LOS ANGELES -- Though the Knicks likely will take a combo-type guard in the June 25 NBA Draft, Knicks team president Donnie Walsh will eye a center with his $5 million mid-level exception during free agency, and Orlando's 7-foot backup Marcin Gortat is very high on his list, The Post has learned.
The Knicks had no interior defensive presence, and that's Gortat's strength. He also blocks shots and rebounds. (The Knicks were last in blocked shots the past two years).
The Polish big man originally was drafted by coach Mike D'Antoni's Suns in the second round of 2005, but they traded his rights. Gortat probably will not be re-signed because he plays a smallish role as Dwight Howard's backup and the Magic can't pay him accordingly.
Gortat said the Knicks could be an ideal spot. Gortat (four points, three rebounds) played 15 minutes last night as Magic coach Stan
Van Gundy often used a twin-tower alignment to combat the Lakers' size.
"I love New York, I can tell you that," Gortat said. "It was the first city I landed when I landed in the states five years ago. I love Coach D'Antoni and I know [Danilo] Gallinari from Europe."
watchin him in Game 1, I thought to myself he's a guy we should target.
he gives us what we need, and he gets up and down the floor well. He's not providing any offense but who cares. There's a risk with a MLE on a back upcenter who becomes a Fa (jerome james among many others) but I think Gortat is pretty good.
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Could care less about Lee...moving him with Curry/Jared means that we'll get Amare or Bosh to go with LeBron. I think I can live with that.
