Walsh begins search for next Knicks point guard

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Knicks are going into this draft with guarded optimism, which is to say they have plenty of options to consider at the critical point guard position. While Italian swingman Danilo Gallinari is believed to be on the radar, a person with knowledge of the situation said the Knicks will also focus on bringing in guards to their individual workouts, which can begin next week.

The question is whether or not the group of point guards behind the consensus No. 1 pick, Derrick Rose, are "natural" point guards or merely undersized shooting guards. Jerryd Bayless is a terrific talent and O.J. Mayo is a dynamic scorer with an NBA-ready body who has even gotten himself in the conversation during Miami Heat discussions at the second overall choice. But neither are viewed as floor general-type guards - i.e. Steve Nash or Chris Paul - who can run an offense like Mike D'Antoni's system, which puts a great responsibility on that position to, as Red Holzman always demanded, find the open man.

Donnie Walsh, who arrives here today for the player physicals and interviews, said you can't always pigeonhole a college player by what he shows in college.

"Normally the best player on the team is counted on to score, even if he's the point guard," Walsh said. "So in many cases the scoring guard in college is a point guard and he can be converted into a point guard in the NBA. Chauncey Billups is a good example."

Deeper down the depth chart are point guards such as D.J Augustin, from Texas, Russell Westbrook of UCLA and Ty Lawson, from North Carolina.

The current roster already has somewhat of a logjam at the point, with more combo guards in Stephon Marbury and Nate Robinson. Marbury is in the final year of his contract and could be a buyout candidate. Robinson hasn't proven he can handle the point guard responsibilities full-time and is viewed as a better fit to bring energy off the bench. Mardy Collins is not seen as an NBA starter.

Walsh's other options could be on the trade market, which could be quite active involving point guards this summer. The Toronto Raptors will do whatever it takes to re-sign restricted free agent Jose Calderon, which likely means T.J. Ford could be acquired in a trade. Another team that has a plethora of point guards is Memphis, which has to decide who among Mike Conley, Jr. and Kyle Lowry is their guy. A few NBA executives believe the Grizzlies aren't sure, themselves, if either has the potential to be a full-time starter.

The situation to keep an eye on, however, could be in Golden State, where 22-year-old restricted free agent Monta Ellis is expected to demand a hefty pay raise over his $770,610 salary from this past season and it could force the Warriors into considering sign-and-trade offers for the lightning quick combo guard.

Notes & quotes: Steve Kerr laughed when he noticed a few New York reporters closing in on him outside the Milk House gym yesterday. He knew what the conversation would be about. "I don't really have much to say," Kerr said regarding the Mike D'Antoni situation that unraveled quickly and resulted in him leaving Phoenix for the Knicks. "It all happened and the NBA changes quickly. Things change and the dynamic changed for Mike, for the organization and he's moved on." When asked if he had reaction to D'Antoni suggesting that he didn't feel he had the support of Kerr and owner Robert Sarver, Kerr frowned. "I'm not going to comment on that," he said. "That's not going to get me anywhere, to go into the past. I wish Mike well and he did a great job for the Suns. I hope he does well in New York. My job now is to find our next coach." . . . Today will be a noteworthy day for Michael Beasley, who is slotted to go second overall to the Miami Heat. The Kansas State power forward is listed at 6-10, but there is talk that he is barely 6-9. Today's physicals will reveal his true height.

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