The one positive you could say about Isiah was that he was always pretty good in the draft. Whether it was Channing Frye, Marcus Camby or Tracy McGrady, Isiah seemed to do pretty well in the draft. Apparently he now wants to ruin the last positive part of his reputation because how else can you explain drafting Renaldo Balkman with the 20th pick?
It’s not that Balkman is a terrible player; he certainly played well in the NIT and he is a hard worker. But, why are the Knicks using the 20th pick of the draft on someone who didn’t even make the NBA’s “Draft Media Guide” which includes 80 players and with Marcus Williams, a real point guard, was available at the time of the selection? The selection was so big a reach that Stephen A. Smith was “speechless”. At least the Knicks took a point guard, Mardy Collins, with their second pick. (Yes, I know he can’t shoot, but the Knicks have plenty of guys who are going to shoot.) Balkman has vowed to never cut his hair again which should be interesting by 2009, but won’t compensate Knicks’ fans when Williams turns into an All-Star.
And conveniently, Williams will get the chance to do that right across the river. Marcus is going to the Nets, along with his college teammate, Josh Boone. Williams will get to learn from Jason Kidd (maybe he isn’t the best point guard in the NBA, but he is a lot better than the guy who thinks that he is) and should give the Nets a great option when they want to rest Kidd. And, if he develops as expected, he should give former Knicks’ fans something to cheer about when the Nets move to Brooklyn and become New York’s new favorite team.
Photograph by Jason DeCrow/AP
