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Knicks prez dreams big for draft lottery

By Max J. Dickstein, amNewYork Sports Editor | mdickstein@am-ny.com

4:11 PM EDT, May 19, 2008

The question was whether the Knicks would be comfortably picking at whatever position they get in the lottery, but Knicks president Donnie Walsh interrupted before the reporter could finish asking it.

"I'm not comfortable!" the 67-year-old said in a youthful outburst after the introduction of new coach Mike D'Antoni last week.

"I want to win it!"

Since taking over Isiah Thomas' Knicks six weeks ago, Walsh has made two major moves spaced over his six weeks on the job. Hired on April 2, Walsh fired Thomas as coach on April 18 and eventually replaced him with former Phoenix coach D'Antoni on May 13.

With the draft lottery in Secaucus tonight (8-8:30 p.m., ESPN), Walsh's pace of reform is set to accelerate from here as preparation for the June 26 draft officially begins and the Knicks shift their focus to their primary problem: a mismatched, overcompensated roster of players.

The capped-out Knicks and are albatrossed with a $90 million payroll next season, removing them from the off-season free-agent market in July. But in order to be a free-agent player in the summer of 2010 when LeBron James will be free to change addresses Walsh might consider some payroll-reducing moves this summer.

Much will depend on tonight's lottery result, which could ease Walsh's summer burden. If the Knicks win one of the top two picks, they'll have a shot at pure point guard Derrick Rose from Memphis or Kansas State's hypertalented forward Michael Beasley, both of whom are potential franchise players at 19 years old.

Walsh's Knicks timeline
April 2: Madison Square Garden chairman James L. Dolan names Bronx-born Donnie Walsh as the Knicks' president of basketball operations with a reported four-year, $20 million contract. He replaces Isiah Thomas.

April 18: Walsh fires Thomas as coach two days after the Knicks conclude a 23-59 season. On the same day, the Knicks earn the fifth-best draft lottery position by winning the NBA's tiebreaker over the L.A. Clippers, who also finished 23-59.

May 13: Walsh hires offense-minded former Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni as the 24th head coach in franchise history.

Tuesday night: In the 24th Draft Lottery, Walsh (8-8:30 p.m., ESPN) learns where the Knicks will select in the first round of the draft on June 26. After that comes the draft "combine" in Orlando (May 27-June 2) and the period for working out prospects (June 326).

Lottery likelihoods
Team Record Chances (out of 1,000)
Miami 15-67 250
Seattle 20-62 199
Minnesota 22-60 138
Memphis 22-60 137
New York 23-59 76
L.A. Clippers 23-59 75
Milwaukee 26-56 43
Charlotte 32-50 28
Chicago 33-49 17
New Jersey 34-48 11
Indiana 36-46 8
Sacramento 38-44 7
Portland 41-41 6
Golden State 48-34 5

Note: The Knicks have a 7.6 percent shot at the top pick, 8.4% at No. 2, and 9.5% at No. 3. They're most likely (38.5%) to pick sixth and won't pick lower than eighth.