Italy comes to Mike D’Antoni, Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks
June 27, 2008 – 12:22 amI know a lot of Knicks fans all over the U.S. are pissed off right about now, but I admit am not one of them. Even Dick Vitale, who is not necessarily a Knicks fan, criticized the direction Donnie Walsh went in with the #6 pick, but the Knicks said they got exactly who they wanted out of the draft, so it seems they really believe they can roll with Danilo Gallinari in a Knick jersey down the road.I don’t think Danilo Gallinari is as much of a project as someone like Anothony Randolph would have been. Gallinari already possesses fundamental basketball skills some current Knicks are still missing (Lee, Balkman); he can already shoot, pass and was the go-to guy for a competitive team playing in the best competition Europe has to offer.
Let me just say that I am down with this new regime of Walsh and D’Antoni, for now. With James Dolan still the owner, and Isiah Thomas still employed by the Knicks, I am skeptical over how much things have really changed in New York, but I gave Scott Layden the benefit of the doubt for four years, and I supported Isiah up until last year (that’s three-plus years of giving Zeke the benefit of the doubt despite zero playoff appearances and a plethora of dubious free agency signings and trades), so this is just the beginning of a new era and we haven’t seen what this kid can do in the NBA–only time will tell.
I can’t relate at all to the people who are writing off our new leaders over this draft. I was pretty certain they were going to get Gallinari, but when I saw Bayless drop so far, I thought maybe they’d go for him. Boy did Bayless drop! Did I see Lopez cry when he fell from the top ten? That was sad, but you knew he was going to get picked up–Jersey nabbed him. Who knows what the Knicks would have done had Westbrook still been there? I knew Seattle wanted to get him because of his defensive prowess; they miss that since Gary Payton left town so many years ago. You just can’t teach that defensive intensity, just ask Eddy Curry, or Zach Randolph for that matter.
PaulNoize and Bronxboy in Md mentioned that drafting Gallinari indicates some doubt over forward Wilson Chandler’s long-term health. I was thinking the same thing. Actually, I’ve been concerned about Wilson Chandler’s health since I witnessed the injury, that looked very bad, the impact he sustained to the side of his kneecap. 100% reminded me of Channing’s injury except it was from the side of the knee instead of the front of the knee. We all know what happened to Channing. The summer league will tell us if we have Mardy Collins redux in Wilson Chandler. If you ask me, both players careers were jepordized by Isiah’s bad coaching practices, but if you really want to look at it from another perspective, perhaps the GM drafted injury-prone players the past three years (Channing, Collins, now Chandler)?
And somewhere in all of this, Stephon Marbury, the original Isiah Thomas acquisition, must be remembered. It was during a past summer interview when Stephon proclaimed to the world that he was so enamoured with Italy that he’d be leaving behind his NBA career to move to Italy to play professional basketball there. Well, looks like Steph may finally have someone to talk to on the plane rides and in the locker room, for once. Tell him what it’s like, Danilo. Steph doesn’t have any friends in the locker room, so he could use one.
That is, if Steph is still a Knick by the time November 1st comes along.
Next up, the Vegas Summer Pro League (will there be an Eddy Curry sighting?), followed by off-season trade rumors/free agency signings galore. Being a Knicks fan is really a year-round process. Our girlfriends know this by now.
Isiah did a lot of damage to the franchise, let’s see what else Walsh and D’Antoni can do this off season to address some of the other concerns with this roster.
12 Responses to “Italy comes to Mike D’Antoni, Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks”
first gallinari article post-draft:
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=428384
By knicksdefense on Jun 27, 2008
KnicksD
I heard on an ESPN post draft interview that Walsh sees him more as a scoring 4.
He is supposedly a legit 6′9 w/o shoes on. He might be about 6′10 1/2 with some kicks.
That’s good size for someone who can play from the wing, post, or as a Point Forward.
I’m with you I’m giving the kid the benefit of the doubt.
Someone oughta do a Youtube of his first year with that Alice and Chains song “The Rooster”
Very Proper I say!
By Orange and Blue on Jun 27, 2008
I have come to the place where I come at this team with a clean slate. My thing is just tell me the truth about what you are doing. Don’t lie which I feel recent regimes have often done (not just Isiah’s term BTW). Walsh has said he is going to make long term moves. In the short term he just wants to compete. I can live with that. If this kid ends up being a Kukoc, NOwitski or a taller version of Ginobli in two or three I will be estatic. If he ends up being Macie Lampe well———-.
I also think Walsh is not done for the summer. Is Felton now available since Bobcats took DJ? Is there some under utilized point out there waiting for prime time exposure? (The way Nash and Kevin JOhnson were early in their careers.) Is Nate Robinson ready to be a basketball player as opposed to a circus act?
Time will tell.
Hopefully Chandlers knee is not as bad as it seems. However the silence is deafening.
By Kevin Harewood on Jun 27, 2008
That was absolute bullshit last night. Half the crowd has no idea what this kid has as far as potential but they squarely booed him anyway. I felt bad for Dino. What a way to be welcomed. Who was better on the draft board at 6 ? They were cheering for Gordon ! Yeah thats what we need a 6′3″ SG. Maybe we can pair him w/ Nate and we can have the smallest backcourt in the league. They say that NYers have more b-ball knowledge than fans in other places. They sure didn’t show it last night.
By JohnQ on Jun 27, 2008
Agreed John Q.
I say give the kid a chance.
Hope he makes the Italian Contingent and Italian American Contingent in NY proud!
Also us Knicks Fans of course!
By Orange and Blue on Jun 27, 2008
I feel they were booing the decision and management, not Gallinari. If the Knicks traded down and picked him up later on I think the crowd would have gone wild, like with Lampe.
I’m giving him a chance. Those video clips ESPN showed did not do his game any justice, especially that ugly lefty lay-up at the end. From what I’ve seen I like his shot, plus he plays with some fire and poise which is nice.
By Saku 39 on Jun 27, 2008
Saku,
If they wanted to boo mangement they should have booed through the whole 2nd round when it would have been nice to get an extra pick (CDR, or Pat’s kid for instance). So what are we trading to Memphis to swipe one of their 4 PG’s before the year starts ?
By JohnQ on Jun 27, 2008
According to Marc Berman Gallinari will be playing in the Vegas summer pro league. You figure he would, but a confirmation would be nice since he’s an overseas player and is expected to play on the Italian national basketball team this summer.
By knicksdefense on Jun 27, 2008
O. J. Mayo=Mr. Love?
“I know what has been put out there about Love’s lack of athleticism,” Stack said. “We did a very extensive study of what he did at the combines and compared it to Al Horford [the 2007 pick at No. 3 and Atlanta's near-Rookie of the Year power forward]. He, across the board, measured almost identical to what Al Horford brought to the table. And he brings a jump shot and an ability to stretch the defense way better than Al Horford.
“From that standpoint, people have said, ‘Well this kid’s not an athlete.’ I beg to differ. This kid jumped 35 inches. He has a big wingspan, he reaches nine feet in the air. And he’s dedicated to coming in here. His profile, when we compared these people, was off the charts. We had to trade a very good player in O.J. Mayo, obviously. But it really set us up on so many levels that this was a deal we couldn’t pass up.”
What were we thinking?More later…
By Tman on Jun 27, 2008
O.J/ Mayo-”On news media criticism of athletes who play one college season, then jump to the N.B.A., Mayo said: “It’s pointless. There’s no degree in college that’s going to pay and take care of your family the way the N.B.A. will as a young guy, not knowing what’s going to happen tomorrow. If your son could do it, you wouldn’t tell him, ‘No, I think you should graduate instead of going to the N.B.A.’ ”
On playing basketball at U.S.C.: “It felt like a job, I’m not going to lie to you. It’s like a job where you’re underpaid because you’re a full-time basketball student and a full-time regular student at the same time.”
On being a role model: “My responsibility after tomorrow night will be as a professional ballplayer and within that responsibility is a role model, a difference maker in a lot of people’s lives, whether you want to believe that or not.”
Now I’m really mad we didn’t get him!This is a very thoughtful young man!
By Tman on Jun 27, 2008
Tman, I have no doubt we would have picked either Mayo or Westbrook had either slipped down to #6.
I believe we should have lost that three game win streak Isiah’s ego went on at the end of the season, then we wouldn’t be settling for Gallinari at 6, with Kevin Love, Russel Westbrook, and OJ Mayo all out the door by the time the Knicks were on the clock.
But now that we have him, let’s see what they saw in him. For that reason I’m glad he’s playing in the Vegas summer pro league.
By knicksdefense on Jun 27, 2008
Ditto KnicksD
No need to hate on the other kids in the draft… just root on our Rooster!
By Orange and Blue on Jun 27, 2008