Knicks Tab Gallinari with 6th Pick of 2008 NBADraft
The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden may have showeredhim with boos when his name was announced, but Danilo Gallinari did not seem tobe bothered by it. The 19 year-old forward from Italy was chosen sixth overallby the New York Knicks in the 2008 NBA Draft and will come to a team intransition from the atrocious Isiah Thomas era.
“Forza New York and Forza Italia,†Gallinari said during hispress conference right after being selected. Speaking a heavily accentedEnglish, he seemed to have an understanding on why an unknown player would notbe a popular pick. “It’s a part of the game,†Gallinari continued. “Not everytime you can hear good things. It’s my work to prove to everyone that I’m agood player. So that’s everything on me.
During the 2007-08 season, Gallinari played in both theEuroleague and Italy A-1. With Armani Jeans Milano (A-1), he averaged 17.5points and 5.7 rebounds in 29 games. In 1q Euroleague contests, Gallinari had a14.9 scoring average.
Coming to a team who’s head coach speaks fluent Italian willgive the 6’8â€, 210-pound rookie a level of comfort. “For sure, we can talk someItalian and it can come back,†said Gallinari. “In the last few days, Italianjournalists tell me that his Italian in the last five, six years has not doneso well.†His new coach is a former teammate of his father Vittorio at Milan.
Comfort has not been something that the Knicks have had theluxury of having of late. Knowing that coming in, Gallinari said, “I rememberthe time when (Patrick) Ewing was playing here and New York was doing so well.In the last two or three years, they didn’t do so well, but I hope in thefuture that we can come back.â€
Where exactly does a player like Gallinari fit in on theKnicks’ roster? He was the top International prospect on the board and is saidto have good ball skills for a player his size. His outside shooting is not hisstrong point, which means that he needs to gain some size to make his way closerto the basket.
Expect some player movement on the Knicks roster, withGallinari becoming the eighth forward on the team. There was a lot ofspeculation that David Lee was going to be moved before the draft, possibly forthe fifth pick from the Memphis Grizzlies. That didn’t occur, and the fanfavorite may have become expendable with the Gallinari selection. They aresimilar players, and the value of Lee may be at its highest right now with hiscontract expiring at the end of next season.
Zach Randolph is another player in the front court that newteam president Donnie Walsh would love to trade. Acquired one year ago duringthe 2007 NBA Draft, the former Trail Blazer had a few good moments and some notso good, often clashing with Thomas. The experiment of playing Randolph withcenter Eddy Curry did not fair too well, and will not occur again this seasonregardless if Walsh can dump Randolph’s salary on someone else.
It may be some time before Gallinari’s report card can becompleted. But you can’t blame the Knick faithful for being apprehensive. Thelast foreign player the organization picked in the first round? None other thanFrederic Weis from France in 1999, who became synonymous with bad decisions andthe Knicks.
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This post was written by joepietaro on June 26, 2008
