NBA Draft 2012: New York Knicks Must Draft PG in Round 2
The New York Knicks can't seem to end this roller coaster ride that the organization has put themselves and their fans through for the last year.
Nobody really knows what is going to become of the Jeremy Lin situation, and whether he will be wearing orange and blue next season remains a mystery. In the last week, we've been told that Steve Nash might be joining the Knicks, and we've heard about Allen Iverson coming to Broadway in an attempt to revitalize his career and pay back some bills.
Now that the latter two preposterous possibilities have been put to rest, surely the Knicks front office will realize that the answer to their problem is sitting right in front of them. On Thursday, June 28, the Knicks will be blessed with an opportunity so great that they would be insane not to realize.
The NBA draft is that opportunity. Unfortunately, the Knicks have just one pick in the draft at No. 46, but the 2012 class is deep and talented. The Knicks will be able to find a point guard to bring to Madison Square Garden in the middle of the second round.
Here are a couple options.
Scott Machado
While you may not have heard of Scott Machado, you will sometime in the future. The senior from Iona put up 13.6 points and 9.9 assists per game in his final season with the Gaels and thoroughly impressed NBA scouts.
He is the prototypical pass-first point guard and uses his impressive court vision to find his open teammates. If the Knicks are able to retain Lin's services, Machado would be a perfect change of pace off the bench, as Lin is more of a scorer than a passer.
Machado's drive-and-kick style is perfect for the Knicks. That would give Carmelo Anthony the chance to hang out on the perimeter a bit more and see some open shots, thus improving his subpar field goal percentage from last season. It would also help Amar'e Stoudemire find more space near the elbow for some open 15- to 18-foot jumpers that the Knicks need him to hit. If Steve Novak is re-signed, something that seems hopeful at best, Machado's game fits right into his spot-up shooting style.
He can run the pick-and-roll well and showed the ability to put a soft touch on passes to his teammates cutting through the lane. That would benefit Melo, STAT and Tyson Chandler inside the three-point arc, as we saw flashes of great ball movement, even without an effective point guard at times.
Machado won't be the most athletic player on the team, but he won't need to be. He's not going to need to shoulder the load for scoring, he'll just have to play the role of facilitator when he's on the court.
Tomas Satoransky
Another name you probably haven't heard, Tomas Satoransky is coming out of the Czech Republic to enter the NBA draft.
He's another excellent passing point guard, but he's 6'6". I don't know who told this kid he could play point guard, but he really can do it. His size makes him virtually impossible for smaller guards to defend, and he has the ability to finish at the rim, thanks to his large frame.
He's not exactly a leader, which is a problem for a point guard, but that should change with some time around NBA teammates.
Satoransky is a great passer off the drive. He isn't known for his shooting, but that makes him a perfect fit for the Knicks because they already have plenty of guys who love to shoot the ball. He's a good dribbler—especially for a guy who is 6'6"—and it is said that one day he will be a quality pick-and-roll guard in the NBA.
The pick-and-roll is one of the oldest plays in basketball, but it cannot be stopped when it is run seamlessly. It is the key to an efficient offense, and the Knicks have two big men who are good at the receiving end of the pick-and-roll.
If the Knicks don't draft a point guard, and Lin goes elsewhere, there's going to be an even bigger problem in New York than there is right now.
