Towns or Okafor or Mudiay or Russel?

[Deeeez Knicks]

I'd go Towns or Okafor over Mudiay at this point. Part of it is there just isn't enough on Mudiay to go by, part of it is that he may not be a great fit in the triangle, and another part of it is that what I've seen so far just isn't impressive enough for a top 3 pick.

[kingquan316]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaMLbctGzKI[/youtube]

Towns defense is what will win me over. I still have him third out of the three, but if has more big games stat wise he will surpass Mudiay, and maybe even Okafor.

[Lord Commander]

Decisions, decisions...I was on the Okafor bandwagon a month ago but now me thinks Mudiay might be the BAP.

I'll probably flip flop another 10 times before June.

Edit: Of course, if we have a reasonable shot at Dragic, I guess you have to go with Okafor...look at that, I'm flip flopping already Damn it's good to have a first rounder with a great shot at a top 3.

[PMFJB]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaMLbctGzKI[/youtube]

Towns defense is what will win me over. I still have him third out of the three, but if has more big games stat wise he will surpass Mudiay, and maybe even Okafor.

HIs defense is by far the worst part of his game.
In that same game he couldn't keep his man from getting in the paint and kept fouling when he got post up.

[kingquan316]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaMLbctGzKI[/youtube]

Towns defense is what will win me over. I still have him third out of the three, but if has more big games stat wise he will surpass Mudiay, and maybe even Okafor.

HIs defense is by far the worst part of his game.
In that same game he couldn't keep his man from getting in the paint and kept fouling when he got post up.

Everywhere I read they say his defense is good and is the main advantage over Okafor (plus athleticism). If that isn't his main strength, what is it?

[Meat]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaMLbctGzKI[/youtube]

Towns defense is what will win me over. I still have him third out of the three, but if has more big games stat wise he will surpass Mudiay, and maybe even Okafor.

HIs defense is by far the worst part of his game.
In that same game he couldn't keep his man from getting in the paint and kept fouling when he got post up.

Everywhere I read they say his defense is good and is the main advantage over Okafor (plus athleticism). If that isn't his main strength, what is it?

his shot

[ColdBlooded]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaMLbctGzKI[/youtube]

Towns defense is what will win me over. I still have him third out of the three, but if has more big games stat wise he will surpass Mudiay, and maybe even Okafor.

HIs defense is by far the worst part of his game.
In that same game he couldn't keep his man from getting in the paint and kept fouling when he got post up.

Everywhere I read they say his defense is good and is the main advantage over Okafor (plus athleticism). If that isn't his main strength, what is it?

He offers more rim protection than Okafor.

His man-to-man defense needs work. Handling physical backdowns and denying position is a work in progress.

His strength is his versatility. The inside-out potential.

[Dr. Detfink]

Okafor is too good to ignore. I'm sure there could be a better prospect but the lottery, assuming the Knicks can get a top pick, want to take the best product with lowest % of failure out there...even though there are no guarantees.

[nykballa2k4]

I think it is unfortunate that THIS is the draft we have a pick in. I would wonder if we could trade our pick for Embiid after the draft. Sixers might prefer a more "skilled" big man without an injury history (plus the extra year of team control) whereas Knicks would be thrilled to have a center of Embiid's potential.

Though I supposed that if you have a guy for a year and are willing to toss him right out, that means he likely is not he is cracked up to be...

[nykballa2k4]

The more I look at this draft, I really see the chance to move down and get more value. Okafor and Towns have tremendous offensive potential that will take time to develop. The guy I want is WCS. Has a Camby-like feel to him.
I would not be mad at all if we were to get the 5th overall pick and be able to pick a "good" player.

[nykballa2k4]

Okafor is too good to ignore. I'm sure there could be a better prospect but the lottery, assuming the Knicks can get a top pick, want to take the best product with lowest % of failure out there...even though there are no guarantees.

Okafor is going to be very good as a pro. I just don't like the fit with him and Melo. We would desperately need like a prime Kenyon Martin or Taj Gibson next to them. Amir Johnson is a FA that would fit the bill...

[Knicksfan20]

This is the Knicks... We are going to do terrible then win 15 of our last 16 leaving us with the 14th pick.

[moocow007]

The more I look at this draft, I really see the chance to move down and get more value. Okafor and Towns have tremendous offensive potential that will take time to develop. The guy I want is WCS. Has a Camby-like feel to him.
I would not be mad at all if we were to get the 5th overall pick and be able to pick a "good" player.

While I'm not necessarily a fan of taking Okafor, the one thing about Okafor that makes him the guy to pick is that his offense really doesn't need to be developed too much. It's pretty much already there. Right now, he'd be IMO among the best post players in the NBA. His post game is really that good. I don't think he'll have any problems scoring 18ppg in his rookie season. The concern with Okafor is that he could be the next Eddy Curry in all other aspects of the game...defense, rebounding, conditioning...(although what he has working in his favor is that he's a much better passer than Curry which indicates much better feel for the game and much better competitiveness). With the Knicks being near the bottom of the NBA offensively, it's not just Okafor's post passing that's attractive, it's his ability to score that also would fit well. Right now, other than maybe Mudiay, no one in the lottery can bring as much immediate offense as he can to the NBA. With Okafor, you cannot guard him man-to-man, even in the NBA, so teams will have to double him which will create a lot more open opportunities for everyone else, which, given his terrific awareness and passing from the post, makes him a potential damned if you do (double), damned if you don't (double) guy.

[DaGawd]

After hearing Beasley is averaging 28 ppg and Hamed Haddadi is averaging 21 ppg and 14 rpg in the CBA....HARD pass on Mudiay

[Knicksfan1992]

The more I look at this draft, I really see the chance to move down and get more value. Okafor and Towns have tremendous offensive potential that will take time to develop. The guy I want is WCS. Has a Camby-like feel to him.
I would not be mad at all if we were to get the 5th overall pick and be able to pick a "good" player.

A draft where we are able to grab Stanley Johnson and WCS is a draft I want to watch.

[nykballa2k4]

The more I look at this draft, I really see the chance to move down and get more value. Okafor and Towns have tremendous offensive potential that will take time to develop. The guy I want is WCS. Has a Camby-like feel to him.
I would not be mad at all if we were to get the 5th overall pick and be able to pick a "good" player.

While I'm not necessarily a fan of taking Okafor, the one thing about Okafor that makes him the guy to pick is that his offense really doesn't need to be developed too much. It's pretty much already there. Right now, he'd be IMO among the best post players in the NBA. His post game is really that good. I don't think he'll have any problems scoring 18ppg in his rookie season. The concern with Okafor is that he could be the next Eddy Curry in all other aspects of the game...defense, rebounding, conditioning...(although what he has working in his favor is that he's a much better passer than Curry which indicates much better feel for the game and much better competitiveness). With the Knicks being near the bottom of the NBA offensively, it's not just Okafor's post passing that's attractive, it's his ability to score that also would fit well. Right now, other than maybe Mudiay, no one in the lottery can bring as much immediate offense as he can to the NBA. With Okafor, you cannot guard him man-to-man, even in the NBA, so teams will have to double him which will create a lot more open opportunities for everyone else, which, given his terrific awareness and passing from the post, makes him a potential damned if you do (double), damned if you don't (double) guy.

my issue is that in today's nba offense is cheaper than defense. just looking at this summer for example: Millsap, B.Lopez(opt), Monroe, Kanter all can put numbers up. The big name defensive guys: Asik, Jordan, RoLo are all going to be paid imo too high a rate for being 2 dimensional (reb, def) players. The way you get a superstar big man is by drafting a guy with great defense and offensive potential. Getting a guy who can already score is nice, but chances are they will peak early and you will have a nice player with holes in their game (ie Pekovic).

Example:
Montrel (I refuse his Z) Harrell looks like a beast stat-wise. 16 and 10. Not much range yet, but again, that's what we want to develop. A bit undersized but the hope is there for him to be well rounded.

He is slated to be drafted 17. There is a chance that a team like Denver (drafting at 11 currently) falls in love with one of the top 3 guys and would take Calderon, Jr (and Okafor/Towns) for Lawson (Turner/Kaminski/Harrell)

We then still have cap for 1 more piece.

[F N 11]

God just bless us with a franchise player with extreme heart.

[EMG518]

The more I look at this draft, I really see the chance to move down and get more value. Okafor and Towns have tremendous offensive potential that will take time to develop. The guy I want is WCS. Has a Camby-like feel to him.
I would not be mad at all if we were to get the 5th overall pick and be able to pick a "good" player.

While I'm not necessarily a fan of taking Okafor, the one thing about Okafor that makes him the guy to pick is that his offense really doesn't need to be developed too much. It's pretty much already there. Right now, he'd be IMO among the best post players in the NBA. His post game is really that good. I don't think he'll have any problems scoring 18ppg in his rookie season. The concern with Okafor is that he could be the next Eddy Curry in all other aspects of the game...defense, rebounding, conditioning...(although what he has working in his favor is that he's a much better passer than Curry which indicates much better feel for the game and much better competitiveness). With the Knicks being near the bottom of the NBA offensively, it's not just Okafor's post passing that's attractive, it's his ability to score that also would fit well. Right now, other than maybe Mudiay, no one in the lottery can bring as much immediate offense as he can to the NBA. With Okafor, you cannot guard him man-to-man, even in the NBA, so teams will have to double him which will create a lot more open opportunities for everyone else, which, given his terrific awareness and passing from the post, makes him a potential damned if you do (double), damned if you don't (double) guy.

my issue is that in today's nba offense is cheaper than defense. just looking at this summer for example: Millsap, B.Lopez(opt), Monroe, Kanter all can put numbers up. The big name defensive guys: Asik, Jordan, RoLo are all going to be paid imo too high a rate for being 2 dimensional (reb, def) players. The way you get a superstar big man is by drafting a guy with great defense and offensive potential. Getting a guy who can already score is nice, but chances are they will peak early and you will have a nice player with holes in their game (ie Pekovic).

Example:
Montrel (I refuse his Z) Harrell looks like a beast stat-wise. 16 and 10. Not much range yet, but again, that's what we want to develop. A bit undersized but the hope is there for him to be well rounded.

He is slated to be drafted 17. There is a chance that a team like Denver (drafting at 11 currently) falls in love with one of the top 3 guys and would take Calderon, Jr (and Okafor/Towns) for Lawson (Turner/Kaminski/Harrell)

We then still have cap for 1 more piece.

Definitely a no, we dont want to trade a franchise player to get Ty Lawson who has logged alot of minutes, has only seen his percentages decline every year and a role player. Rather keep the franchise player.

[K_ick_God]

I have to admit that Okafor looks a lot like the dreaded Eddy Curry. Not a great motor down low on D, though you can tell he wants to do better. His passing looks pretty good -- not yet sure it's great but clearly he's willing and has some eye.

His offense really flows like Eddy's. Which is obviously not an insult. Those quick spin moves for a man of size are a thing of beauty and dominance, and are what led many of us to believe Eddy could be really good. I think Okafor will develop a decent jumper, and inside he's got a soft touch and skill around the rim -- those things will make him a plus-plus offensive force.

He rebounds pretty well but will get stripped pretty often. His instincts are not to attack drivers or position himself well. He has a long ways to go there. But it can be taught.

A guy this skilled can be taught as long as he has desire which he appears to. His defensive motor and awareness will probably always be lacking some but he can get up to par and be a force. Put him at 4 and get a defensive 5 (or vice versa I guess) and your frontline will be very big and good defensively unless he really, really lacks any ability. At that height he only needs to be decently active and aware. I wonder how long his wingspan is, that matters too.

Given how much you can build an offense around a guy like this, I don't see how you can pass him up. But sure there are risks.

[Pharmcat]

while this discussion is very informative and enjoyable to read, is it pre-mature in the sense what if Jackson trades the pick?