Knicks talking trade?

Newsday:

The bold move by the Knicks, however, would not be to target Thabeet or even Spanish guard Ricky Rubio. It appears more likely that Davidson’s Stephen Curry or Memphis’ Tyreke Evans are the more coveted prospects.

Daily News. Washington Post.

We want Steph

Washington: ... fans here want Ernie Grunfeld to take Davidson point guard Stephen Curry with the fifth pick on Thursday.

Wizards Insider

Michael Lee: The 6-3 junior is an awesome shooter, a prolific scorer and arguably the most NBA-ready guard ...

Stephen a Knick?

False, says Sporting News Today: Forget the notion of a New York promise -- chances are, unless the Knicks trade up, Curry will be gone by the time the Knicks pick. Curry could go fifth if the Wizards (as expected) trade their pick, or sixth to Minnesota.

Jonny Flynn

On Stephen: “[He] can just shoot so well. But you know, he’s just not ... a shooter. He can create for others; he can create for [himself] as good as anybody in the country. Just trying to defend a guy like that -- where you can’t close out on him too hard because he can go past you, but if you don’t close out he’s going to hit the shot in [your] face. It’s almost unguardable.”

After the Wizards workout

Stephen: “I’m a point guard first, but I can spread the floor without the ball. I’ve developed my game a lot. My game has evolved.”

Washington

Michael Lee:

When the Wizards met Curry in Chicago, he wowed them in the interview from what I hear. Curry is probably the most NBA ready of the three point guards at Verizon Center that are expected to go in the lottery. He seems grounded and has a great basketball IQ (At one point, Wizards Coach Flip Saunders shouted up toward Grunfeld and tapped his right temple, which I assumed was a signal that Curry was pretty smart. After all, the guy is still studying for his college degree at Davidson).

Dan Steinberg:

Curry has just one tattoo: the letters TCC and “-30-” on his wrist. TCC is a Davidson motto that stands for “Trust Commitment Care,” while 30 is Curry’s number. Of course, -30- also means the end of a newspaper story, which I guess Curry wasn’t referring to. He also said he would never become a tatted-up NBA star.

“I’d go home, my mom would slap me around,” he said. “Can’t do that.”

Northern California

Warriors:

According to one source, the Warriors have tried to get Curry to visit and told him they’d guarantee picking him 7th if he impressed them on a visit. But no visit, so far.

Kings:

Following a workout with the Washington Wizards (picking fifth) Tuesday, Curry told Washington reporters he’ll head to Sacramento this weeked to audition for the Kings (picking fourth). Steph’s dad, Dell, indicated previously that Steph would likely cut off workouts after the Washington session, in hopes he’d last to the Knicks at No. 8.

The reality is Curry’s just too valuable in this draft to last that long. He could go as high as No. 3 (Oklahoma City).

Tomorrow in Washington

Michael Lee: Of course, most people locally remember how he single handily shot down Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament in 2008.

Smart move

Bonnell:

After wowing Knicks management Wednesday, Stephen Curry isn’t planning any more pre-draft workouts beyond one previously scheduled with the Washington Wizards, his father, Dell, said at a Bobcats workout Friday.

The Sporting Blog

Dan Shanoff:

As predicted here a month ago, Stephen Curry is rising into the Top 5 -- I suspect the Wizards will draft him at No. 5, either to play him alongside Gilbert Arenas or to trade him to a team high on Curry’s shooting ability (hmm ... see below); Curry has the most NBA-ready skill-set in the draft.

Speaking of Curry, he will work out for the Knicks today. Too bad he won’t be around at No. 8, so either the Knicks are going to trade up -- perhaps eating one or more of the Wizards’ bad contracts to get to No. 5 -- or they are thinking Curry may slip? (Not going to happen.)

Chatter

DraftExpress: The talk is that the Washington Wizards’ 5th pick could very well end up being claimed by Stephen Curry (whether for them or another team trading up) ... Post.

Chad Ford

ESPN draft guru on Stephen: I think his window starts at OKC at No. 3, the Wizards take a look at him at No. 5, Wolves at 6 and Warriors at 7. The most likely scenario is that he goes 8 to the Knicks. But yes, he was impressive and I just got the combine results and he looked good. He had an impressive 35.5 inch vertical and surprisingly benched the 185 pound bar 10 times. He's stronger and more explosive than you think.

Workouts

Coming up.

Better than you think

Scott:

Curry was somewhat of a surprise as the second-place finisher, which speaks to how well he was received at the combine, where he shot the lights out, measured a little bigger than expected and looked like he fit in with the other point guards on the floor. He also was a pro in the interviews, and many of the older GMs feel the fact that he grew up around the NBA game will help him make a quick transition to the pros. Three GMs had him ranked as the top point guard in the draft, and he received seven second-place votes, too. One GM had him ranked sixth. This coincides with a number of things I heard at the camp that had the Thunder, Wizards and Warriors all looking at possibly selecting Curry before the Knicks draft at No. 8.

More here: He could easily find himself in the top five when the Draft rolls around.

In the Washington Post ...

Michael Lee:

Curry, who will always be remembered for knocking off Georgetown two seasons ago, sees himself possibly sharing the back court with Arenas in Washington. “I see myself as a true point who can score. I’ve evolved my game the last year to do that,” the 6-3 Curry said. “If they can move him to the two again. Me and him being a one-two combo would be fun.”

Washington?

Jarrett Carter:

His work ethic is legit, his media presence is refined and humorous, and he would fit in well with the Washington community. Some may call it a long shot at the fifth pick, but with Stephen Curry, you have to believe it would be a long shot with a great chance of going in.