1. Team Overview

The Knicks have a lot of talent. Larry Johnson and Patrick Ewing were both college players of the year from national title teams who were the top draft pick. Marcus Camby was the second pick in the draft and a national player of the year. Allan Houston and Kurt Thomas put up incredible numbers in college and were lottery picks. Latrell Sprewell was an all-star. Childs, believe it or not, was a highly valued free-agent after a breakout season with the Nets before crossing the Hudson. Charlie Ward won the Heisman.

Why was this team the 8th seed? Certainly not lack of talent. It was a lack of chemistry and to be honest, a knack for losing close games. In a 50 game season they were only 6 games behind Miami and they were starting to come together. Now they've beaten Miami, an injured Atlanta and (while injured) Indiana. With LJ out, they'll probably lose to the Spurs in five.

How did they get things back on track? Ewing learned to defer and focus on defense when others got hot. Houston and Spree learned to play together. Camby returned to the form that he showed his final season in college. And LJ showed he was just being a team player by changing his game to complement others, while showing he still has the offense he had in Charlotte. In an 82 game season, the Knicks would likely be competing for a top four seed.

But that isn't to say that they are like the Bulls of the 1990s, where (before this year) they simply drafted players because they were required to and usually cut them within a year. As of this writing, the Knicks are down 0-2 against the Spurs and there isn't a single reason. They have flaws and the draft will be one way of dealing with them.

II. Players

Here is the current roster with some stats (contracts thanks to Patricia Bender):

By Position:

CENTER:

Chris Dudley - Useless. This guy is paid $8.75 million per year and does absolutely nothing to earn it. He allegedly plays good defense. That normally consists of sending opposing centers to the foul line. His biggest problem is his contract. It's huge. He's virtually un-tradable. The Knicks are stuck with him. In the "Trades and Other Moves" section, I will list at least 10 free agents who are better and cost half as much.

Herb Williams - Old. He really needs to retire. His biggest contribution to the Knicks this year was helping carry LJ to the locker room in Game 6 of the Indiana series.

Conclusion - This position needs a serious upgrade.

FORWARDS

Larry Johnson (SF/PF) - Not a classic SF. He sacrificed is offense for the team over the last few years but he still has it when he needs it. His defense is pretty good. He's quick enough to cover most slashing SFs and strong enough to cover most PFs. He hasn't done a good job against Duncan, but no one has.

Marcus Camby (SF) - He's come alive in the playoffs. He's one of the best defenders in the NBA, especially as the second man in a double team. His shot blocking is among the elite (he led the NBA last year). His game is usually described as "above the rim". His offense is pretty good. He can post or face the basket and has a decent outside shot. He's a good offensive rebounder and can score on athletic put-backs. His biggest weakness is his lack of strength. He's SF sized with PF height.

Mirsad Turkcan - Signed and placed on the IR. He's never played for the Knicks. My guess is that he never will.

Ben Davis - The Knicks placed him on the IR for the playoffs and guaranteeing their spot in the Finals. Twice in his much traveled college career, he left schools (Kansas and Florida) before the season started to see them make the Final Four. He's a competent 11th man but has never really contributed.

Conclusion - LJ, Camby and Thomas are a good rotation at the forward spot. With Ewing injured during the Finals, they've been forced to cover the center spot. If Houston and Sprewell both play next year, the Knicks will have a 3 guard line-up and the forward spot won't need a lot of depth. This will work out since there aren't a lot of true big men in the NBA these days.

GUARDS

Allan Houston (SG) - Spot up shooter. He's not the best ball handler but can shoot with the best of them. When he gets hot, look out.

Chris Childs (PG) - A decent PG who can shoot competently and do a tolerable job running the team. His defense is OK. He joined the Knicks as a hot FA coming off of a great season with the Nets. He hasn't produced up to expectations. His contract is overpriced and he's pretty much untradable.

Charlie Ward (PG) - See "Childs, Chris". His contract is inflated but he wasn't supposed to be a starting PG at any time during his career. He doesn't have any real trade value.

David Wingate - On the IR as of late. Little used.

Rick Brunson - Little used reserve. Can play both guard spots.

Conclusion - The SGs are top notch. Houston and Spree complement each other and when they are playing well, the Knicks win. The PGs are tolerable. Neither will dominate a game, but they helped get the team to the Finals. However, neither can really break down a defense and create shots for themselves or others. This has hurt them in the playoffs when the other players (Spree, Houston, Camby, Thomas, LJ) have to create their own shots.

COACHING/MANAGEMENT

Dave Checkets - Van Gundy's front office nemesis. He fired GM Ernie Gruenfeld and offered Phil Jackson Van Gundy's job then lied about it. He's a symbol of pride to sports management everywhere.

Conclusion - nothing changes. The public loves JVG so he stays. He'll be fired at the first sign of trouble.

III. Team Needs

The Knicks need a big man. They need one of those PF/C combos who can back up Ewing next year. A PG couldn't hurt and if the best player available happens to be a slashing SF, that's an option. The only position that is truly solid is SG.

IV. Players Considered

Alex Radojevic C 7-3 260 Barton CC - Big guy. Developing. Probably has a good NBA career in store. But he's already been drafted.

Ron Artest F 6-6 235 St. John's - too much like LJ. Doesn't fit a need.

Shawn Marion F 6-6 200 UNLV - The Knicks don't have a forward like him. He's the classic SF, slashing and shooting. But he's basically a taller, lankier Sprewell. He's out.

Tim James F 6-8 240 Miami (Fla.) - He's a big guy who made Miami this year. But he's been pegged for an NBA SF which is not what the Knicks need.

Lee Nailon F 6-9 250 TCU - Another Kurt Thomas? He put up huge numbers at TCU, but he's not 6'9". Another SF that the Knicks don't need.

Evan Eschmeyer F 6-11 245 Northwestern - Is he just another big white stiff? There are probably better versions of him with more upside that can be signed for far less. He's also injury prone.

Kenny Thomas F 6-8 260 New Mexico - Very intriguing. He can score and rebound and he's big. If he were two inches taller, he'd be gone by now. He is a possibility.

Todd MacCulloch C 7-0 280 Washington - He's big. That's for sure. But the word is that he's really slow. And with the new, athletic Knicks he needs to get up and down the floor. The size is tempting.

A.J. Bramlett C 6-11 245 Arizona - tall, lanky, mobile. Very athletic.

Calvin Booth C 7-0 250 Penn State - Big 10 POY as a junior. Had a good camp. He fits the bill. He might be the guy.

Lari Ketner F 6-10 260 UMass - Very big. He's a rock. His game isn't that sophisticated but could be effective. He will not get pushed around in the post.

Venson Hamilton C 6-10 235 Nebraska - Big 12 POY. He's built like Marcus Camby but doesn't have Camby's upside.

Cal Bowdler F 6-10 260 Old Dominion - Mobile, shot blocker with improving offense. He fits the bill.

Jamaal Magloiore C 6-11 240 Kentucky - Potential NBA player. But he probably will withdraw from the draft, so I'd get screwed in the overall game (mock draft vs. actual draft).

Tim Young C 7-2 250 Stanford - Never really impressed me. He's big but seems shaky.

The Short List: Cal Bowdler, A.J. Bramlett, Calvin Booth, Kenny Thomas, Even Eschemeyer.

V. The Pick

Why him and not the others?

For starters, Thomas is the best player left in the draft that the Knicks could use. But is he better than Kurt Thomas? Probably not. But if he is, can the Knicks use him more than any of the others? No.

What about Bowdler? Is he better than Booth? Maybe. But Booth is the better defender. The Knicks will get frontcourt offense from LJ, Ewing, Camby and Thomas.

Bramlett? I asked the question, "Who is more likely to be an NBA starter?" The answer was Booth. Besides, he got schooled by Tim Young at the Chicago camp.

Eschemeyer? Booth set a record 8 blocks against Northwestern.

Booth? He's an excellent shot-blocker and can likely defend most NBA centers and PFs. I can see him developing into a starting center and the eventual replacement for Ewing.

VI. Trades and FAs

Point Guard:

PGs who would be worth a Sprewell/(Childs or Ward) combo: Gary Payton or Stephon Marbury.

Other FA PGs include: Sherman Douglas, Mugsy Bogues, Terrell Brandon, Cuttino Mobely, Nick Van Exel, Dee Brown, Khalid Reeves, Eric Snow, Penny Hardaway.

The only ones who are better than Childs/Ward are Brandon and Van Exel, neither of whom are likely to be Knicks next year. Penny isn't exactly a PG and I wouldn't want him around.

Center/Power Forward:

Dwayne Schintzus Jamie Feick Bill Wennington Charles Oakley Loren Meyer Othella Harrington Charles Barkley Joe Smith Will Perdue Malik Rose Greg Foster Todd Fuller Cliff Robinson Scot Pollard

The last name is one that interests me the most. Two years ago, as the Knicks GM, I drafted Pollard. If he were available again, I'd draft him all over again. He's the player the Knicks needed two years ago and he's the player the Knicks need now. His late-season and post-season play proved my drafting him two years ago to be a good decision.

Harrington is another free agent who could be productive and reasonably priced. Ditto for Wennington, Feick and Perdue. Rose fits the bill, but he's a little undersized. Smith and Robinson are going to be very expensive and the Knicks are probably way over the salary cap. The rest are mere role players. The Knicks need someone who can actually play.

VII. What They Will Do

They'll also re-sign Herb Williams out of sheer stupidity. Ben Davis is someone to keep around. He's a PF, but he's not that big.

They may go after Brandon or try to do a backcourt combo for Payton.

I hope they keep both Houston and Sprewell. When they're clicking together, the Knicks are unstoppable. When one is off, the other can pick up the slack. The problem is the starting line-up is just too short. Regardless, they will probably sign one of the big men from my list and keep paying Dudley waaaay too much money.

The Knicks should still be a playoff team next year, but there are a few questions:

Can Houston and Sprewell play together? Can you start both? Will a 3 guard line-up make the Knicks too short? Will Ewing do what David Robinson did and defer to younger players? Will Van Gundy and the front office get along? Will Camby or LJ be the starting forward? If it's Camby, will LJ get an ego or be a good bench player? Will the PG combo work or will they go for a high priced free agent or trade?