Knicks can get best center in draft in 2nd Round! | manuvsteal's Blog

There is a center better than Hasheem Thabeet and BJ Mullens. The center position is incredibly thin this year. Teams may be jockeying for one of these two guys, or a little skeptical of both. The truth is, there is a guy better than both of them.

The problem is, he was drafted last year by the Clippers. Deandre Jordan who came out after a year of college basketball, joined the Clips as a second round pick. After doing some homework, even though he was buried on the bench behind frontcourt teammates Marcus Camby, Zach Randolph, and Chris Kaman, this guy more than held his own when given the playing time.

After being called up from the developmental league he had a chance to play 43 minutes against the Lakers. Results: 23 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocked shots. Two games later he played 41 minutes against the Warriors. Results: 8 points, 20 rebounds, and a block. He then played very few minutes until a game against the Suns where he played 36 minutes Resulting in: 9 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks. Next game against the Blazers he gets another 40 minute outing Results: 15 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocked shots. Against the playoff Denver Nuggets his statline: 21 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocked shots. He finished the season against the playoff bound Utah Jazz Results: 16 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 steals.

The point of these season stats is this. In his first year, he played against some good frontcourts on some playoff teams and more than held his own. Against the Lakers, Jazz, Blazers, and Nuggets no less. The Knicks have been rumored to be looking at the Magic backup CenterMartin Gortat, and for what? The next great bigman, could be riding the Clippers pine right now. Jordan's contract is for $760,000 this season and next. Not only is he athletic, talented, and on the rise, but he's CHEAP!!!!

The Clippers currently only have Baron Davis, Ricky Davis, and Eric Gordon under contract in the backcourt. In the frontcourt however, they have Marcus Camby, Kaman, Zach Randolph, and soon to be Blake Griffin. The Clips are aching for a combo guy to spot both Davis and Eric Gordon. The Knicks can accomodate them by trading Nate Robinson for Deandre Jordan and a future consideration draft pick. The Knicks get a low post shot blocking demon who rebounds in bunches (think Dwight Howard in NY), and the Clippers get a solid athletic guy to provide depth at both guard spots, and perimeter scoring.

The Knicks can now draft a guard this year and still have a shotblocker to either spell or take over for the starting center (maybe Eddy Curry). I think its a win win for both teams. Please make this trade happen! What do you Knicks fans think? What do we do this offseason?

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June 24, 2009 04:51 PM ET

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This would deF. Would be a huge upgrade over Eddy Curry who's trying to loose the weight just to be able to run the court and have sum type of threat in the low post. As oppose D.J who is only what 19 turning 20 can already be a huge presence in the paint to the knicks then Thabeet, he'd be able to rebound well in New York cause of his size and athletic ability to run the floor thrive on put backs on missed shots because he can play well above the rim and isnt close to a finish product who had proven he can play in this league wit those stats against proven clubs. once he gains sum consistent post moves sky's the limit for that man as long as he continues to play hard.

PoloMaN88

Brooklyn , NY

Total Comments (3)

June 24, 2009 05:05 PM ET

So now the question really is will the knicks be smart enough 2 make that trade allowing them to still save cap room instead wasting all that money in gortat. While also making a smart decision in tomro's draft trying to get either Evans,Curry with the 8th sum how involving a sign and trade wit either david lee and the 8th pick! Jus throwing an idea out there..