2004 NBA Draft Review - New York Knicks.
New York Knicks:
Andre Iguodala (#8)
Trevor Ariza (#43)
The Knicks take a chance on the promising shooting guard out of Arizona. The Knicks traded starting center Nazr Mohammed and Mike Sweetney to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for the #8 pick in the draft. The Knicks had already traded their draft selection for this year to the Suns to acquire Marbury last season. This pick was slated to be #16.
Andre Iguodala is quick, has good court vision and a tough permiter defender. Some draft reports have him likened to a young Scottie Pippen, and that obviously picqued the interest of Phil Jackson.
He is very athletic but will need to fill out his frame to play shooting guard or small forward in the NBA. Where Iguodala fits into the Knicks with experienced guard Allan Houston and Penny Hardaway is no mystery. With both players injury history it is understandable GM Phil Jackson added wing depth.
Trevor Ariza could be a stupendous second round pickup. Ariza will provide a wealth of energy off the bench and is a tough perimeter defender who may have been a first round caliber talent. Will look to learn behind Tim Thomas. Knicks hope he will jump ahead of Shandon Anderson and compete with Penny Hardaway also in the depth chart as this is a position of weakness for the Knicks.
Grade: B+.