Knicks, Nets Fans Should Turn Attention Toward Draft

I'm afraid I'm the bearer of some bad news: It appears the Knicks aren't going to make the playoffs. This might come as a shock if you get your news from MSG, but with the 'Bockers having clinched another losing season by dropping their 42nd game on Sunday, it's the unvarnished truth.

The Nets' playoff hopes, while better than the Knicks', also look dubious at the moment. New Jersey entered yesterday one game ahead of Atlanta, but the Hawks have an easier schedule down the stretch and just upgraded their roster by trading for point guard Mike Bibby.

Thus, both local teams are likely to be in Secaucus this May for the draft lottery, with the prize being the first overall pick in June's draft. The Knicks somehow forgot to trade this year's pick to Chicago, so this year they'll be able to use their own choice for the first time in three years. Additionally, the Nets will get Dallas's first-round pick if the Mavs make the playoffs, which seems a near-certainty at the moment, so they'll have two first-rounders.

This means at least some of local fans' attention should be shifting off the court and toward the draft, and there couldn't be a better time for it. With college basketball heading into March Madness and nearly all this year's top prospects coming from the American college ranks, it's time to look at this year's hot prospects.

I should warn that this isn't nearly as strong a draft as last year's, especially after the first four or five picks. Even that assessment assumes the kids come out; all of the top prospects are freshmen and could opt to stay in school another year or two.

Nonetheless, let's look at the top prospects as of today:

MICHAEL BEASLEY, KANSAS STATE: Unquestionably the most talented player in the country, Beasley is a dominating freshman forward who is all but certain to be the first player taken in the draft. His relative positives and negatives can be summarized neatly by the fact that he's been compared to Derrick Coleman.

While that fact alone is probably enough to turn the Nets off, Beasley really is tremendously talented. He's a 6-foot-10-inch lefty, just like Coleman, with a wide body, a soft touch, and great athleticism around the basket. His averages for the Wildcats are absurd: 26.7 points, 12.9 boards, and 54.0% shooting, including 40% on 3-pointers. He leads all major college players in both scoring and rebounding, and he's doing it as a freshman.

The reason he isn't mentioned in the same exalted tones that Kevin Durant and Greg Oden were a year ago is because of all the questions about his character and commitment. That's where the Coleman part comes in. Sure, DC had a nice career and made a few All-Star teams. Woop-de-darn-do. He could have been an MVP if he'd applied himself.

If Beasley isn't the first overall pick, it's because the team owning the choice is worried he's headed down the same path.

DERRICK ROSE, MEMPHIS:

Rose, who has drawn comparisons to Jason Kidd, could be the answer to Isiah's quest for a pure point guard if the Knicks can land the second pick in the draft. Like Kidd, he has great size for the position (6 feet, 4 inches) and is an outstanding passer, but a shaky shooter. He's running the show as a freshmen for a team that until recently was ranked no. 1 in the country.

ERIC GORDON, INDIANA:

The sweet-shooting guard might be a nice fit in New Jersey, especially for the post-Carter era. Gordon is similar to the Bulls' Ben Gordon (no relation) or the Celtics' Ray Allen in that he's only 6 feet, 3 inches or 6 feet, 4 inches (depending on whose measurements you believe), but he is an outstanding long-range bomber with a scorer's knack. He's not a good enough ball handler to play the point, at least at this stage of his career, and his instincts will probably make him a shooting guard anyway.

O.J. MAYO, USC:

The type of high-turnover, me-first guard that gets Isiah Thomas salivating — at least based on his past personnel moves — Mayo was the most hyped player in his class when he came out of high school but has had a bit of an adjustment period in the Pac 10. Don't get me wrong, he's a tremendous talent, but he's also got a lot of Steve Francis in him. I could hardly imagine a worse fit for the 'Bockers roster … which is why one can easily imagine the freshman playing in the Garden next year.

JERRYD BAYLESS, ARIZONA:

Yes, it's yet another 6-foot-3-inch freshman guard. Bayless is a bit of a tweener in the tradition of another 'Zona product, Gilbert Arenas — a point guard who looks to score first. But he's steadily been moving up draft boards after a strong first college season. Unlike the other top prospects, you might not see Bayless in the tournament — the Cats are hanging on the fringes of the NCAA Tournament bubble.

DEANDRE JORDAN, TEXAS A&M:

Jordan is the classic 7-foot project — he's not much to look at just yet, but scouts love his potential. Needless to say, he'll likely need at least a year before he's ready to make an impact, which makes the freshman a more tempting proposition for the Nets than the Knicks. You might not get a good feel for his game even if you watch Texas A&M intently — they hardly pass him the ball, so he takes just six shots a game.

BLAKE GRIFFIN, OKLAHOMA: A solidly built post player in the Charles Oakley mold (though not personality-wise), Griffin has been hugely effective for the Sooners, leading the squad in scoring and rebounding. However, the 6-foot-10-inch freshman but may hold off on entering the draft because a knee injury has knocked him out for the rest of the regular season and possibly longer. Additionally, his lack of offensive refinement has some scouts questioning how much upside he has as a scorer.

DANILO GALLINARI, ITALY:

The Italian forward is the foremost international prospect in this year's draft. He's made comments indicating a distaste for the NBA, so he may hold off on entering for another couple of years (he can do so for three more years). Gallinari has drawn comparisons to Toni Kukoc, because he's a big forward (6-9) who can handle the ball and pass, making him a palatable option for both local teams.

EIGHT MORE TO WATCH:

Anthony Randolph, PF, LSU; Chase Budinger, SG, Arizona; Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina; Nicolas Batum, SG, France; Brook Lopez, C, Stanford; Kevin Love, PF, UCLA; Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina; Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown.

jhollinger@nysun.com