What is running through the mind of Donnie Walsh and the rest of the higher ups with the Knicks organization come this draft day? Will they make a better selection than last year's pick in Danilo Gallinari (not to say it was bad but can they improve)? There are rumors that the Knicks are looking to move up in the draft to possibly the 5th and even up to the 2nd spot. This is clearly a rebuilding year once again but they still want to be competitive. Can they actually draft someone (in this year's weak draft), that can actually come in and make a difference? Can they have better luck with a Curry this time around? Can an undersized Spanish point guard lead this team? There is no doubt the Knicks have a lot of questions that they need to answer but it is difficult to draft players to fit a certain system. There is always talk (just like the Mets) about breaking up the core, in this case Nate Robinson, David Lee, and Wilson Chandler, who may be the best players on the Knicks now. But does David Lee fit in D'Antoni's system, he had a great year last year but is a liability defensively and over matched by forwards like Garnett and Bosh. He is looking to get their type of money too so do you let him go and look to draft someone like Jordan Hill or pick someone up in free agency? Nate Robinson is a difficult decision as well. There is no doubt that he is a play maker and brings a lot of passion to the team, however, what position is he with the Knicks? He still does not have the decision making abilities of a true point guard, even if he is a scoring point guard. As a shooting guard well you would need to be consistent and last year he went through an awful shooting slump and defensively can he guard other shooting guards from the perimeter? Wilson Chandler is the only player that fits D'Antoni's system perfectly. His game is very similar to Trevor Ariza and look at the performance he had during the playoffs. Wilson Chandler plays great on ball and off the ball defense, he can penetrate and he can knock down the three. Although his shooting needs to improve a little more there is no reason other than some bad decision making to keep him off the floor. The rest of the players on the Knicks are there temporarily, with the exception maybe of Chris Duhon and Danilo Gallinari who may stay but are not true starters in the sense that they can change the game. Chris Duhon provides the Knicks with a solid point guard but last year had a rough second half of the season (could have been from overplaying him) and Danilo Gallinari they are committed to through 2010 but can he play stronger and make himself more of a presence on the court? It all comes back to the system of Mike D'Antoni, who will fit in? You can always say we will draft the "best available player," but if that player does not fit in the system you're left with the current identity the Knicks have now, NONE!
