Chris Singleton, Florida State’s 6-foot-9 junior, doesn’t fill a position need for the Knicks. But the athletic small forward fills a well-chronicled overall need: defense.
Though Knicks president Donnie Walsh said during the Chicago combine he would like to add a guard to the roster, he added he will go with the best player available if there’s a significant difference at the 17th pick when the NBA Draft begins June 23.
That player could Singleton, even if he plays the wing filled by Carmelo Anthony.
Singleton worked out for the Knicks yesterday along with big point guards Charles Jenkins of Hofstra and Georgia Tech’s Iman Shumpert.
Singleton said he thought he did not fare as well as other ones, but the Knicks have him highly rated for many reasons. He’s best-suited for a high tempo offense because of his great athleticism and can guard four positions. There’s a belief in the organization he can be tough on LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Coach Mike D’Antoni got a close-up look at Singleton last summer in Las Vegas during Team USA’s tryout games against the College Select Team. Singleton was on the college club and did well against guys like Kevin Durant and Lamar Odom.
Singleton, who averaged 13.3 points last season for FSU, played on the NCAA’s highest-ranked defensive club. ESPN’s draft savant Fran Fraschilla called him a “lockdown defender” at the Chicago combine and thinks he could be gone by 17, though some mock drafts have Singleton from 17 to 22.
“They have one of the best threes in league, one of the best fours in league; there’s not a better place to learn,” said Singleton.
If the Knicks go with Singleton, Walsh will be aggressive in buying at least one another pick, either a late first-rounder or an early second-rounder to snatch a point guard such as Shumpert or Jenkins.
“It depends on which team drafts me — I could be a scorer, but if a team needs me to just rebound and hustle and defend, I’ll do that,” said Singleton, who spoke with his former FSU teammate Toney Douglas at the workout. “I feel I can bring defense off the bat, and my offense will get better. ”
Shumpert and Jenkins, who squared off yesterday, should be there. Shumpert’s best attribute, at 6-6, is as a defender but he is showing in workouts he can shoot the 3-pointer — critical in D’Antoni’s sysem. Shumpert blazed yesterday, making 17 of 25 during the 3-point shooting drill.
“Just wanted to show I could fit into a team and play for the city, that I could play alongside guys like Melo and Ama’re [Stoudemire],” said Shumpert, whose agent, Happy Walters, is also Stoudemire’s agent. “I proved I can handle the ball, shoot the ball and be that knockdown guy in the corner. I shot well. I impressed everybody.”
Jenkins, solidly built at 6-3, is a great local story. He should be the first New York City point guard drafted since Sebastian Telfair.
“It’s good to get in front of some coaches and show I can play. I’m always doubted because of the conference I play in,” said Jenkins, who won the Haggerty Award three straight years as top metropolitan college player.