With Eighth Pick, Knicks Select Jordan Hill

Arizona forward is the eighth overall pick of the draft

By JOSH ALPER

Updated 9:07 AM EST, Fri, Jun 26, 2009

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Knick fans had their hearts broken minutes before the team picked in the first round when the Golden State Warriors took Stephen Curry off the board with the seventh pick. The crowd at the WaMu Theatre let out an audible groan when David Stern announced that Curry was headed to the Bay Area, and then let out a louder one when the team selected Arizona forward Jordan Hill with the eighth pick.

Hill admitted that he heard the boos, but didn't seem particularly put off by the reaction.

"That type of crowd, if they don't get who they want, they will give a couple of boos. But there were some that wanted me to go there, wanted me to to come to the Knicks."

He also said that he wasn't worried about the media in New York City.

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"I have no problem talking, so just need to make sure I say the right thing. I'm definitely ready for it."

Even if you like the pick, it may not be the smartest move to rush out and buy a Hill jersey. Word is swirling around Madison Square Garden that there could be a trade brewing with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With the fifth and sixth picks of the draft, the T-Wolves selected two point guards. It is very hard to imagine Ricky Rubio and Syracuse's Jonny Flynn sharing a backcourt, so there's reason to think that there may be another move in the offing. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Knicks are working hard to land Rubio in a deal. Thus far, however, there's been no movement from the Wolves.

During an interview on ESPN, G.M. Donnie Walsh said that the Knicks were keeping Hill. More posturing? If they do keep Hill, however, he has skills that would fit the Mike D'Antoni system.

He can rebound and run the floor, just like their current power forward David Lee. Lee is a restricted free agent, of course, and Hill's presence may signal the end of Lee's time in New York. Hill said that D'Antoni compared him to Amare' Stoudemire when he worked out for the Knicks. He's excited about the system and, as he put it, the chance to get "dunks and dunks and dunks."

So it's Hill for now, but stay tuned because there may be a lot more to come from the Garden.

Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.