Tonight is the Night

As you most likely know, tonight is the NBA Draft. The Knicks have the 6th pick precluding them from selecting either of two supposedly "can't miss" players of the draft-Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley, but there is still some talent available. I would love for the Knicks to trade up, potentially with the TWolves at 3 and select OJ Mayo, but if that doesn't happen and they stay pat (which we know they will), they better not take Danilo Gallinari. I don't care what the analysts say about his athletic ability or his differences from all of the recent European prospects who were hyped up and then dropped out of sight within a season or two. I don't care that he has a great shot, and a lean body whatever that means. And I don't care that he and Mike D'Antoni are both Italian (Chad Ford seems to believe that all Italians are in some sort of blood pact, certifying that D'Antoni will select Gallinari). No matter how much information I am supplied with saying how great Gallinari is I still do not want him on the New York Knicks. And the real reason is simple. I want the Knicks to draft someone who I have heard of, who can become a fan favorite around New York. Could you imagine Gallinari being the iconic player on this Knicks team? No matter how great he becomes he will never be embraced by the media and he will never become the fan favorite that the Knicks are in desperate need of. Yes, David Lee and Renaldo Balkman are fan favorites, they play hard and hustle like no other. But deep down I know that Lee and Balkman can never be the faces of the New York Knicks franchise because they simply are not talented enough. Lee nor Balkman can carry a team by themselves, they are role players, excellent role players but nothing more. In this draft the Knicks have a chance to select someone who can be a star, someone who can carry the team, while still being someone who the average fan can like.

And there is one player in this draft who the Knicks can feasibly select that will fulfill this role. Russel Westbrook is the man that the Knicks must select 6th overall in the NBA Draft tonight. He fits a need (point guard), he is young enough, but experienced enough to build a franchise around, he has a great work ethic and he plays defense better than the entire Knicks roster combined. How the Knicks can even consider taking a nobody forward over a eye-catching point guard is beyond me. Tonight when I am watching the draft I will sit and hope that they make the right decision and make Russel Westbrook the new face of the New York Knicks.

-Mose