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NBA

Knicks president Donnie Walsh defended his decision to take Danilo Gallinari with the sixth pick in last June's draft.

Gallinari returned to Italy Wednesday to meet with specialists and is expected to have surgery to alleviate the lower back pain that has bothered him since July.

"I'm convinced that we took the right guy," Walsh said. "I'm optimistic that this can be taken care of and he can get back to 100%. And I think that's the way Danilo is thinking."

Gallinari, 20, has played in just 28 games while the player taken with the next pick, Eric Gordon, has been one of the Clippers' most durable and productive players. Nets center Brook Lopez was the 10th pick and he has started 61 of New Jersey's 68 games.

Walsh claims that Gallinari's injury is related to a bulging disk. There is a possibility that Gallinari will decide against surgery and continue to rehab. However, he has grown tired of having to receive treatment and stretch for two hours before every practice and game.

"Danilo didn't stop playing because he couldn't," Walsh said. "He really wants to see if he had surgery can that put him at 100% or should he continue the way he is. There is also a time factor."

Should Gallinari opt for surgery he would require two months of rehabilitation before he can begin basketball workouts. Conceivably, he could be ready for the Vegas Summer League in July, but the Knicks would probably hold him out until training camp in October.

"I think the rehab will probably be two months; that would put him in position to concentrate on the court to get himself ready for an NBA season," Walsh said.