Last year’s pick: Danilo Gallinari, another Euro who was pegged as the next Dirk, Kukoc, etc, was taken 6th. Averaged 6 ppg in just 28 games. On the plus side, he’s not even 21. In hindsight, DJ Augustin or Brook Lopez would have been a better choice.
Stephon Curry: He had a promise. Now, his stock is rising and it seems highly unlikely he’ll fall this far.
LeBron: No reason to mention this other than to note that the Knicks should avoid a SF just in case they land the league’s best player next summer.
Needs: Finally, the Knicks are in a good spot. Duhon has one more year on his deal, so they can let Nate Robinson walk and pick a PG to backup Duhon for a year before taking over. Or, they could pad the frontline: Get a PF/C to help Lee out, since they want nothing to do with out-of-shape Eddy Curry. Unless you think Al Harrington works as a PF.

We wouldn’t quibble with NY taking Arizona’s Jordan Hill if he fell this far. He might. But then the Knicks would have two guys who can rebound and defend, but possess no low post skills. That would set up 2010 thusly: PG ?, SG Lebron, SF Gallinari, PF Lee, C Hill.

But in a PG-heavy draft, it probably makes more sense to pick from this strong group: Rubio (will be gone), Curry (will be gone), Holiday (don’t like), Flynn, or Jennings. Will a former Italian coach favor Jennings? Or will NY go with the kid who wowed for two years upstate?

It’s a coin-toss, really. Despite a history of loving Syracuse … we’re going Jennings here.