Man, this is one of those questions we’ll never know the answer to. I guess it’s your optimism here that’s what keeps you coming back, year after year, to root for this franchise. (Personally, I think Donnie would have included Curry in a package to shed 2010 salary, but I don’t have any inside information or anything:)

One thing that is clear, though, is that Walsh correctly identified who he wanted both in 2008 and 2009. If a butterfly in China had flapped its wings a little differently, we could have had Westbrook and Curry going into the Summer of LeBron…

If Walsh was just dumping guys for salary relief, he would have traded Gallo and Chandler. He wasn’t. Hill was only available because Walsh and D’Antoni seemed to routinely never speak to each other about who they wanted on the team. Hill was an oldish rookie that D’Antoni had no interest in who rarely played and when he did play, he didn’t impress (he was what you expect from an older rookie, in that he was more competent than most, but that was basically it). Steph Curry on the Knicks under D’Antoni would be the guy you specifically keep to try to attract free agents in the upcoming 2010 Draft. Walsh would have sooner included Chandler or Gallo in the infamous 2010 salary dump than Curry.

Here’s a question for you (no cheating): How old is Kendrick Perkins?

(No cheating) He’s 33, just 3 or 4 months older than LeBron, and less than 4 years older than Stephen Curry. But the guy seems like he’s 45.

Mo Bamba has the highest ceiling of any player in this draft. At worst, you’re talking about a Rudy Gobert clone. He catches lobs and stalks opposing players defensively, and he slides his feet like a small forward. There is no doubt in anybody’s mind that he will be an elite rim protector as he posted 14 boards and 4.8 blocks to 3.2 fouls per 40. Compare that to Jaren Jackson Jr who blocked 5.5 shots but only grabbed 10.6 boards and had 5.5 fouls per 40, and you see who is already the better defender. Bamba is going to control the paint by securing rebounds and blocking shots without fouling, while Jackson Jr isn’t a plus rebounder at the 5 and fouls too much to stay on the court. Chances are as Jackson Jr’s foul rate drops, so will his blocked shots rate as that seems to be an issue of how aggressively he plays.

Offensively, Jaren Jackson is a better 3 point shooter, but his ceiling as an offensive player is elite role player. He’s a guy who will catch and shoot and can also dive. That’s cool and extremely useful. Clint Capela who can shoot threes? We’d all sign up for that, but Mo Bamba’s ceiling is a two-way KAT type of guy. Bamba has shown flashes that he can post up, face up, and shoot the three. He won’t be able to take guys off the dribble, but one on one from 12 feet down? He can potentially be a nightmare on that end of the court.

If I’m Travis Schlenk I’m taking Mo Bamba and I’m banking my career on it. Jaren Jackson Jr is a lot of fun but his ceiling is lower and I have questions about his rebounding.

I think that the Knicks are an incompetent organization, but they would not have traded Steph in either the Jeffries trade or the Melo deal.

Man, this is one of those questions we’ll never know the answer to. I guess it’s your optimism here that’s what keeps you coming back, year after year, to root for this franchise. (Personally, I think Donnie would have included Curry in a package to shed 2010 salary, but I don’t have any inside information or anything:)

One thing that is clear, though, is that Walsh correctly identified who he wanted both in 2008 and 2009. If a butterfly in China had flapped its wings a little differently, we could have had Westbrook and Curry going into the Summer of LeBron…

I’m also scared he might just bust, but it’s the 9th pick, we shouldn’t overthink too much unless it’s a super bizarre case where both he and Porter are available or something like that.

Yeah, he’s a better prospect than DSJ. It’s a really nice draft this year. A lot like last year but more depth AND more top level talent.

That depth is what makes him dropping to #9 at least a theoretical possiblity. But yes, it is still unlikely.