Mockmongling- 6/20/09

by Seth on Jun 20, 2009 10:01 AM EDT in Draft Things Comment 8 comments

I understand that mock drafts are pretty much futile at this point, since we're likely to see a dizzying number of draft night trades. The Knicks could very well end up with Hasheem Thabeet, three KFC franchises, and the first 6 picks of the 2048 interplanetary draft when it's all said and done. But hey, mock drafts are fun/terrifying, so let's take a look at what the best ones are predicting for our Knicks, shall we? Refer to the first installation of this feature to get a better sense of the changing draft landscape. I'll try to hit the same mocks, but might add and omit certain ones depending on how recently they were updated.

Ridiculous Upside: Jrue Holiday (Disclosure: I made this pick. Jroops.)

DraftExpress: Jrue Holiday

NBADraft.net: Brandon Jennings

CollegeHoops.net: Ty Lawson

HoopsHype: Jrue Holiday

InsideHoops: Jonny Flynn

Ian Thomsen: Stephen Curry

HoopsWorld: Jordan Hill, Jordan Hill, Jonny Flynn, Jrue Holiday (Four separate writers.)

DimeMag: Stephen Curry

RotoTimes: Jonny Flynn (But they predict a trade for Curry)

Chicago Daily Herald: Jonny Flynn

MyNBADraft.com: Stephen Curry

Fox Sports: Brandon Jennings

Ziller at the Fanhouse: Stephen Curry

NBC Sports: Tyreke Evans

And there it is. Curry's rising stock has actually made for less of a consensus as the 25th draws near. If there's anything that can be gleaned from this mess, it's that almost nobody really buys the "Donnie Walsh is so hard for Jordan Hill! We're totally drafting a big man!" vibes thrust upon us by certain media. The upshot is that this draft is going to be a god-forsaken circus. Outside of Griffin, each of these prospects is either the basketball messiah or a drooling, overgrown toddler, depending on where you look. Like I said, with so much upheaval expected, mock drafts aren't too informative. It's reassuring, though, to see that the experts are as mixed up about this as we are.

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I think Holliday's a good pick

I think he’s a step or 2 below Tyreke Evans, and Im surprised you didn’t grab him (tho really no one on this site wants him for some reason?)

I like Holliday tho, he seems like this year’s Jarred Bayless with a lot more defense. I really have no problem with grabbing a guard from UCLA.

I mean who the hell really thought Russell Westbrook would have a rookie year like he did. I think that Holliday would have had a similar sophmore season to Westbrook, so if the Knicks grab him it could be a steal.

by FreeBradshaw on Jun 20, 2009 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

I did take Holiday.

Evans was off the board. I just hear all these questions about his “motor” and “leadership” and whatnot and it makes me sad. My main issue with Duhon was that he wasn’t enough of a leader, so I’d love to get a more vocal guy.

Posting and Toasting: "Say yo Oak, what's the dish tonight? A couple steaks on the grill and we season it right."

by Seth on Jun 20, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I meant I was surprised you didn't take Evans

over Holliday, tho when I put my brain back in I actually read that he was indeed off the board.

So yea, Holliday is a good pick I really hope they end up with him. It won’t make up for passing on Brook Lopez, but it may end up for passing on Ben …Eric Gordon and Jerryd Bayless.

This team NEEDS defense. Thabeet would give that, so Id love to make a deal for him. But guys like Rubio (steals are nice, but matador D is not) and Curry and Jennings don’t seem to play much on that end.)

Other than Thabeet (who is actually NOT 7"3, he’s 7"1/4’), there is absolutely nothing in the frontcourt this year. But there are guards like Holliday (and Darren Collison) and Evans who come from programs that teach good man to man D (unlike Flynn at ’Cuse with the 2-3).

I heard the same about Evans leadership, but if you think about it he was a freshman on a veteran Memphis squad, and also you got Calipari running his mouth too. Derrick Rose was very quiet too as far as leading, and that looks like its turning out well.

by FreeBradshaw on Jun 20, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Defense is my main reason

for not wanting Curry. I don’t know all that much about Rubio or Jennings’ defense, but I really doubt they are much better defenders (steals are nice, but that’s not a good indicator of defense) than Evans or Holliday.

That has to be the focus of this team. They can score with the best of them, but it really doesn’t matter when you have no one who plays defense.

Ideally the Knicks end up with Thabeet AND Holliday maybe later on a guy like Collison.

by FreeBradshaw on Jun 20, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Curry will probably be gone

but if the end result is Rick Rubio or Jrue Holiday, June 25th will not be the worse day in draft history. Check out 45 minutes worth of Rubio tape here. . This kid is the real deal. I like a unit of Rubio, Chandler, Lee, Gallinari and who knows for now.

Holiday has been very inconsistent in workouts and not keeping up with competition. Has he come out too early or is he set on playing for a certain team. Reports are not good.

Resident Incidental General Manager at Knicks Fanatics

by IGMKNICKS on Jun 21, 2009 7:01 AM EDT reply actions

what if that certain team

is the Knicks? He’s just flopping his workouts so he drops to #8?

by FreeBradshaw on Jun 21, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

I Thought About That Too

But the race for 1-7 spot is so tight and so much money is involved that I couldn’t imagine him getting a guarantee from Walsh. Perhaps that is why they are asking him to come back in — so they can see whether he is really that bad, that good or that promising.

Resident Incidental General Manager at Knicks Fanatics

by IGMKNICKS on Jun 22, 2009 4:45 AM EDT reply actions

Im pretty sure that most reports have teh Knicks

sold on Tyreke Evans, Steph Curry, Jrue Holliday, and Jordan Hill. In that order.

I mean I personally like that cuz Evans has been my favorite player in the entire draft all along. I would trade up for him, (expiring contract + #8 at the most tho)

I don’t want Jordan Hill, so I hope that if he falls to them they make a trade either down or the rights to their pick + a contract carcass.

This day is creeping up so Im starting to get the butterflies again.

by FreeBradshaw on Jun 22, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions