The Knicks Fix

It's draft morning. Wilson Chandler still hasn't worked out for the Knicks. But everyone seems convinced he'll be the pick the Knicks make at No. 23. That rumor is hotter than the iPhone.

Yet the more I talk to people, the more I wonder: will that be the only thing the Knicks do today?

Sorry, I had to go with this picture. Hilariously creative, though he got the names over the wrong picture.

Moving on...

I've been through a lot of crazy drafts before. Remember, I used to cover Mike Milbury and the Islanders. (Mike always made it interesting and fun. And, well, busy. There were good years and bad ones. But they were always busy.)

So maybe it's just a reflex that gives me this gut feeling this morning that Isiah has something more going on than any of us know. I've heard he's looked into moving up to secure another pick. (Thanks for that internet rumor, David...but I checked with someone close to Chris Mullin who offered no indication that it was legit, though it was also not denied.)

Still, going against the grain, I made no secret in today's Newsday (check it out here. ) that my choice for the Knicks would be to take Taurean Green from Florida. I just think if you're going to stay the course and develop this franchise, you need to have a potential franchise-point guard waiting in the wings when Stephon Marbury's contract expires.

No offense to Mardy Collins, whom I really like as a person and a player. Some of you may think Nate Robinson is the point guard of the future, but if you ask Nate, even he doesn't consider himself a point guard.

I love Taurean's intangibles, not to mention the fact that he was the floor general for back-to-back NCAA championship teams. A few people I've spoken with about Taurean -- and I don't mean his dad, Sidney, who might be a bit biased, you know -- said he was the cog for that Gator team. Yes, they were loaded with talented players such as Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah and Al Horford, who will go in the top 10. But those close to the Florida program told me that Green was the main cog. When they struggled during the regular season, it was attributed to Green. When they were very successful, again, it was because Green was at the top of his game.

He's still young and physically needs to adjust to the pro game. The scouting report against Green in college was to be physical with him. Take him out of his game and you take Florida out of its game. That says a lot.

But I'll get off his jock now because I'm sure now that I went big and bold about him in the paper, there's no way the Knicks will take him now!!!

Egg, meet face.

It's not the first time. Won't be the last, either. Comes with the job. Like carpal-tunnel syndrome and airport delays. And an expense account.

Regardless, I've been told it's going to be a wild draft day. Kevin Garnett, Shawn Marion, Jermaine O'Neal, etc. all could be part of the news. It might even overshadow the hype surrounding Greg Oden and Kevin Durant.

I encourage you to make regular visits to Ken Berger's NBA blog as day goes into night. Ken plans on updating his blog throughout the draft and he'll talk about the latest rumors. Anything involving the Knicks I'll toss his way, but be sure to check in here, as well, in case something juicy comes to fruition.

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- Have to laugh when I hear commentators on various sports talk shows discussing the NBA draft and BC's Sean Williams. One guy actually said this of Williams (I'm paraphrasing): "Sure, he has been caught with large amounts of marijuana, but this guy has the skills of a top-10 pick!" It's the Pac-Man Jones caveat: Sure, he's a thug who surrounds himself with gun-toting gangstas, but the guy is a really good lock-down corner!

OK, not a fair comparison. But still: Pass.

- Just to share, in one of my innumerable conversations with people throughout the NBA one person who has talked with Isiah told me he believes the Knicks will either be involved in "something big or nothing at all." He said Thomas has his eyes on landing one of the big name players out there and "He'll take crap to get what he wants," meaning, he'll take on a bad contract as part of a deal.

The problem, the person told me, is that "No one wants to help the Knicks." On top of that, of the players out there who are suddenly demanding trades, there's reluctance to send them to New York because, as this person said, "sending someone to New York is a reward."

Don't put too much into it, it was just a casual conversation. But I thought I'd share.

- As I wrote yesterday, I'm told Eddy Curry will be in Las Vegas with several other Knicks to work out while the rookies and young players participate in the summer league. We'll see what type of shape he's in then.

- I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait for this day to be over! Too much information, speculation, rumor and conjecture to digest in a short amount of time. My brain feels like my stomach after a long night at the Churrascaria. And my card always stays on green, baby.