Lee's leap

Well, I'm back from Las Vegas Summer League, and to be honest I was quite impressed with what I saw out there from the starting five New York Knicks, who potentially someday could all be on the floor at one time. The last three number one picks from last year's team, Nate Robinson, David Lee, Channing Frye, all look much more confident, especially Lee.

I think of the three players, David Lee to me, looks like he's made the biggest steps from last year to this year, and when I say that I mean this: we saw Nate Robinson and Channing Frye make those steps last year, and they looked like they were going to be very good players, but we didn't get to see a lot of significant time with David Lee. He's gotten bigger, he's gotten stronger, he's become more confident. In his first two games out in the Summer League he scored 23 points in the first game, and then 19 points against Amare Stoudamire and phoenix in the second game. And you just have a feeling that David now is starting to get it. He knows what his role is, and he brings the excitement and that energy that the Knicks and Isiah Thomas are looking for on the offensive and defensive ends.

I think Lee will have a very, very positive impact on this team and I think the Knicks will be very happy with his development from the first year to the second year.

As for the other younger players, this years' number one picks, Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins, it's going to take some time especially for Collins. But Balkman already has shown signs in his second game of that athleticism that the Knicks loved when they drafted him, especially when you see how he can block shots and run the floor. He can handle with his left hand, he can go up, he can rebound, and there's a place for him on this team. I think you're going to see him be in the Knicks' plans after Summer League.

You know Frye -- who sprained his ankle vs. Phoenix, but is okay -- is going to be an impact player, a guy the Knicks will count on heavily this year. You know little Nate will probably have his role defined by Isiah and will understand what he can and can't do. And Isiah will know he's a guard -- not a point guard, not a shooting guard, but a guard. And I guess for that, Nate Robinson will probably accept his role and give this team some quality minutes.

But right now, the starting five out in Vegas are looking good, getting better, getting more confident, and it should mean some good things for the New York Knicks this year as they get ready for training camp with the Knicks. It's more than evident that the Knicks will have a strong foundation of young players to count on.

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