2011 NBA Mock Draft, Knicks: Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State

We're just two days away from the 2011 NBA Draft, and Tom Ziller of SBNation's final 2011 Mock NBA Draft has the New York Knicks taking Klay Thompson of Washington State, widely regarded as the best pure shooter in the draft. I have said again and again that if I were running the Knicks, I'd take Florida State's Chris Singleton, if available, as he is in Ziller's latest mock. Singleton fits the team's biggest overall need, defense, even if he doesn't fill a positional need. However, if Thompson is on the board when the Knicks pick as No. 17, there may be too much value, too much upside, and for a Mike D'Antoni-coached team, too much shooting prowess to pass.

There have been rumblings about the Knicks trading up a few spots, and you could see why. Could anyone see a possibility in which the Philadelphia 76ers, picking one spot ahead of the Knicks at No. 16, pass on Thompson if he falls to them? The 76ers badly need an outside threat, and they'd be crazy to let Thompson go to a division rival in the Knicks. At first, when I heard the Knicks would have to give up Landry Fields or Toney Douglas to move up two spots, I thought it was asinine. But, here's a situation in which it may work:

The Knicks trade their No. 17 pick and Toney Douglas to the Pacers for the No. 15 pick, and get the Pacers' second round pick, No. 42 overall, in return. The Knicks draft Thompson, and then use the No. 42 pick on a point guard. Guys in that range could be Illinois senior Demetri McCamey, Washington junior Isaiah Thomas (boy would that be hilarious), or Georgia Tech's Iman Shumpert. Then, you have Chauncey Billups and a young point guard behind him, and you let Fields and Thompson battle it out for the starting SG job, with the other coming off the bench. That's not a terrible situation.

Of course, in that situation, the Knicks still lack size. They'd have to sign a center (Sam Dalembert likely, Tyson Chandler in a dream world), and maybe get creative in a trade or free agency to get some depth at power forward.

If it's me, I stand pat at No. 17 and take Singleton if he's available.

2011 NBA Mock Draft: Round-Up Of Knicks Selections

Here is a look around the web at who various outlets have the New York Knicks selecting with the 17th pick in the NBA Draft next week --

NBADraft.net - Chris Singleton, SF/PF, Florida State

Rotoworld - Marcus Morris, PF, Kansas

Draft Express - Alec Burks, SG, Colorado

Hoopshype - Singleton

My NBA Draft - Marshon Brooks, SG, Providence

ESPN, Chad Ford - Josh Selby, SG, Kansas

2011 NBA Mock Draft, Knicks: Charles Jenkins, PG/SG, Hofstra

In what would certainly be a feel good story for the New York Knicks, Tom Ziller in his latest SB Nation NBA Mock Draft has the 'Bockers taking Hofstra guard Charles Jenkins at No. 17. And while it would be nice to see the Knicks add a local kid to their roster, Jenkins is not a player the Knicks need, and quite frankly, he'd be a bigtime reach at 17, where there will likely be a bevy of more realistic players for the Knicks to take.

Firstly, looking at Jenkins, the Knicks already have Chauncey Billups and Toney Douglas at the point guard position. Like Douglas, Jenkins is undersized as a shooting guard and isn't noted as a pure point guard. Jenkins led Hofstra with over 22 points-per-game, but clearly had to be ball-dominant at Hofstra and averaged under five assist per contest. With the Knicks, Jenkins would have to be more of a point guard in order to really make an impact; the Knicks already have Douglas, who provides energy and offense off the bench. The Knicks could use a backup point guard to spell Chauncey Billups, but could Jenkins be that guy? We saw in the playoffs that Douglas wasn't.

Based on Ziller's mock, players the Knicks would be passing up that would make a lot of sense are power forward Kenneth Faried (who we earlier said would be a great choice for the Knicks if available), Texas swingman Jordan Hamilton, or even Georgia Tech point guard Iman Shumpert, if the Knicks want to add a backup true point guard.

I will still hold in my belief that the best player for the Knicks at No. 17, if available is Florida State's Chris Singleton. Ziller has him going earlier, but other mocks have him very much in the Knicks' range.

2011 NBA Mock Draft, Knicks: Kenneth Faried, PF Morehead St.

A very pressing need for the New York Knicks (on the court that is; we’re not going to get into off the court stuff here, because I don’t have all day) is size, and more specifically, someone who can backup Amare Stoudemire. The Knicks need some cover for Stoudemire, because if he keeps playing 42 minutes a game, he won’t have knees anymore. In the latest SBNation Mock NBA Draft, Tom Ziller has the Knicks taking Morehead State power forward and rebounding monster Kenneth Faried with the 17th overall pick. Finally, this is a pick that this writer can cosign on.

In the previous mock drafts, we’ve broken down possibilities like Klay Thompson and Josh Selby, two potential-packed perimeter players. The Knicks could use one more scorer, but their most pressing need, and the one they need to fill this offseason, isn’t simply just "size" as everyone says. The Knicks need some grit and toughness, players who will do the dirty work and let the stars do their thing. Faried is that type of player.

The NCAA’s all-time leading rebounder (in the modern era, which is from 1973 on), Faried is a guy who would immediately crack the Knicks rotation as Stoudemire’s backup. If the Knicks wanted to play small, as Mike D’Antoni likes to, Faried could play at power forward alongside Stoudemire, who would be the de facto center. New york needs a few players who are simply looking to rebound and defend, set picks and complement Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. Faried likely fits this bill.

A downside of Faried is his physical size, which isn’t all that spectacular. He’s just 6-foot-8 and isn’t very bulky at about 220 pounds. Playing at Morehead State in the Ohio Valley Conference, Faried was a much bigger body most of the time than he would be in the NBA. But he also had great performances against Louisville and Ohio State, so he isn’t just a product of playing against weak competition. He’s definitely a player the Knicks could use, and would be an interesting get at No. 17. but, as Ziller brings up in his mock article, would D’Antoni, provided he’s still the coach, play a non-scorer like Faried?

2011 NBA Draft: Jimmer Fredette Makes Sense For Nets, Not Knicks

For complete coverage of the Knicks and Nets as the draft approaches be sure to visit SB Nation New York's NBA Draft special section.

No Jimmer For The Knicks?

Today at ESPN, Ian O'Connor who I infrequently agree with, made a strong case for the New York Knicks to pass on BYU star Jimmer Fredette if they have the chance to select him in the NBA Draft. I am actually going to side with O'Connor on this issue.

If you have been watching these NBA Playoffs, it is clear the Knicks are going to need defense and size if they ever plan on slowing down the machine the Miami Heat have developed into. The answer in the draft isn't adding more offense. Unfortunately, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire's personal shortcomings on that side of the floor make adding more defense an absolute necessity. You can't hide Anthony, Stoudemire, and Fredette all at once.

Fredette would be a popular pick considering his background and name recognition. Yet, this team isn't going to be much more than first round fodder if they don't focus on becoming more physical and defensive minded. Where are Charles Oakley and Anthony Mason when you need them?

I don't know if Dwight Howard will ever become a reality for the Knicks but at least for this off-season, they must concentrate on upgrading positions that were manned by players like Ronny Turiaf, Shelden Williams, and Jared Jeffries last year.

2011 NBA Mock Draft, Knicks: Josh Selby PG/SG, Kansas

Tom Ziller over at SBNation homebase seems to really think that the Knicks are going for a scorer with their first pick of the upcoming 2011 NBA Draft, where they'll pick No. 17 overall. First, Ziller's Mock Draft had the Knicks taking Washington State shooting guard Klay Thompson. In his latest Mock Draft, Ziller believes the Knicks will take Kansas scorer Josh Selby. My thoughts on Selby as a pick for the Knicks are pretty much the same as my thoughts on them taking Thompson; it's simply not the right pick.

Selby is a score-first player, a tweener who's not a good enough game manager to be a point guard, and is a little small for an NBA shooting guard (Toney Douglas anyone?). On top of that, while he may be a talented offensive player, he, like Thompson, does not excel on the defensive end. An interesting note, however, is that Selby has a friendly relationship with Knicks' star Carmelo Anthony; and his friendship with Anthony may have led to Selby's nine-game suspension to start his collegiate career last season. The NCAA investigated Selby's relationship with Anthony's business manager Robert Frazier and ordered Selby to pay back over $4,000 in improper benefits. You usually want to stay away from players with baggage like this, but will Anthony's friendship with Selby (they're both from Baltimore) influence the Knicks at the draft?

Aside from the baggage and the score-first mentality of Selby, he didn't have a great Freshman season for Kansas, especially for a player who was so highly rated coming out of high school. His suspension surely put him behind the eight ball, but he averaged just 7.9 points and not much else in 26 games. As opposed to Kyrie Irving, another highly touted high school prospect who had a disappointing college season, Selby is not at the top of many draft boards.

The Knicks need size, and as I said in my last piece, the guy (if he's available) could be Chris Singleton of Florida State. Other potential forwards and centers to keep an eye out for are Morehead State PF Kenneth Faried, PF Jeremy Tyler and Congolese big-man Bismack Biyombo - although he will be unlikely to fall to the Knicks at 17.

Another interesting bit of news came from Newsday's Alan Hahn about the Knicks looking to possibly purchase a second round pick. Based on the Knicks' working out players like Syracuse's Rick Jackson and UCLA's Malcolm Lee, players who the Knicks would never take at 17, it appears the Knicks may be headed that route. If you remember, this is how the Knicks drafted Toney Douglas, by purchasing a pick from the Los Angeles Lakers. Stay tuned...

2011 NBA Mock Draft, Knicks: Klay Thompson

The latest SB Nation Mock NBA Draft has the Knicks taking Washington State junior shooting guard Klay Thompson with the 17th overall pick. This is a pick that I don't think will happen, as many other mocks have Thompson going ahead of 17. If Thompson were to fall, would he be a good pick for the Knickerbockers? It could go both ways.

Your answer on whether or no Thompson would be the right pick for the Knicks hinges on where you fall with Mike D'Antoni's system. If you are a fan of D'Antoni's, Thompson might be a steal at 17. He may be the best pure shooter in the draft, and the Knicks could use a dead-eye three-point shooter. With Carmelo Anthony favoring the low block post-up isolation, and Amare Stoudemire playing pick-and-roll, the offense is missing a guy who can consistently knock down threes from the wing and corner. Thompson could be that guy.

But if you see the Knicks real problems, and you match that with Thompson's weakness, it may not be the best choice. Thompson is not known for his defense. And while the Knicks need shooting guard help, they have two elite scorers and, for one more season, a point guard in Chauncey Billups who can fill it up too. Anyone who watched the Knicks all season knows they desperately need forward and center help. Another shooter, another score-first player is not what the Knicks lack. There will be options at 17 that can address the Knicks' lack in size.

Based on the players available in the SB Nation mock, if I were Donnie Walsh, I would take Florida State's Chris Singleton. Singleton isn't too big at 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds, but he has a huge wingspan and is one of the best defenders on the board. The Knicks need someone who can backup Stoudemire and play defense and grab rebounds, and Singleton can do that. If the Knicks add a center in free agency such as Samuel Dalembert or (in a dream scenario) Tyson Chandler, picking Singleton gives the Knicks a solid frontcourt. You're looking at Dalembert/Chandler starting at center with Ronny Turiaf as backup, and Stoudemire at the four with Singleton taking his backup minutes. Not terrible at all.

2011 NBA Mock Draft, Knicks: Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas

The 2011 NBA Draft Lottery is complete, so we know the NBA Draft order. The draft itself is Jun 23, slightly more than a month away. That means we have reached NBA Mock Draft season, the time to begin speculating in earnest who will end up where in the draft.

Our friends at the mothership, SBNation.com, have released their first full NBA Mock Draft. The New York Knicks, fresh off their first playoff appearance since 2004, choose 17th in the first round and do not have a second-round selection. Who did SB Nation basketball guru Tom Ziller choose for the Knicks with that 17th selection?

Markieff Morris, PF, Kansas.

The Knicks need size. It was brutally obvious in the playoffs against the Boston Celtics that Rony Turiaf and Jared Jeffries do not provide enough of a presence inside. Can the 6-foot-10, 235-pound Morris help in that regard?

Morris averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Jayhawks in 2010-2011, his junior season. Draft Express calls Morris "a strong, explosive, and physical power forward."

Here is more from Draft Express about Morris:

Though Morris still has a ways to develop, and could stand to cut down on his turnovers and improve his overall decision-making, the progress he's made this season has been overwhelmingly positive. Looking at his freshman season alone, Morris seemed bound for a basic catch-and-finish role predicated on hustle and defensive toughness that would have him spending virtually all of his times at the rim or in the paint. His offensive skill set now fills a variety of roles that fit nicely with the ever-increasing versatility of the power forward position on the NBA level.

Defensively, Morris has clearly improved on paper, cutting down on his fouls and rebounding the ball at an impressive rate. However, it is his toughness and the way he takes things personally on the defensive end that are most intriguing. His wingspan won't allow him to be a big factor as a weakside shot blocker, but he's got the mentality to be a solid one-on-one defensive player and a quality area rebounder early in his career.

Your thoughts, Knicks fans?