Anyone know how the Knicks picks turned out under Van Gundy? The consensus on the board seems to be that the ROX are determined to keep their number 1 pick this year. (Which I hope is true, the draft is the only way to secure young talent CHEAPLY). The Rox drafts in recent years, save for Yao, have been a disappointment. How much of that was Rudy T and how much of that was CD? Would having Van Gundy at the helm affect the types of picks we make? That's why I ask what his track record was in the NYC.
I know the GM is the one who allegedly makes the pick. But that is not the case in the real world. The decision making process is usually a team effort. GMs rarely go out on a limb and draft against the coaching staff's wishes. Jerry Krause used to do so all the time. And except for the 87 draft, it blew up in his face and alienated the GM from the coaching staff. Coaches have a major impact on who the GM picks. And, in the Rockets case, so does the owner. All the draft videos show Les in the war room, voicing his opinion i.e. Eddie Griffin. The ultimate chioce is the GMs. He receives the blame and the credit. But do not think for one minute that the leader does not lean very heavily on the input of others.
Going back all the way to New York JVG has not developed any players under him. That's why i didn't understand a lot of the moves i guess. He doens't like young players too much and i doubt he is going to develop them. If they make a mistake the will sit not have a chance to really learn i guess.
Had JVG merely given Friedrich Weis a chance to develop, the Knicks wouldn't be in the dire straits they were in. EDIT: Here's a complete list, notice the Knicks didn't ever pick higher than 15, (since they were winning when JVG was there) All this crap about "can't develop young players" is BS. The "young players" he was given was NBDL level talent. You can't make lemonade out of poop. There is no reason to throw stones with him for this, and if you think the words "Bostjan Nachbar" are a counterargument, well, mine is "George Lynch" and "Jackson Vroman".
I still contend that elite coaches (we will refrain from debating whether JVG deserves to be in the list, but he is considered one in the national media.) have an input on draft picks. Low first rounders are valuable. The Spurs are built on snatching up quality prospects - Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker - with low draft picks. Until we can start building through the draft again, we will never rise to contender status. With the salary cap, you need to find gems that can contribute while still on their rookie deals. Unfortunately, after taking a look at the list from JVG's Knick days, I am not encouraged. Not a single guy from the list had a decent NBA career.
IIRC, JVG was totally against the pick of Weis (the guy that got posterized by Vince Carter in 2000 Olympics) and the Knicks selection of him was part of the reason he became frustrated to the point of resigning. I don't have a link, but I'm pretty sure he told them not to pick him and they went ahead, which pissed him majorly.
The Spurs are built on Tim Duncan. Both those guys are a lot better because they play with Duncan. I basically agree with your post, but if Ginobli had been drafted by the Hawks (For example) he would have all the impact of a Jerry Stackhouse or Jason Terry. Flashy and fun, but so what. Pop is apparently the best GM in the league, but he has been pretty lucky with those two picks. Not saying he didn't do his homework, but I just can't picture him thinking to himself "Hmmm, If we don't win the championship, I think I'll retool the team around next years number 29 pick."
Layden had complete control over all gm duties. He was brought in from Utah and it was assumed that he would be able to find "gems" that Utah commonly found. But instead of finding any deals, he merely plunged the Knicks further into cap hell and loaded them up with below mediocre talent. JVG wasn't responsible for the bust contracts or draft picks made under Layden. Here however ... is a different story. This organization is just run different.
It was actually a guy named Ed Tapscott who was responsible for the Weis selection. Of course they didn't, they were low round picks - for every cuttino mobley, there are about 10 tito maddoxes.
