With the New York Knicks owning only the 48th overall selection in the upcoming 2012 NBA Draft, pickings are slim. On Tuesday, the Knicks are scheduled to hold workouts for six players as they try to find another diamond in the rough, a la recent successful second round picks like Landry Fields and Josh Harrellson. The six players the Knicks will officially work out tomorrow are:
-Larry Anderson, G, Long Beach State
-Casper Ware, PG, Long Beach State
-Mike Glover, PF, Iona
-Drew Gordon, PF, New Mexico
-Adam Sollazzo, G, East Tennessee State
-Jordan Taylor, G, Wisconsin
Most intriguing out of the group are probably Wisconson’s Jordan Taylor and Long Beach State’s Casper Ware. Both are seniors (as are all six the Knicks will work out), and are coming off solid seasons. Ware helped Long Beach State to a 25-9 record including a 15-1 mark in the Big West. Despite being just 5-foot-10, Ware led the team with 17.4 points per game, though did need a lot of shots to do so.
Taylor is coming off a four-year career at Wisconsin playing for Bo Ryan. Ryan’s players have generally not translated well to the NBA, especially on the offensive end. Wisconsin runs a very rigid offensive system under Ryan, but all of his players are good defenders, Taylor included. He led the Badgers in scoring (14.1) and dishing (4.1 assists).
Additionally, Glover is a local kid who became a star in the Metro Atlantic Athletic conference for Tim Cluess’ Iona Gaels in 2011-12. Glover nearly averaged a 20-10 and shot 64 percent from the field, and plays well above his 6-foot-5 frame (similar to DeJuan Blair in that right). It took him a while to get eligible, as he had a failed stint at Seton Hall after being recruited by Bobby Gonzalez. He’ll be 25 by the time the NBA season kicks off.
Shumpert Hoping For January Return
Iman Shumpert spoke to the media this past weekend, noting that he’s targeting January for a full return from the torn ACl and meniscus in his left knee suffered in the Knicks’ first round loss to the Miami Heat (remember when the Knicks were in the playoffs?). The Knicks are incredibly thin at guard and need Shumpert back healthy as soon as possible. A January return seems a bit early for an injury of this magnitude, so it’s more realistic to hope the second year guard is back by March or so.