Got to go to July 4th, I have to put out a post I did on another site to which I received no good answers. My hypothesis is this- that not only did the Knicks want him at 6 when they realized they could not trade up, but they actually used the pre-draft reporting to influence the decisions of Seattle (Oklahoma) and Clippers. So here it goes…

This has been bugging me since draft day. I have been unable to find anyone who has commented on or speculated about the ESPN reporter (a female) who on draft night, before any picks had been made as far as I can recall, came out of the Knicks’ draft room and announced that “the Knicks have found their point guard.” Since the Knicks passed on Augustine and Bayless, I had assumed that the reporter was talking about Westbrook. Yet the Knicks and Walsh had been tight to the vest in terms of announcing their intentions, and the more I considered the incident, the more I doubted the truth of what they had told the reporter because it was inconsistent with their draft policy.

I had assumed that the Knicks had Westbrook # 1 on their board, assuming that Mayo didn’t drop, and Gallinari as #2. I also had read that the Clippers were thinking about moving up and that Seattle and Memphis might have been thinking of moving down. I have to assume that if Seattle picked Westbrook at 4- they really wanted him. I had also assumed that the Clippers were looking at Bayless or Gordon, but I do know that they also had Gallinari in for a workout, and this might have given the Knicks the idea that the Clippers were willing to trade down to get him.

So here is my hypothesis: Is it possible that the Knicks wanted Gallinari all along, and not Westbrook, and the Clippers really wanted Gordon #1 (Bayless #2), but thought the Knicks might take Gordon (Or perhaps the Clippers really wanted Gallinari all along and assumed the Knicks would take him?)? With this in mind, the Clippers might have originally talked to Seattle about a slot swap, with Seattle thinking that they could pick up Westbrook at 7 since they thought the Knicks wanted Gallinari. The Knicks on the other hand, if they really wanted Gallinari, might have thought that the Clippers could take Gallinari as a reach in a trade to 4. The Knicks, by telling ESPN that they had found their point guard, therefore froze Seattle at 4, because Seattle would have believed that the Knicks would take Westbrook, the player they actually thought enough of to take at 4, and would have taken at 7.

Is there something here I am missing? The key for me is the draft night announcement, and how it might fit in logically with what the Knicks wanted and how the draft played out. I actually wanted Gallinari, so I am quite happy, but the reporter’s comment has stuck with me.

I know that this is all a bit confusing, but does anyone have an ideas on this or another explanation on why the Knicks might have been so open with the ESPN reporter?

Put the grammar whistle away and talk Knicks basketball, or shut the fuck up.

Of course you were too cowardly to put a real email address, so I have to address your punk ass directly on this blog. I will not again waste my time writing to non-Knick fans (I deduce this based on your comment which had absolutely nothing to do with the Knicks).

“..mercilessly defend him…” You can attack someone without mercy, but it doesn’t make much sense to defend someone without mercy.

“…would love to bare his child…” I believe you mean “bear” his child. “Baring” his child could get you in trouble with the vice squad.

“…while he was fowling things up …” LOL Was he importing chickens?

Despite our divirgence of Opinion on some matters do you really believe that Danillo was merely a way to sell the fans on the Idea that Thomas is truly out of any and all influence in MSG? If so why would the welcome a chorus of boos when Gallinari’s name was called.

In a way suggesting that Gallinari is some form of cover is as insulting to the Kid Gallinari, as saying he got the job b/c of his connections with D’antoni.

This kid will be going summer leauge then to the Italian national team where he will likely be scriminaging against the best players in his nation, and then against some of the best players in the world.

That says alot to me. It means he is not afraid of failure of facing the best, and of forging himself as a player and person in that process.

I’m rooting for the rooster. I want the kid to prove all the naysayers wrong b/c it is what’s best for this franchise. Not b/c it deep cover or PR for Zeke.

Anyhow. Where are your sources for these conspiracy theories?