Frye Needs Some Work

[Mr. J]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy likes to say that if a rookie first-rounder can't excel in the summer league, it's an alarming sign.

The Knicks hope Van Gundy is wrong.

Channing Frye, the 6-11 center selected ninth in last June's draft, did not take Las Vegas or Minneapolis by storm in July. Frye showed promise with free-throw shooting (89.4 percent) and getting his shot off from the low block.

But in 10 games, Frye showed up small on the boards and was plagued by fouls in virtually every contest. With Larry Brown's first practice six days away in Charleston, S.C., Frye is unsure he'll merit a permanent spot in Brown's rotation, even though the club is desperate for a shot-blocking force.

"It didn't help me confidence-wise, but it showed me what I needed to work on," Frye said yesterday during a charity appearance at the Ronald McDonald House in Manhattan. "The biggest thing was getting used to rules of the NBA."

Frye averaged 13.4 points and 5.1 rebounds, but that's because players can't foul out in the summer league. Frye averaged 5.2 fouls per game. He admitted his rebounding was subpar, but believes he played good team defense.

After summer league, he spent a month working out in Chicago with Michael Jordan's trainer, Tim Grover, playing pickup games against NBA stars Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion and Larry Hughes.</div>
New York Post
We all knew what we were getting when we drafted Frye. We knew he didn't have superstar potential, but what I do appreciate about him is his work ethic. With Frye, we know we're going to get 100% effort for him and quite frankly, I would prefer him over any player with more potential who didn't give me their full effort. It'll be interesting to see how he performs in the preseason.

 

[bbwAce]

I wouldnt base anything on a summer league performance...its a player's first small dose of NBA comp...he learns from his experience in the league and then, if hes dedicated and driven, he'll work hard those first 3 months prior to the opening night of the season...I believe training camp and preseason are a more accurate evaluation of a rookie's game and character...

 

[Really Lost One]

^ like houston said, dont judge him yet. this is just summer league. i would give him until preseason to see what he does. meanwhile, in training camp, i hope he really hits the weights and gets stronger. im a big fan of this kid.

 

[Shapecity]

I know Larry Brown was not the coach at the time, but do you think the Knicks would have went another direction in the draft or did Larry Brown endorse the Knicks drafting Frye?

If Larry Brown endorsed this pick, then I think Frye will turnout to be a solid player. If not, I don't think he makes it out of LB's doghouse and he will try to get him traded. He's just not the rebounder LB covets from his frontline. Larry Brown won't put up with Frye getting out muscled for rebounds and picking up cheap fouls. He's never been big on giving rookies a lot of minutes unless they played exceptionally well on defense during their opportunites. Typically he has a quick leash and once a player gets in his doghouse it's tough to earn consistent minutes.

 

[Heat4Life]

Channing Frye will excel under Larry Brown like Darko Milicic did.

 

[Equint77]

if Aguirre's worked with Frye during the summer.... that itself should be an improvement over SL... and besides I read Bogut struggled too in Vegas... so what's the big deal.

People are already writing him off because he struggled a bit. And that's the risk with lotto picks... some are great from the start... some take time to find their niche and some are just busts...

I don't think Channing is a bust.. he's got skills and just needs to refine them for the NBA game.

 

[Mr. J]

At leasts he's doing his part in the community...
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NEW YORK, September 27, 2005 -- With a little help from his big friend -- Knicks rookie center Channing Frye -- tiny Jondre Besser, cute as only a three year-old can be, is dunking the ball through the basket with a happy squeal. Once. Twice. Six times. Now back on the ground and encouraged to shoot, Jondre shyly backs into the 6-11 Frye for another lift, raising his tiny arms northward in an offer no one on earth could refuse. Another delicious dunk-adoo. Amidst all the laughter, smiles, and applauding ?yeeahh-s!?, there?s a tacit tear in everyone?s eyes, Channing being no exception. [IMGr]http://www.nba.com/media/knicks/frye_050927_dunk.jpg[/IMGr]

Laughter and tears often mix at Ronald McDonald House, an 84-room Upper East Side facility for pediatric cancer patients where their families can live with the ill children near the best hospitals and amidst beauty and serenity at an astonishingly low cost. ?Twenty years ago childhood leukemia patients passed away at a 80 per cent rate,? House President William Sullivan says. ?Now the rate is 20 per cent. And patients, doctors, and parents tell us, in many ways ?the House is part of the cure.??

The House is also where Channing Frye wants to be. ?I love kids,? he says, shaking his head in open awe of what the House has managed to accomplish. ?They are the most open, honest, unaffected people on earth, just a joy to be around. If Ronald McDonald House can do something to make these children?s lives somewhat normal that?s a tremendous blessing. And I am thrilled to help.? Frye, who appeared with Nets forward Richard Jefferson -- a college teammate and close friend at the University of Arizona -- was visibly enjoying himself palling around with the excited kids. ?RJ is like on older brother to me,? smiled Channing. ?I have a younger brother at home, 15 years old and already 6-1. But no, he?s not a ballplayer. He wants to be a LAWYER.?

Frye, quite the wide-eyed rookie still, is in good-natured awe of this unfathomable fact -- as well as many other things such as the House, the kids? unbreakable spirit, the Big Apple. ?I still can?t believe New York picked me,? he shakes his head. ?This is the Mecca, man. This is where I always wanted to be. This is what I was hoping for. This is what EVERYONE is hoping for. At rookie orientation, the guys are still teasing me for my good fortune.? </div>
Knicks.com

 

[Skiptomylue11]

It sounds like Frye is a guy who will work hard and in 4-5 years will be a top 10 center through working to get to that point. I just don't think that in the Larry Brown era, that he will be used often enough and would be better off being used as a trade comodity.

I'm not saying Frye won't be good, I just think having Larry Brown on board, they should build at team to excel every year for the next 5 years.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Heat4Life:</div><div class="quote_post">Channing Frye will excel under Larry Brown like Darko Milicic did.</div>
lmao

 

[Buckets]

I like Frye a lot I was hoping he would slip lower so I could see him go to another team where he'd be starting but it didnt happen. I think Frye is capable of being a 10/10 player every night 3-4 years into his career and thats pretty solid for a big man, and throw in good defense, and a block here an there and I'm happy. I just hope that Larry doesnt give Channing, Darko treatment.

 

[Bleed Green]

I dont think LB will give Frye Darko treatment simply because the Pistons didnt need Darko. Elden, Big Ben, Rasheed, etc got the job done. The Knicks in the other hand need their rookies to win. Frye is in a huge role for the knicks unlike Darko who was just added to a championship calibur team.

 

[Buckets]

Really playing behind Jerome James, Maurice Taylor, Michael Sweetney and Malik Rose is a huge role. The Knicks have many big men on there roster and Larry Brown isnt known to play rookies if im not mistaken.

 

[Bleed Green]

He's only playing behind Jerome James buckets. Sweets, taylor, and rose are battling for PF time. Prince was playing his second year alot under LB. He averaged 10 a game.

 

[Mr. J]

Larry Brown plays whomever he thinks can contribute. In Detroit, he didn?t play Darko because he was a raw 18 and 19-year-old who was year?s away from making an impact on any NBA team. Frye is a 4-year college senior and is ready to contribute immediately. Like Larry Brown said: ?the players will decide their own playing time by how they perform. ?What makes me feel good about our young guys though is that they are not 18 or 19-year olds picked for their potential. Like Tayshaun Prince at Detroit, these guys played in college and played for great coaches such as Lute Olson -- his players are always ready -- Billy Donovan, and Lorenzo Romar. So they are more NBA ready than your average rookie. If they end up playing a lot, I wouldn?t be surprised. ?

 

[Skiptomylue11]

I can see Nate playing a decent amount under LB. While Frye I see getting minutes, but only because LB has no other options behind Jerome James. If NY acquires another center with any experience, Frye will probably only get scraps IMO.