Friday: Two Men And A Workout

NEW YORK, June 15, 2007 -- Marcus Williams and Dominic McGuire, both in the 6-7 range, both hail from the West Coast, and are both outstanding small forward prospects in this year’s NBA Draft. Yet, for all their similarities, they couldn’t be more different as players: Williams is the naturally instinctive offensive machine from big-time Arizona, McGuire the long-armed shot blocker-defender from the WAC's Fresno State.

“This was a very high-level day because you had two primetime athletes going at each other,” Nets GM Ed Stefanski said following Friday’s joint Knicks-Nets Draft workout. “Though Marcus is a scorer with an excellent mid-range game, he has to work on his shooting and three point range. But his size, athleticism, and ball-handling skills are up there…He’s a NBA basketball player.”

“Also, he creates for other guys. His playmaking ability is a big plus.”

“McGuire has a NBA body, he’s a long, athletic, slash-er type with good defensive instincts,’’ added Stefanski.

For both teams, and both players, this was their very first two-man workout. “It was intense, a lot more reps,” smiled Williams. “Isiah (Thomas) instructed us in some detail. He was saying ‘’When Jamal Crawford is waiting for the ball in the corner wide open, you can’t be sitting out there holding onto the ball. You have to make the move early and make the play quicker.”

Williams is familiar with Channing Frye a little bit from Arizona and says, “I know Nate Robinson and Jamal Crawford really well.” He continued, “They are from Seattle -- and so am I. It would be awesome to play with those guys on the Knicks. Plus Isiah as the head man…It would be great, a huge learning experience.”

McGuire feels he’s NBA-ready right now as far as “defense and versatility. Though I’m a natural ‘three’, I can play the ‘two’, ‘three’, ‘four’, or even the ‘one’ position. Though my game leans more toward Scottie Pippen -- I’m long and athletic like him and he was a great defender -- I’m like Boris Diaw in that regard. Except I think I’m a lot quicker.”

“I’ve got the handle. I played point guard in high school at the same height so that would be no problem.”

“I’m more of a playmaker than a scorer,” added McGuire. “But I don’t consider myself raw on offense. Which is not to say I can’t get better. I mean, I know I need to improve on my jump shot. But I’m a guy who had to work his way up from day one. I didn’t even start my freshman year in college. So I’m a hard worker -- nobody has ever handed me anything.”

“What’s particularly attractive to me about the Knicks is that they have one of the greatest players ever coaching,’’ McGuire said with a smile. “So learning from him, that would be a great, great opportunity.”