Choose Wisely With Isiah Thomas & Glen Grunwald's inability to acquire an impact player by the trade deadline, Knick fans have turned their attention to the NBA Draft Lottery. If form holds, the team will select 5th overall. As Derrick Rose's stock continues to rise, the likelihood of landing the phenom point guard from Memphis decreases. Kansas State's freshman sensation, Michael Beasley is widely expected to go first overall. Unless the

Between now & June 26th, the names Eric Gordon (Indiana), OJ Mayo (USC), Jerryd Bayless (Arizona), Donte Green (Syracuse) & Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut) will be mentioned as potential saviors of a moribund franchise. Clearly the team needs help at point guard, small forward & center. Gordon & Mayo's playmaking ability make them prime targets. Both have the talent & moxy to become All-Stars in the NBA. Bayless & Green are shooters with tremendous range. Thabeet at 7-3, 265lbs offers the shot-blocking, defensive presence sorely needed in the paint.

If the key to reconstructing the Knicks begins with this upcoming draft, the margin for error will be minuscule. It's been 20 years since the Knicks have a drafted a player (Mark Jackson) that has gone on to become an All-Star. A look back at recent history shows that poor draft decisions can set the franchise back for years. Scott Layden's trade of the # 7 pick in the 2002 draft - plus Marcus Camby & Jackson - for Antonio McDyess was a catastrophic decision, considering All-Stars Amare Stoudemire, Caron Butler & Carlos Boozer were selected with the 9th, 10th & 35th picks respectively. The 2003 draft class, which produced superstars Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony & Dwayne Wade, saw the Knicks select Michael Sweetney with the 9th overall selection and Maciej Lampe with the 30th pick. All-Star David West was selected with the 18th pick.

Josh Howard, Leandrinho Barbosa & Boris Diaw were also selected after Sweetney. Moreover, two of the NBA's best shooters in Jason Kapono & Kyle Korver were selected after Lampe. While Layden's draft decisions were horrendous, Isiah Thomas has blown his draft lottery opportunities as well. Prior to trading two consecutive lottery picks for Eddy Curry, Thomas' decision to select Channing Frye in 2005 over Andrew Bynum & Danny Granger has been scrutinized. After a promising rookie season, Frye has become nothing more than a bit player. Bynum & Granger are now viewed as future stars for the Lakers & Pacers.

Isiah Thomas' roster is full of unmovable contracts and young players yearning for playing team. The lack of interest in Knick players at the trade deadline speaks volumes about the talent Thomas has assembled. For a team ranked 25th in the ESPN power rankings, the notion of a playoff run ended when Thomas struck out in his efforts to import a point guard. Hopefully Thomas will use the remainder of the season to develop his prized 2007 first round draft pick, Wilson Chandler. Otherwise, he'll soon join Michael Sweetney & Frank Williams out of the league.

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Derrick Rose's combination of speed, scoring, court vision & active hands make him the ideal replacement for Stephon Marbury. Credit John Calipari and former Knicks point guard/Memphis assistant coach, Rod Strickland for refining his game.

-Greg Hutchins