The last few days haven’t been pleasant for New York Knicks. Owner James Dolan announced on Friday that Donnie Walsh and the team had “mutually” decided to part ways, which left much of Knicks Nation angry and frustrated. Walsh, who had swooped in to save the Knicks when it appeared they would forever find themselves over the cap and near the bottom of the standings, was inexplicably shown the door.

We will have plenty of time to discuss who can/should be tabbed to replace Walsh as New York’s chief decision maker; however, today let’s focus on the upcoming NBA draft. Glen Grunwald has been named interim general manager, and if Dolan doesn’t announce a new hire prior to June 23rd, Grunwald and associates will have the final say on draft day. With Walsh no longer calling the shots, and the Knicks roster still largely unsettled, this draft takes on added importance…

Although the consensus among most analysts is that the 2011 NBA draft contains very few (if any) elite, immediate-impact superstars, there is some decent depth, which means there will likely be an assortment of solid NBA prospects still on the board in the middle of the first round. This could be one of those drafts where the difference in talent level between the player picked at #6 and #16 is minimal.

As a result, the Knicks may be sitting pretty at #17. New York may have their preferences and could be hoping a favored player falls into their lap, but they will likely still end up with a quality prospect no matter how the first half of the draft shakes out.

Below we will take a look at six players that 1) have a decent chance of being on the board when the Knicks are on the clock, and 2) would fill a pressing need and/or could be viewed as too talented to pass up.

As far as Knick needs are concerned, even a cursory glance at the roster results in the obvious conclusion that it’s imperative New York find a big man they can rely on. He obviously doesn’t have to be a stud scorer; the Knicks already have that covered. But, ideally, they would add a bruiser that would board and protect the tin – a defensive-minded center willing to set screens and do the dirty work. Amar’e played far too many minutes during the regular season, and was forced to play the five too often as well.

However, it should come as no surprise that there are very few legitimate centers in this year’s draft. True centers are a dying breed – interestingly, there wasn’t a single player at the Chicago combine that measured seven feet. Regardless, even if there was a gifted big man in this draft, there’s no way he’d last past the first few picks. The most intriguing big man may be Bismack Biyombo – a Ben Wallace-type defender who is only 6’9″ but a beast on the block. However, we will proceed under the assumption that Biyombo is snatched up with a lottery pick – and that Knicks will be unable to trade up on draft day (as they have very few desirable/tradable assets). The most likely scenario remains the Knicks continuing their search for a center in free agency or via a trade.

Another need for New York is finding a point guard of the future. Chauncey Billups will quarterback the squad next season, but he’s nearing the end of his storied NBA career and is in the final year of his contract. Of course the Knicks would love to land a stud PG (such as Chris Paul) at the trade deadline or via free-agency next summer, but that is certainly no guarantee. Thus, if there was a PG the Knicks envisioned developing into an above-average, starting NBA point guard, you have to think he’d be hard pressed to let him slide by (especially after missing out on PG’s like Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holliday, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague, Eric Maynor, and Darren Collision to draft Jordan Hill in 2009).

As far as the other guard spot is concerned, there are many Knicks fans that are definitely down on Landry Fields, which is certainly understandable. After a phenomenal first half of his rookie season (he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in November and December), Fields’ production slowed down a bit after the All-Star break. Then Landry absolutely crashed and burned in the postseason. Fields scored a total of just seven points in the four-game sweep, shooting 20% from the floor and 16.7% from the free-throw stripe. However, I happen to be of the opinion that Fields can still be counted on as an effective starting SG for the Knicks next season. For starters, he’s dirt cheap (On the second year of his rookie deal, Fields is set to earn just $788k next season.) Moreover, the Knicks have plenty of scorers in the starting unit, with Amar’e, Melo, and Billups all capable of scoring 25+ points on any given night. Fields is content to focus on rebounding (he led all guards in boards last season at 6.4 rpg) and defense. Nonetheless, NY could certainly benefit by adding a sniper that can come in and fire from long range. A legit three-point threat, even if he comes off the bench as a reserve, would definitely find minutes in D’Antoni’s rotation.

Yet, with all that said, the Knicks have such little depth surrounding Melo and Amar’e that they can’t afford to pass up a great talent at either forward spot if someone slips. It’s the old “best player available” strategy at that point, especially considering New York will need all the assets they can muster in order to pull off a big deal at the trade deadline in February. If they snag someone who puts up 3 months of great stats on team D’Antoni (we will work under the assumption that D’Antoni will remain in NY for at least one more season) , NY may be able use that rookie as a trade chip down the road.

Lastly, the Knicks as whole obviously need to improve defensively. Granted, no team playing in D’Antoni’s system will lead the league in fewest point allowed, but New York must reduce their opponents eFG% and rebound more effectively if they desire to become an elite team.

Okay, with that preamble as the backdrop, let’s take a closer a look at a handful of players whose name New York may call on draft night…

* Klay Thompson (SG) – Washington State
(Measurables: Height w/o shoes = 6′ 5.75” // With shoes = 6′ 7.25” // Wingspan = 6′ 9”)
The Pros: Thompson is a prototypical NBA shooting guard. He has ideal size for an off-guard, which allows him to shoot over the top of smaller defenders. He’s got great range on his jumper and can light it up from long distance. He shot 40% from three-point land as a junior, and shot 90% from the free-throw stripe as a freshman. He displays an impressively high basketball IQ, and as the son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson, Klay comes from great stock.

The (obligatory) YouTube Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w2ekvQS-Xs

The Cons: While his overall skill set is definitely impressive, Thompson doesn’t possess the dynamic athleticism of some of the other players listed below. He doesn’t play above the rim and watching his game tape won’t blow you away. Nonetheless, he’s a guy that you can envision actually making more of an impact on the pro level, as his game may be better suited to the NBA than the NCAA.

{AUTHOR_BOX}Why he makes sense for the Knicks: As noted above, NY desperately needs to add a spot-up shooter than can knock down long-distance jumpers on a consistent basis. Mike D’Antoni’s offense is undeniably dependent on effective and efficient three-point shooting. Yet, in the trade to obtain Carmelo, the Knicks traded their top three 3-point shooters (Gallo, Felton, and Chandler). Melo stepped up his long-range game once he arrived in NYC, but the lack of depth became difficult for D’Antoni to overcome. Having a marksman outside the arc will help spread the floor, which will keep defenses honest and prevent them constantly running double-teams Stoudemire and Anthony. In addition, Landry Fields will be an unrestricted free-agent next summer, so having a potential in-house replacement makes some sense.
* Chris Singleton (SF) – Florida State
(Height w/o shoes = 6′ 7.75” // With shoes = 6′ 9” // Wingspan 7′ 1”)
The Pros: As I detailed in a profile piece last week, Singleton has drawn universal praise as arguably this draft’s preeminent defender. En route to winning the 2010 ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, Singleton became just the fifth player in ACC history to finish in the top five in both steals and blocks. He uses his length and athleticism extremely well, and can guard anybody from the PG to the PF. In addition to defensive intensity, if you draft Chris Singleton, you are also getting a healthy helping of confidence. “I feel like I’m the modern-day (Scottie) Pippen. I feel like I can do it all: pass, shoot, dribble, and play defense. I mean, I think I’m the perfect guy in any system you put me in…,” said Singleton during the combine in Chicago.

YouTube Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbrziKhWcJI

The Cons: Confidence is cool, but only to a certain extent. Singleton has a long way to go before even being mentioned in the same breath as Pippen, especially on the offensive end of the floor. Singleton’s offensive production at FSU is undeniably underwhelming. Part of this is due to the fact that the Seminoles played at a slow pace, but even Singleton’s efficiency leaves a lot to be desired. He shot below 50% from the FT line as a sophomore and shot 43% from the floor. (To his credit, his percentages did rise over his three years at FSU). Despite his size and length, he rarely posts up smaller players, and as a result relies on an unreliable jumper.

Why he makes sense for the Knicks: Defense, defense, defense. D’Antoni may not want to hear it, but improving defensively is essential if the Knicks want to become contenders. This idea has been reinforced yet again this postseason. For the fifth straight season, the two teams that met in the NBA Finals finished the regular season in the top six in Defensive Efficiency Rating… Singleton immediately makes any team he joins better on the defensive end. (Interestingly, Alan Hahn of Newsday reported yesterday that D’Antoni may finally be ready to agree to hire an assistant to serve as the “defensive coordinator” and oversee the defense – which leads to the presumption that defense will receive additional. Lawrence Frank was named in the article as a potential candidate to fill the position.)
* Josh Selby (SG/PG) – Kansas
(Height w/o shoes = 6′ 1.75” // With shoes = 6′ 3” // Wingspan = 6′ 5.25”)
The Pros: Selby is one of the more exciting, yet enigmatic, players in the draft. Yes, “upside” is a word that is heavily overused this time of year, but Selby does oozes upside. For proof, refer to Rivals.com’s final ranking of the 2010 high school class – you’ll find Selby ranked #1 overall, ahead of Kyrie Irving, among others. (Selby averaged 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game during his senior season for Lake Clifton High School in Baltimore, Maryland.) That doesn’t mean Josh is destined for greatness, or even goodness, but the kid has the skills that make GM’s drool. His lone season at Kansas was extremely disappointing (for a variety of reasons), but does that mean an NBA team is going to able to “buy-low” on a lottery-type talent?

YouTube Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36td_ejDRJ8

The Cons: Unfairly or not, some have questioned Selby’s maturity, or lack thereof. He was suspended the first nine games of his collegiate career after the NCAA deemed he received “improper benefits.” More importantly, the biggest issue facing Selby is what position he’ll play in the NBA. At a lithe 6’3″ (with sneakers on), is he big enough/strong enough to play shooting guard? And considering he played off the ball at Kansas, can he develop into a play-making NBA point guard? Attempting to convert scorers into PG’s in the pros rarely works. That said, plenty of combo/hybrid guards have been able to carve out a niche and become impact players in the league.

Why he makes sense for the Knicks: Rarely does a team selecting in the late teens have the opportunity to draft a kid with this much talent. Could Selby be an underappreciated diamond in the rough? It’s a bit of a gamble, but the “upside” may be worth it.

* Reggie Jackson (PG) – Boston College
(Didn’t get measured at the Chicago combine – listed at 6-3)
The Pros: An experienced lead guard who ran the show at BC the last few seasons, Jackson likes to shoot/score, but he can also facilitate the offense. He has great physical tools for a PG, good size and a monstrous wingspan. He’s NBA ready.

YouTube Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCxEY-lgf2w

The Cons: Although he played primarily at the point, he isn’t a great distributor, as he frequently looks for his own shot first. Worse, his jumper isn’t all that reliable (he shot 43% from the floor last season and just 29.1% from three-point land).

Why he makes sense for the Knicks: Unfortunately for New York, there aren’t many legit PG to get excited about in this draft. If NY is determined to take a point guard, they may have to reach for Reggie.
* Jimmer Fredette (PG/SG) – BYU
(Height w/o shoes = 6′ 0.75” // With Shoes 6′ 2.5” // Wingspan = 6′ 4.5”)
The Pros: A special scorer… Make no mistake; James Taft “Jimmer” Fredette can score the basketball with the best of them. You don’t need me to tell you that, as Jimmer exploded on the scene this season as a result of his offensive exploits that left opponents dispirited and fans in awe. He has unlimited range, and is also crafty enough to penetrate and score inside the arc as well. He’s also a tough kid that stepped up even when defenses keyed in on him. And he is certainly not afraid to take a big shot in a big spot.

YouTube Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiR5tt8qub8

The Cons: We have seen plenty of great college scorers struggle mightily in the NBA. I am of the opinion that Jimmer will join that list. A couple of questions that need to be answered: Who will he guard? Can he fight through picks and stay in front of PGs? Can he match-up with even the smallest 2-guards? On the offensive end, can he run an offense? He has never been a good facilitator, as he’s never had to set others up.

Why he makes sense for the Knicks: Despite the obvious flaws on defense, there is no doubt D’Antoni could find a way to utilize Jimmer’s greatest gift – the ability to put the ball in the basket. At #17, it’s not a huge gamble, but the Knicks would be foolish to trade up in order to obtain him.

Kenneth Faried (PF) – Morehead State
(Height w/o shoes = 6′ 6” // With shoes = 6′ 7.5”// Wingspan // 7′ 0”)
The Pros: Heart and hustle. Faried is a grinder, an undersized PF who outworks his opponents. Although he is shorter than you’d prefer, Faried can jump out of the gym. He uses that explosive leaping ability to convert points in the paint on offense, and protect the tin on the other end.

YouTube Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5dYqgjl-7M

The Cons: The lack of size is a major issue of course, but there have been plenty of players that excelled in the NBA despite giving up a few inches in the post. Still, while playing at Morehead State, Faried hasn’t been battle-tested against legit NBA completion and his game is still relatively raw.

Why he makes sense for the Knicks: Despite his local roots, he’s not a great fit in NYC. It would be difficult for D’Antoni to find time for the kid behind Amar’e and Melo.

Sleepers (A few more names to keep an eye on): Marshon Brooks, Markieff Morris, Donatas Motiejunas, Tobias Harris, Charles Jenkins, Darius Morris, Nolan Smith,Iman Shumpert

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