Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Nichols drafted by Portland, traded to Knicks
By John Clayton and Matt Gelb
Posted: 6/29/07, 3:05 AM EST Section: Sports
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But after a long wait to hear his name finally drafted at 11:45 p.m. Thursday night and then an early-morning trade, Nichols is a New York Knick.
After selecting the former Syracuse forward with the 53rd overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, the Portland Trailblazers traded Nichols' rights to the Knicks for a 2008 second-round draft pick.
"Nichols actually just impressed us all season long with the way he shoots the basketball," Knicks General Manager Isiah Thomas said in a statement released on New York's Web site. "Syracuse is a team that definitely should have been in the tournament, and when he came down to Orlando and worked out, I just was extremely impressed by his defensive abilities, and his shooting caught my eye."
Nichols was unavailable for comment immediately following the draft.
Syracuse's other two draft prospects - Darryl Watkins and Terrence Roberts - did not fair quite as well. Both went undrafted in the 60-pick draft.
Watkins' agent Reggie Brown told The Daily Orange on Thursday afternoon that the Utah Jazz had guaranteed they would select Watkins, if he were still available, with the 55th pick. However, that proved to be a broken promise when the Jazz took Providence's Herbert Hill at No. 55. Hill was later traded to Philadelphia.
Both Watkins and Roberts will look to latch onto a team through a free-agent contract or invitation to summer-league play.
That Nichols slipped into the late stages of the second round was a bit of a surprise. Most projections had Nichols as a mid- to early-second round choice after a stellar performance at the NBA's pre-draft camp in Orlando. Nichols shot 15-23 from the field over the three-day camp, including 9-13 from 3-point range.
Still, concerns lingered about Nichols defending and ball-handling. Whether for that reason or others unknown, Nichols fell to the 53rd slot and Portland, one of 11 teams Nichols worked out for prior to the draft. He also visited the Knicks.
Before the draft, Nichols said he'd love to play for the Knicks, especially given his familiarity with the venue New York plays in, Madison Square Garden.
"It felt pretty good playing in the Garden," Nichols said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jay
posted 6/29/07 @ 10:11 AM EST
Good luck Demetris! Watkins will get on with someone soon.
Joel Cohen
posted 6/29/07 @ 5:02 PM EST
Congrats to Nichols. He had some great efforts but his overrall contribution and his consistency fall way short of GMAC's. Just check the stats if your memory doesn't serve you well. (Continued…)
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