And with the 12th Pick, Orlando Takes . . . the Knicks Pick

By Craig Hoberman

Hey there fellow Knicks fans! As you’ve probably now accepted, Melo is probably going to leave New York (boo-hoo). Even worse, the year he is likely to turn his back on the Garden is also the year of the best draft class in a decade. And the Knicks have no pick to speak of in 2014 - because we gave it away for Melo - who will probably be in Chicago laughing it up this time next year. We NY fans can’t catch a break, can we?

What kinds of players are NY really missing out on?  Top prospects Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Dante Exum will definitely fall outside where the Knicks pick would be picking, (#12, currently held by the Orlando as a result of the Melo trade from the Nuggets and then more trades after) but even further down the list are players that could still make an immediate impact on any struggling team. Yes, this year’s draft class is that damn good. Let’s take a look at which directions each of the first 11 teams to select may go, and which players may remain after, that again, the Knicks have no reason to even look at. Oh well. There’s always next year. At least we still have our 2015 and 2017 1st Round Picks!

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

My Pick: Jabari Parker:  I don’t think anybody anticipated Cleveland getting the first selection again this year. After last year’s joke of a #1 overall pick in Anthony Bennett, the Cav’s need to shape up and pick smart . If I were them, I’d go with the best pure basketball player in the draft- Duke’s Jabari Parker. He’s not as freakishly athletic as Andrew Wiggins or Joel Embiid, but he’s the most skilled and NBA-ready player available. If not for his questionable foot and back injury status and lack of basketball experience, Embiid would make a perfect fit for Cleveland, but after that laughable use of the #1 pick last year, the Cavs need to go with the most reliable choice- and that’s Parker. He often draws comparisons to Melo- imagine if Melo had a point guard like Kyrie Irving in NY. The Kyrie-Parker combo could be LETHAL.

Their Pick: Joel Embiid: The Cav’s have a weak and aging group of big men. Embiid seems like the #1 guy across the board because of his athletic prowess and determination on both ends of the floor. They’ll pick Embiid on draft night to restore order to the front court and install a young, defensive anchor into their game plan, regardless of the many concerns that come with him. Parker is the best basketball player in the draft but doesn’t have the athleticism that the Cavs are most likely looking for. Hopefully Embiid doesn’t bust.

2. Milwaukee Bucks

My Pick: Andrew Wiggins: If the Bucks do miss out on Embiid, Wiggins is the next best choice. He can play the 2 or the 3, is the most athletic player in the draft, and has the potential to be a star on nearly any team. He’ll do great in a lineup that goes something like Brandon Knight, himself, Giannis Anetokounmpo, Ersan Ilyasova and Larry Sanders. That combo is bursting with raw athleticism and youth. Wiggins could be the centerpiece that the Bucks need.

Their Pick: Andrew Wiggins: Again, if they miss out on Embiid, the Bucks would be foolish to pass on Wiggins. He is exactly what they need for success- a youthful, exuberant athlete who can serve as the centerpiece on their roster. The Bucks have a lot of raw talent, but they’re missing something- that something is a player like Wiggins.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

My Pick: Jabari Parker: Before the lotto jumbled the expected draft order around, the 76ers were a shoe-in to take Andrew Wiggins. He’s perfect for the team, but it isn’t likely that he’s going to be available by #3. If possible, I’d take Wiggins for the 76ers, but again, he won’t be around, so I’ll go with my favorite player in the draft, Jabari Parker. Skill-wise he could offer immediate relief to a painfully bad 76ers squad, while forming a formidable trio of Michael Carter-Williams, himself and Nerlens Noel. If that’s the case- they could be a title contender not too long from now.

Their Pick: Jabari Parker: If Wiggins is off the board, Parker is a guaranteed pick from the 76ers. Even the Trail Blazers wouldn’t screw this up.

4. Orlando Magic

My Pick: Dante Exum: This is the kid that I dream about the Knicks getting. Exum is the most talented PG in the draft athletically and also boasts tremendous skill. At 6-6, he’s brilliantly sized for the position, performed beautifully at the combine, and though he’s very young, has a ton of room for development. Orlando won’t have a shot at Parker, Wiggins or Embiid- so it’s gotta be the mysterious, Australian powerhouse. The backcourt combo of Oladipo and Exum is almost too good to be true. Pair them with the underrated Vucevic at center- and you have the best Orlando Magic team in a long time.

Their Pick: Dante Exum: Orlando has no chance in hell of getting Embiid, Parker or Wiggins unless they somehow trade up the pick ladder. They’ve been interested in Exum even before he declared for the draft. They’re dreaming of the same backcourt combo that I envision terrorizing the league in just a few years.

5. Utah Jazz

My Pick: Noah Vonleh: He’s not as proven as an athlete or game-changer as fellow power forwards Julius Randle or Aaron Gordon- but if I was Utah, I’d realize the potential Vonleh has and take him in a heart beat. Amazing size, enormous hands and an unbelievable vertical make him a strong contender for freak-of-the-draft this year. I’d love to see him pair up with and learn a thing or two from Derrick Favors. They’d be deadly alongside one another. Randle won’t be as successful in the NBA as he was in college and Aaron Gordon isn’t as NBA ready as Vonleh might be. I’d go with Vonleh.

Their Pick: Aaron Gordon: I would want Vonleh on my Jazz roster, but they’ll go with Gordon. Gordon is probably the better player of the two so far but he’s the youngest guy in the draft,  however scouts believe he has more skill potential than Vonleh overall. They’ll pick him up on draft night.

6. Boston Celtics

My Pick: Marcus Smart: Truth is, Rajon Rondo isn’t going to stay in Boston too much longer. That’s almost a guarantee. He was nearly traded at the deadline this year, and Danny Ainge is no dummy- he’ll use Rondo as leverage to continue the Celtics rebuilding phase. What better way to rebuild than around a strong, hard working point guard like Marcus Smart? Some have questioned his basketball ability, but his dedication to physical defense, offensive skill set and playmaking ability make him highly sought after. His immense strength and perfect size for position are his greatest selling points. If the Celtics could coach him right, he’ll develop into an All-Star level point guard. If I were Ainge I’d move Rondo for a big man and/or future picks, and make the Smart choice- pick up Marcus Smart with the #6 pick.

Their Pick: Marcus Smart or Noah Vonleh: This is a tough one. If the Celtics decide to keep Rondo around, Smart would be a silly choice. Avery Bradley can run the point or serve as a nice companion to Rondo at the 2. If Vonleh is still on the board, they may go with him. His potential is exciting and the Celtics need a young big guy who can crash the glass and handle the ball when needed. He needs to learn the defensive side for sure, but that comes with playing experience. I think the Celtics might take a chance and go with Vonleh if he’s still on the board by pick #6. But if Ainge is planning to ship Rondo off, Smart is the obvious pick.

7. Los Angeles Lakers

My Pick: Noah Vonleh: For the first time in many years, the Lakers flat-out suck. They’re just awful. Dwight Howard did nothing for them and they’ll be lucky to get five more solid minutes out of Steve Nash- not to mention Kobe is two years away from retirement. They have a laughably weak line-up at this time. Vonleh could be a great piece to build around. He could add youth and energy the interior game that they could start to develop. They’ll probably end up going with Julius Randle, who is a more proven scrapper, but I’d go with Vonleh because he has more potential for success in the NBA. If each team went with the pick I chose for them, Vonleh wouldn’t be around this late. But I don’t think most NBA teams have as much confidence in him as I have. In any case, the Lakers MUST be careful with their pick this year. If they tank again next season, the abhorrent Lakers fanbase won’t be able to handle it.

Their Pick: Julius Randle: Randle is a more proven player than Vonleh. At one point this year, he was projected #1 overall. If Randle is still on the board, L.A. would be foolish not to grab him, even though I feel Vonleh may be the next franchise player that could prosper on their team. Many believe L.A. will go with Smart- to be their next franchise point- but they might see Randle as a more reliable pick.

8. Sacramento Kings

My Pick: Julius Randle: I would LOVE to see Randle on the Kings. I think their current roster has a boatload of potential- All-Star forward Rudy Gay, lights-out shooter and athlete Ben McLemore, post-up monster Demarcus Cousins and specialty point guard Isaiah Thomas. Inject Randle into that line up right beside Cousins- and that’s a team to watch out for. Randle would complete the interior fire storm already started by Cousins. He’d be a great fit in Sacramento.

Their Pick: Marcus Smart: I like Isaiah Thomas at point for the Kings- but I’m not sure their staff likes him very much. He hasn’t really produced yet, and he’s ridiculously undersized, so they might replace him with Smart. I think Randle would be a better fit for the team, but Sacramento may view Smart as an opportunity to improve offensive intensity and consistency. They’d probably rather have him run the floor than poor Isaiah Thomas. If Smart is still on the board at #8, the Kings will take him.

9. Charlotte Hornets

My Pick: Doug McDermott: Yes- the Hornets are back! Nostalgia, anyone? The former Bobcats have improved tremendously this season- they made the playoffs! Just a few years ago they had a seven win season- the worst in NBA history. Charlotte has athleticism and some excellent defenders, now they need a guy who can score from anywhere- and that’s McDermott. McDermott is one of the best college basketball players of all time, and while he may not continue his dominance into the NBA, his ability to score at will makes him a valuable player in this draft. He plays gracefully and rarely makes a costly mistake. Charlotte already has some fantastic athleticism in Kemba Walker and do-everything-man Michael Kidd-Gilchrist- so adding McDermott could give them the edge they need to compete.

Their Pick: Doug McDermott: I don’t see the former Bobs going in any other direction. McDermott can score, he’s a proven player (one of the most experienced in the draft) and that’s exactly the kind of guy that Charlotte is missing.

10. Philadelphia 76ers

My Pick: Gary Harris: Harris is one of the best pure shooters in the draft. He would be a beautiful fit in the rest of the young 76ers lineup. He doesn’t have the size or athleticism to dominate other players,  but again, that shooting ability is hard to look over. He’s an offensive powerhouse. The 76ers will be an elite squad in a few years.

Their Pick: Gary Harris: Philly has no reason to even look at anybody else. If they nab Wiggins or Parker, either of those players would match beautifully with Noel and Carter-Williams. Harris isn’t an elite player, but he’s an excellent shooter and an active defender, and would be a great second or third scoring option on this new 76ers team.

11. Denver Nuggets

My Pick: Rodney Hood: I love this kid. He’s a marvelous shooter, doesn’t turn the ball over and can make or create plays. He’d develop well on the Nuggets.

Their Pick: Adreian Payne: He’s big, he can shoot, and is an animal at the rim- but I don’t think he has the consistency or playmaking skills that Rodney Hood could offer. Regardless, he’s an excellent player with room for growth, and the Nuggets will pick him up in June.

And here is where the Knicks would be picking. There are a ton of great players left- James Young, Dario Saric, P.J. Hairston, Tyler Ennis, Shabazz Napier and Nik Stauskas. And there’s even a chance one of those top ten guys could fall to where the Knicks pick would be. But unfortunately for us dedicated NY Knicks fans, we won’t have a chance at any of these young talents, so what’s the point in even talking about them? It’s fun to dream.

I’m not sure D Fish or even Phil Jackson can save the Knicks from yet another disastrous season. 

 (Guest writer Craig Hoberman is a student and SUNY-Cortland and Social Media consultant, dedicated Knicks fan and patriot.  You can follow Craig on Twitter at @MyTownTutorsNY)

Yankee Fans Find Their “Hiro”

Masahiro Tanaka demands your full attention.  

I don’t care if you’re glued to the TV watching the Rangers march through the playoffs.  It doesn’t matter what golf tournament is on (Tiger isn’t playing yet anyway).  Your basketball season has been over for months if you’re a Knick fan (and for weeks if you’re a Net fan, or anyone else not Miami and San Antonio).   The World Cup hasn’t started yet and football is still in hibernation. 

Masahiro Tanaka wants you to watch baseball now.

 

I remember feeling like this before.  In 1978, Yankee fans watched as their defending champs stumbled through the beginning of the season with the exception of every fifth day.  That was when Ron Guidry took the mound and created a dominant pitching performance that compelled you to watch.   He didn’t lose a game until July that year (he ended up losing three); finished what he started 16 times with nine shut outs and an absurd 1.74 ERA.   Lots of luck finding a starter that can begin 16 games without a trip to the DL now.

(Post Break:  Beth Aaron’s Sweet Sixteen, held on June 17, 1978 coincided with a Guidry start against the Angels.  At the party, all the Yankee fans were anxiously kept in the dark (in those pre-internet days) until we got home and found out that Guidry struck out 18 batters.  That Saturday night was the first time Yankee Stadium fans started clapping when a batter had two strikes.   I was not happy I missed that game.)

Tanaka, has taken baseball by storm this year, going 10-1 with an AL leading 2.02 ERA and making Yankee fans remember what it’s like to watch a pitcher at the top of his game.   In this era of relief specialization, Tanaka has shunned the bullpen, twice completing games and going as deep into the game as Yankee Manager Joe Girardi’s binder will let him.   He’s averaging over seven innings an appearance and averages over a strikeout and inning.   But it’s his aura, like Guidry in ’78 that compels you to tune in.   Something special can happen any time he’s on the mound and you don’t want to miss a thing.   Yankee fans can only hope for a 1978 redux (maybe without the 14 ½ game comeback).  

At a time when the Yankees are sliding their way back to pre-1995 mediocrity, Tanaka could be the bridge between the Jeter Era and whatever comes next.  But for now, we’ll just watch. 

Just Sayin’

Who is making Rangers D Dan Girardi’s sticks – ACME Toothpick Company?

 

If I’m Derek Fisher, I’m pumping up that Carmelo-to-Miami talk so Melo opts out.  There’s no room for a 30 year-old ball hog in the triangle.

Jon Beason, we hardly knew ye . . . 

Fantasy Football Update:  I’m trying to get over the fact that I’m still watching hockey and I’ve already received my pre-season projections email.   I can’t be behind in preparing already – can I?

World Cup Update: Fearless prediction is that someone not ranked in the top five will win this year, so farewell Spain, Germany, Brazil, Portugal and Argentina – hello Italy?  Belgium?

As Luck (and Lundquist) Would Have It, the Rangers Move on

I’m a man who enjoys his routines.  Among them, is getting home on Thursday afternoon and doing a quick review of my newly arrived Sports Illustrated.   As I arrived home this Thursday, I was mortified when I looked at the cover – featuring New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh.

I loudly cursed the editors who suddenly decided hockey was worth putting on the cover after ignoring the sport all year.  The only thing going through my mind was evident to those who know the publication – the Sports Illustrated cover jinx!

The Rangers had just come off a disastrous Game 5, where, in the second period, they allowed the Montreal Canadiens to score as many goals in one period as they allowed to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the last three games of the previous series - combined.  I envisioned the karmic laughter of those smug Qubecois with their gazillion Coupe Stanley banners, coming back from a 3-1 deficit.  I could see Rangers goalie Henrik Lundquist suffering through the New York summer like a character from an Ingmar Bergman movie.   I felt the cold, creeping specter of fear and doubt as I took my customary seat in my rec room for Game 6 (always the rec room – I’ve discovered that the family room provides less than optimal outcomes).

(Post Break 1:  I know I’m not the only person who believes in jinxes, but I admire a man who is directly affected and spits in the face of one.   Josh Beckett did a great job talking to everyone in the dugout throughout his no-hitter last week.  Of course I am also the man who jeopardized his marriage by banishing his wife to another floor of the house during the Giants playoff run on the way to Super Bowl 46.)

In a game that was not as close as the score would indicate, the Rangers advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals beating the Habs, 1-0, but not before causing every Ranger fan to gnash their teeth and curse the SI staff.  The Ranger attack did whatever it could to put me at ease, peppering Montreal goalie Dustin Tokarski from all angles, but with no result.  My sighs grew deeper with every failed Ranger power play and missed opportunity.  My plans to invade the Sports Illustrated offices grew more nefarious as the clock ticked down.   Thankfully, Dominic Moore buried a brilliant pass from Brian Boyle with about two minutes left in the second period to make the intermission a little less tense.   

(Post Break 2: There are a couple of other things that I will take very seriously:  I will not wear jerseys watching the games at home; the right side of the couch is mine; changing positions is only allowed if things are going wrong; you will jinx it if you blab; and never any premature celebrations - Reggie Miller, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Joe Pisarcik cured me of that.)

The third period saw the Rangers play perhaps their most dominant defensive period of these playoffs as the Montreal attack took minutes to get the puck into the Ranger end.   The Blueshirts broke all historic precedent by maintaining their attack, coming close to breaking the game open several times.   I kept waiting for the next “Zelepukin” moment, but none would come as I slumped on the couch filled with relief and gratitude when the final horn sounded (in your eye, SI!).

Oh, by the way, as the champions of the Eastern Conference, the Rangers were awarded the Prince of Wales Trophy.  According to hockey superstition, they did not touch the trophy.  Four more wins and they can carry the next trophy around the ice. 

Just Sayin’

Doesn’t Whitley, Nuno and Phelps sound like a law firm?  Maybe the Yankees should sue . . . 

At this point, I think Phil Jackson should just bite the bullet and rehire Hubie Brown . . . 

I’m waiting for someone to give Derek Jeter a lifetime supply of penicillin as a retirement present . . . 

 

Eli manning is back at practice two months early – I guess that Josh Freeman signing really did scare him . . . 

Fantasy Football Update:  In no way, shape, or form am I drafting any Browns this year.  

(Follow me on Twitter - @upperdeckview)

With the Draft Class in Session, the Knicks are Absent

By Craig Hoberman

The NBA Draft Lottery was held last week.  The New York Knicks had given up their seat at the table waiting for the cards to be revealed - but that might be a good thing.  According to a statistical analysis by 82games.com, the Knicks are the worst drafting team of the last twenty years (based on the career averages and overall success of the draftees). Given that ever-so-prestigious title, it makes sense that the Knicks haven’t been a consistently good franchise since the Ewing era. In fact, it’s safe to say that they’ve been a fairly terrible organization since then – erratic coaching and management changes, failure to develop high draft picks, the Isiah Thomas catastrophe (most Knick fans try to pretend this never happened), playoff troubles and even owner James Dolan’s infamous meddling. And even more good news for Knicks fans this offseason: in what is being called the most talent-heavy NBA draft in over a decade, the Knicks have not a pick to speak of -- again.

Although the Denver Nuggets trade allowed Knicks fans to enjoy the team’s best multi-season run in years (Melo pushed them into the playoffs three straight times, a massive upgrade from the horrid performances of the prior decade), that success didn’t continue through to this season. The Knicks missed the playoffs and lost a multitude of disappointing games throughout the year. So the question is: although we Knicks fanatics got a few great years out of him, was Carmelo Anthony worth the price? It’s unanimous among analysts and fans that the Isiah Thomas pick-trade-a-thon of the mid 2000’s ended up sending the team spiraling into decay, but how much worse is it that years later, in 2014, the Knicks are again forced to face the consequences of the ‘win now’ mentality?

What kinds of players are NY really missing out on? Top prospects Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Dante Exum will definitely fall outside where the Knicks pick would be (#12, currently held by the Orlando as a result of the Melo trade from the Nuggets and then more trades after) but even further down the list are players that could still make an immediate impact on any struggling team. Yes, this year’s draft class is that damn good.

The Knicks have tried the ‘win-now’ management strategy for far too long. Trading away the possibilities of young talent for players that didn’t even make a difference is not the way I expect new team president Phil Jackson to run this team. Somebody needs to step up, stand up to Dolan and explain to him that it takes time to build a team that can win -- and the best way to start is not by simply grabbing a star or two- but by using draft picks to build a reliable squad. The Kings, 76ers, Cavs, Celtics and Magic are doing it- so why can’t the Knicks? Hopefully, Jackson will see how this mentality has destroyed the franchise -- and, in addition, perhaps add Kevin Love in a year or two.  Maybe he’ll use the NBA draft to create a competitive squad that can win games. And I swear, if we trade even more picks away for someone like Kevin Love or Rondo, and that doesn’t work out, I’m moving to Orlando and declaring myself a Magic fan. They’ve been a laughable squad for years, but watch the moves they’ve been making in the last few drafts- they’ll be a winning team soon enough- and I’m getting tired of waiting around for the Knicks to win.

(Guest writer Craig Hoberman is a student and SUNY-Cortland and Social Media consultant, dedicated Knicks fan and patriot.  You can follow Craig on Twitter at @MyTownTutorsNY)