The New York Knicks selected Danilo Gallinari, a forward from Italy, with the sixth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Most of the crowd at the Theater at Madison Square Garden booed the selection. Sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Gallinari is the third international selection by the Knicks in the last decade, the first being the immortal Fredric Weis in 1999 and Nene in 2002 (who was immediately traded to Denver minutes after being selected). I’m sure Knick fans are hoping he’s closer to Pau Gasol than Fredric Weis. Here is the ESPN scouting report on Gallinari:
Plays for Armani Jeans, Milano in the Italian League.
Averaged 14.9 ppg and 4.2 rpg in 31 mpg in Euroleague play this season. Averaging 17.5 ppg and 4.8 rpg in the Italian league. His father was a star player in Italy.Positives: All-around skills. Point-forward mentality. Beautiful passer. Excellent basketball IQ. Smooth. Excellent slasher to the basket. Good athlete, though not an exceptional one. Good shooter, especially from midrange.
Negatives: He lacks explosiveness. Although he’s not slow footed, he’s not exactly quick either. May be a little too unselfish. Questions about his long-range shooting.
Summary: Many in Italy feel he’s a better long-term prospect than Andrea Bargnani. Right now his game is more suited for Europe, but the Toni Kukoc comparisons are inevitable. He’s having a big season this year and more and more scouts are saying that he’s a potential lottery pick.
Filed under: NBA - Knicks, Writer - Bill Slattery
