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Steep "Hill" to climb

Posted by Dave Cooney: email

NY Daily News - To find the last Knicks rookie to make a significant impact, you'd have to go all the way back to 1987, when Mark Jackson instantly became one of Patrick Ewing's all-time favorite teammates. One month after Jackson was drafted at No.18, the Knicks' most recent first-round pick, Jordan Hill, was born.

So in the span of 22 years, the Knicks don't have much to show in terms of first-round picks. Rod Strickland was a solid player and Charlie Ward was the starting point guard for the Knicks when they reached the NBA Finals in 1999. And David Lee did lead the league in double-doubles last season.

But for every Strickland, Ward, and Lee there is a Jerrod Mustaf, a Michael Sweetney and - pardon our French - a Frederic Weis. Where Hill falls on that list remains to be seen, but it doesn't appear as if we'll be seeing much of June's No. 8 pick.

"He has a ways to go," Mike D'Antoni said following the Knicks' preseason finale on Wednesday. "He looks like a deer in the headlights."

Hill, a 6-10, 235-pound forward, figures to spend most of the season on the bench waiting for a chance. With Lee, Al Harrington, Jared Jeffries, Darko Milicic and, perhaps one day, Eddy Curry on the team, there simply aren't enough minutes for an unproven big man who still needs to improve his offensive game and increase his strength.

"It's like my freshman year at Arizona, I'm here to learn and get better," Hill said. "I'm not worried about it."

Hill entered the draft following a strong junior season for the Wildcats, when he averaged 18.3 points and 11 rebounds. Knicks president Donnie Walsh maintains that the club had Hill rated as the fifth-best player in the 2009 draft, although it is no secret that the Knicks had their hearts set on Davidson guard Stephen Curry, whom Golden State took at No. 7.

The Knicks had the option of selecting a player at a position of need - point guard - but Walsh decided to pass over Brandon Jennings, who was picked 10th by Milwaukee and has been impressive thus far. Walsh says he has no regrets about not taking Jennings and believes that Hill eventually will be a contributing player.

"He's a terrific athlete but he's got to get stronger," Walsh said. "But I'll tell you this: he shoots the ball a lot better than I thought he could."