - Mock Draft Roundup
Everyone's got an opinion on who the Knicks will (or should) select in the first round. Here's a roundup of the current speculation from around the web:
NBA.com - Eastern and Western Conference Scouts
Chris Kaman - 7-1, C, Jr., Central Michigan
West scout: "They have their two (Allan Houston), their three (Latrell Sprewell) and plenty of fours, but they don't have a true center. They also need backups for the twos and threes."
East scout: "I think they need help at point guard, but [T.J.] Ford won't drop that low."
ESPN.com - Andy Katz
Chris Kaman - 7-1, C, Jr., Central Michigan
“The Knicks need help after last year's bust of a draft. They traded Nene Hilario and got damaged goods in Antonio McDyess and Frank Williams. Kaman said he's ready to contribute, and he better be if the Knicks take him this high. He claims he's not going to be just another player taken because he's tall. If that's the case, he better be a legitimate scoring forward. Knick fans might groan a bit when this pick is announced in the Garden, and they don't take kindly to projects. They need Kaman to produce immediately. If there is any trepidation with this pick then don't be surprised to see someone like Michael Sweetney or Nick Collison shoot up this high.”
ESPN.com - Chris Ford
Chris Kaman - 7-1, C, Jr., Central Michigan
“The Podkolzine workout was the best thing to happen to Scott Layden. He couldn't afford to take the risk on yet another Euro project, and with Pavel now expected to be off the board earlier, the guy Layden really likes falls to him at No. 9. While Kaman doesn't have the trappings of a superstar, his unbelievable footwork, ability to shoot with both his left and right hand, and his above average athleticism for a big man will make him a solid center in the league.”
SportingNews.com
Maciej Lampe, PF, 7-0, Real Madrid (Spain)
"The Knicks need a big. They could really chase New Orleans’ free agent P.J. Brown, but they can go for the best player remaining on the board, the 7-foot Lampe. He’s young, but the Knicks need to get younger and stay away from spent NBA veterans who don’t work out."
CBS Sportsline.com - Tony Mejia
Michael Sweetney, PF, 6-8, Georgetown
"Sweetney may be slightly undersized as a power forward, but his tremendous wing span and physical nature inside will make him an immediate contributor."
CNNSI.com
Dwyane Wade, SG, 6-4, Marquette
"Consider this one a placeholder. If Kaman and Lampe are both gone by the time the Knicks pick, one has to think they'll try to deal this pick to a team that fancies Wade in return for some frontcourt help. They're too scarred from the Frederic Weis disaster to take a chance on Russian giant Pavel Podkolzine."
