LAS VEGAS — One NBA executive who deals extensively with Europe credited the Knicks for showing the guts to sign 7-foot-1 Russian center Timofey Mozgov, saying he would be a mid first-round pick had he been in June’s draft.
The executive said he likely would have gone between 15 and 25.
“It’s a gift for them, give them credit,” the executive said. “A lot of teams didn’t know how to handle the buyout. It’s a Russian team. It’s a different world. You have to have relationships there. A lot of teams were scared.”
It’s unclear if the Nets, whose owner is Russian Mikhail Prokhorov, had Mozgov on their radar. In an interview with MSG Network, Mozgov said, “Everyone knows Mikhail in Russia.”
Mozgov left Las Vegas three days ago to start training for the Russian National Team for the World Championships. The executive said the undrafted Mozgov, 24, got on NBA teams’ radar with a terrific outing in a two-week European Championships in Poland two years ago.
“He was No. 1 on my list for European free agents,” the executive said. “His upside is unbelievable. He’s bouncy. He needs to get stronger, learn the NBA game and terminology. It’s a no-brainer. The way you got to look at him is they drafted him a couple of years ago, held him over there and now they bring him back.”
The Knicks overpayed, giving him a three-year, $9 million deal, partly to help him with his $2.5M buyout from Khimki. The Knicks were allowed to pay a maximum $500,000.
In the MSG Network interview, Mozgov said he models his game after Kevin Garnett and picked the Knicks because, “I like Mike D’Antoni because he runs pick and rolls.”
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Landry Fields continues to excel, adding 15 more points in 21 minutes off the bench in the Knicks 92-80 win over Detroit.
The fleet second-round pick is drawing the buzz of several NBA scouts who did not think he would be drafted.
Fields, picked No. 39, had six rebounds and is shooting 55 percent, averaging 16 points in the four games.
The Stanford graduate always is the first man downcourt — perfect for D’Antoni’s up-tempo system.
“He makes hustling look easy,” Knicks summer-league coach Dan D’Antoni said.
The Knicks finish summer-league today against Washington and first-overall draft pick John Wall.
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According to a source familiar with the situation, free agent Stephon Marbury turned down an offer from a team in Jerusalem.