New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh is confident that Darko Milicic can blossom when he starts playing in the Big Apple.

"He was a very skilled player when he was drafted," Walsh said, according to the New York Post.

"I think the thing that's held him back is he's been thought of as a guy that has to play with his back to the basket. And everywhere he's been, people have tried to do that."

"I don't think that will be the case here," he added. "The way [coach] Mike [D'Antoni] plays, the fact that he's a skilled, fairly athletic, long big man who can run the floor and can dribble the ball, shoot the ball, pass the ball, he might fit into this system better."

"That's what I'm hoping."

Milicic was picked second overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2003 NBA Draft behind LeBron James and ahead of Carmelo Anthony.

The Knicks traded for the Serb, sending Quentin Richardson to the Memphis Grizzlies in a draft night deal.