The Knicks Fix

AH Hope the weeekend was good to ya-

You are ever the optimist- As the pessimist I might add that no person on Earth seems to care about spending Dolans money. I Think a Resentment must come when people meet him, realize that you can just walk( be born) into a position like his with no experience or success. So i trust Donni and D'Antoni right now but the stats are the stats. Duhon just isnt that good and everyone is reporting that he likes to stay out late nights and party. Now he's in NY. 2+2 = 4 on that one. I will believe he has something to bring, that Nate of Fred Jones couldnt, when I see it.
And we overpaid. 6 pts 4 assists commands 6 million dollars? I'm working class and I find it insulting.

Love the blog
T W

i wonder if marbury's money could be used to facilitate a three-way deal with miami and someone else. marion+blount+marcus banks = $30M. marbury+malik rose = $30M in expiring money. if a team is looking to get marion, but the heat don't want to mess up their plan for cap space in '09, the knicks might be able to get in on the action, if it gets them a young player.

i'm thinking maybe something involving golden state, who might like marion, and maybe the knicks could walk away with brandon wright and al harrington. i haven't worked out an elaborate deal, but there might be something there.

just playing a tune . . .

real gm Trade ID #4709688

this trade good for everyone chicago gets post players it needs and gets rid of a guard off its backcourt. miami gets rid of marion because they dont want to resign him and also get rid of blount. they get back two good scorers and andress nocioni good player and also some young players off bench and the knicks get good players for next season and also three expiring contracts NY also will get about 60 million off its 90 million payroll at next seasons end if trade goes through. Overall it works for all 3 teams.

Might a team with $22M of TWO-YEAR contracts being willing to send them to NY with a #1 pick, in return for Marbury? They might figure that, in a contract year, Marbury might be effective and well-behaved. And if not, they save $22M because he'll be gone in a year, as opposed to having to eat two years of their own contracts. And it works for the Knicks becuase it gets rid of Marbury, gets a #1, and doesn't impact their cap for 2010. What do you think?

let marbury's contract expire.

though Oak, it's a good idea to try to pick up a first rounder... but can't we just buy them for much cheaper than 22M$?

we should try to send Z BO to Chicago for Larry Hughes. Chi gets a post player, FINALLY, and we get a year less of salary. Hughes would be redundant... but who cares!?

Short and sweet. Eventhough, Duhon is using up the entire amount it is only for two years. In the NBA a two-year contract means low risk and it keeps us where we want to be in 2010. If he works how then we can give him a more meaningful deal in 2010 when we get out of this Isiah Cap Nighmare.

kb, you're right--we'd need to get back at least one serviceable player for those two years. Otherwise, like you say, we could buy one for $3M.

Re Randolph for Hughes: Does Hughes' pact expire by 2010?

regarding the Summer League roster. I think I've already explained that we know Gallinari and Chandler will be there;

Alan,
Mardy was "there" last year too, but didn't play!
Are you saying Chandler is healthy enough to play?

Sorry, that last post was me.

KB -- Why worry about waiting for Steph's contract expire? If Dolan's willing to spend the money to buy him out, and we could get rid of him even sooner, why not just do it?

Marbury might still be one of the most skilled players on the team, but he kills their chemistry.

I was always on his side, always gave him the benefit of the doubt. But last season was the last straw for me. I fell for it when he paraded through the Brooklyn streets on his sneaker tour, all giddy about the Zach Randolph trade. When he was talking about how he wanted to average more assists than points, how he was going to do whatever it took to get into shape and to play team ball, I fell for it. Hook, line and sinker. He had me.

Enough, already. I don't care if he's in a contract year and does altitude training the whole summer. This team desperately needs a fresh start to this season. The best way to do that is to buy out Marbury.

The one thing I don't hear often is the idea D'Antoni can use Crawford at the point. Yes, he needs his shots, but he's a good creator too. Also, I don't think there's a lot of PG's with the size or skill to defend him one-on-one. How about a lineup that looks like this:

PG: Crawford
SG: Richardson
SF: Chandler
PF: Z-Bo (But I hope they trade him, then insert D. Lee into this spot with Gallinari off the bench for 10 mins a night)
C: The Big Slow, aka Eddy Curry

Thoughts?

Also, quick thought, how many of you think Jerome James should reach a retirement settlement so the Knicks can get the rest of his salary off their books? I mean the guy basically made millions of dollars to sit on the bench

Mike B--I want Marbury gone as much as anyone does, but you can't buy him out until you first see if you can get something in return. And if getting rid of $44M of obligations (aggregated 2-yr deals) in return for $22M of obligations (the 1 year left on Marbury's deal) would convince a team to offer a bit of talent or a #1, that's a good outcome. And we still have about 3 months before training camp starts, so there's no rush to buy him out now.

i agree buying him out might be the best...

i just wanted to advocate not trading him for the sake of trading him, ya know?

also if we can get rid of jerome james, sure thing do it. I can't imagine him voluntarily retiring though.

and ZBO for Hughes works, and Hughes expires in 2010. It actually would make sense for both teams, is CHI was willing to deal with ZBO...

Re-hatching an old comdey bit from this blog - Did anyone check in on the Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest?

Did Jerome James make an appearance? That seriously would have been the best PR he could ever hope to get with Knick fans...

No way Steph sees one game this season. Bowling has already given Wishy Walshy the okay to send him to exile. So...don't worry about him killing team chemistry. I believe in Marbury and still think he can get it done on the court but at this point the culture HAS to change. If you don't remove him...then you don't change the culture. I'm actually hoping they bring Allan Houston back. Great for chemistry, great leader, great presence for the young guys. He'd be perfect for D'tony's system. Nicks have no one who can get to the foul line and make a foul shot let along a jumper. Anyone feeling me???

Is is possible to send Marbury to the Developmental League to work out his contract?

Just asking.

I love the Trade Machine, but can we please slow down with all the proposals and the LOOONG explanations that accompany them. It seems like ever since the trade deadline was coming up in February, we've been close to running that machine into the ground...Again, I'm all for the Trade Machine but lets please slow down with it, at least a little. Are we even in trade talks with anybody?... I really don't think so.

@ lonster from Kansas
I agree with u alan would be great for the team cuz now u can use jamal at pg and have a great shooter at sg or off the bench I mean last yr when he was trying to come back didnt he make like 90 out 100 shots I mean the guy can shoot lights out and he comes cheap what else do u want

@ lonster from Kansas
I agree with u alan would be great for the team cuz now u can use jamal at pg and have a great shooter at sg or off the bench I mean last yr when he was trying to come back didnt he make like 90 out 100 shots I mean the guy can shoot lights out and he comes cheap what else do u want

LMAO...comic relief
http://realgm.com/src_feature/1257/20080606/bowen_sues_hanna_barbara_over_huckleberry_hound_character/

http://members.aol.com/PaulEC2/huck.html

Keep in mind that Reggie Miller has already gone to court over the Skeletor character depicted in the “He-Man Masters of the Universe” cartoons of the 80s. LOL

Alan,
zach randolph to the cavs for wally szerbiak makes all the sense in the world.

Knicks get the expiring contract, the cavs get a scoring power forward.

Zach randolph for larry hughes also makes sense, d'iantoni system would be good for larry, he can play small forward or shooting guard & he has one less year on his deal that randolph.

the bulls have a huge hole at power forward, drew gooden is a total stiff. clear salary cap space & add draft picks.

Alan,
Addition by subtraction (Marbury out), my exact sentiment. Enough of this Turdbury's brain cell and mood swing malfunction.

BTW, I'll be in Vegas during the Summer League and Team USA practice sessions and exhibition game vs. Canada.
Hope to catch some games.
Alan, will you be there?

lmao.
marbury had is best season as a sun
they made it to the playoffs when amare was a rookie
he had is best career stats with the nets

as far as duhon i see a 12man in him
but hey u can believe whateva u want i guess they saw nash in duhon.

lmao

knicks might win 23 games next season
dantoni gets fired an taken to court

lmao..

stay tuned for more KnowLedge

Wally Z? I guess we really do want a team of 8 SFs. Larry Hughes is another wing player but at least he is a SG. For everybody who wants to start D. Lee, who is going to block shots with the Knicks starting lineup. Neither D. Lee or Curry are known for their defense and everyone just drives at will on us game after game. If we are trading Randolph or Curry we have to get a shotblocker back.

Thanks KnowLedge, I learned more than I did in all my years in college and grad school from that post . . .

Yeah Knowledge and the Nets went16-34 in 1999
31-51 in 2000
26-56 in 2001

And the next year when they traded Steph 52-30 so his stats didnt mean much... Lets not forget that we have not had a winning season since he has been here... 20points 8as no wins...
I cant stick up for Marbury anymore I dont care is he players better when he leaves here, actually I hope he does... But history doesnt show that the team that gets him will win much...

Excuse my typing on that last one, I meant to say "I dont care if he plays better"... But I'm sure most of you understand where Im coming from... Marbury has been and always will be a cancer, last year wasnt some isolated incident... And people can blame Crawford, Curry, Van Horn, Zach, Isiah, Larry Brown, Calipari and whomever else as much as they want for his short comings... But Steph was supposed to be a star, he was supposed to be on the level of Allen Iverson, Nash, Chris Paul, but he wasnt... For all his individual talents, His career overall has been a circus...

I do think this was a wrong move, and that what the Knicks needed was a slasher/shooter to play the 2, or 3(if you moved Q to the 2) so that Jamal and Nate would run the show. Seriously, if the goal is to get off shots in less than 7 secounds, why start the ball in Duhon's hands. Jamal and Nate lerned enough last year to do a good job, and with another scorer at the 2 or 3, as a bail out guy, I think D'Antoni's offense would put up thos big numbers. I hope Duhon fails to win the starting 1 spot, and that D'Antoni doesn't give into the media pressure to play him big minutes when he doesn't deserve them. I wanted the Knicks to get Gerald Green, or Dahntay Jones, or make a MLE offer to JR Smith, even if it was for 5 years. (By the way, what is that kid worth if Duhon Gets close to 12 million for 2 years.) And Why aren't the Knicks and Bulls talking sign and Trade with Zach Randolph and Ben Gordon. BG would be a perfect 2 to play with Jamal at the 1. I think what this signing showed is that Donnie is truely going to trash the next two years, and if he does, LBJ will never come to the Garden.

Paul - I'm not totally sold on the Duhon signing, but I think the purpose was to acquire a point guard to make Marbury expendable. Which means D'Antoni (or Walsh or whoever) has doubts about Nate or Crawford's ability to run the show. I don't know if the Knicks will run the seven seconds or less attack that Phoenix did, but that offense was more than just jacking quick shots. It relied on guys getting open through transition and movement, with Nash getting the ball to the right people at the right time. So far, I haven't seen anything in Nate or Crawford that makes me think they could efficiently run that sort of attack. Then again, neither has Duhon.

Probably, D'Antoni wants a guy who doesn't think shoot first at the point, so the ball is more likely to bmove around. In an uptempo offense, too much opportunity for Crawford to quick shoot his way into too many of his patented 4-18 nights.

All this depends on the Knick's ability to play up-tempo without reliable spot-up shooters and bigs who finish in transition.

Hip hop is dead. It is the new pop music. Kanye West was laughed off the stage at Bonnaroo. He was also the only band singing to a tape.

Sorry Hahn

If your too lazy to write your trade proposal then please don't bother with the lengthy paragraph describing it. No One will visit your real Gm site.

I guess D'antoni must thing Nate is a valid backup or Marbury wouldn't be expendable.

Walsh was constrained by the free agent point guard market and only wanting to offer 2 years.

The bad news is he overpaid for Duhon, the good news is, it is only a 2 year deal, and Duhon knows that at this point in his career, this will likely be his last chance, on a big stage to prove he can be an NBA starter and get even bigger money in his next contract.

Unfortunately, neither Nate or Jamal are point guards, and never will be. And unless something has changed, Mardy Collins doesn't belong in the NBA. So that still leaves the Knicks short staffed at point guard if they waive/buy-out Marbury.

The Knicks aren't going to magically get 'better' without Marbury, just like they didn't get better after he went down last year. Curry and Randolph are much bigger chemistry problems for this team to resolve, and the two atrocious James contracts make Duhon's look like a bargain. At least Marbury loves the game and has always wanted to play, the same can't be said for lazy Eddy.

remember guys there is one bullet left in Walsh's gun: Malik Rose's expiring contract. This year is his last year, and he could have value elsewhere for draft picks, trade exemption's etc..

One other thing about the Knick's relatively cautious approach to this off-season - it is likely that there will be some sort of evaluation process of the current team to determine who, if anyone, has value looking forwards. Over the last season, there were a ton of postings here criticizing the complete lack of structure, philosophy, system and accountability on the management and coaching level. Lots of us speculated what "player x" might accomplish with a real coach or GM. The point is, the true value of a number of Knicks is uncertain and Walsh/D'Antoni probably want to see what they actually have before making wholesale changes.

Having said that, whatever the evaluation process is, a decision will have to be reached on the Curry/Zach combo, with an eye to parting ways with one of the c-cup twins asap.

Had to shine this on to you guys, Big Snacks has a global following:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94827

@ Willis - I read a story on another blog and shared it here a while ago...I will have to do my best to share w/ some of the new Fixers.

It was an exchange b/n 2 friends @ a game, that went like this:

Me: You know, I can't believe Jerome James gets paid to sit on the bench and be such a load.

Friend: He basically gets paid to sit there and get fatter...

Me: I think I just saw him order a hot dog and popcorn.

Friend: Well, he is the last man on the bench - he could probably get away w/ it. Ya know, you say you're such a huge Knick fan...so what is his jersey #?

Me: You mean he actually has a #? I just thought it was a huge picture of a hamburger!

Duhon's a placeholder. He's shown a little promise at the point--but he's never carried the load for an extended time in the NBA, so we can't know yet what he'll do. Someone compared him to Charlie Ward, and while I think that's a little unfair to Chris, it's not a bad comparison. He'll be asked to play some defense and initiate the offense, not set the league on fire. For a modest risk--only two years of the exception (not six, like Jeffries and James)--New York just may have itself a game manager.

I can't see Walsh and D'A keeping both Eddy and Z around. Eddy's uninsured contract is untradeable, so the question is how to package Z. D'A's system can work with one slow big--a 4-man break is feasible--but not two. You need at least one big man trailing the play and filling the lane if the wings are covered. I do like the Larry Hughes idea. It makes the Knicks smaller but more athletic and dangerous from the perimeter, as well as getting his salary off the '10-'11 cap.

Question is, what will come of Lee, if he's not the shotblocker or shooter they want...

I cannot stand the sight of Stephon Marbury. He makes me sick. He is so annoying. And I bet the players feel the same way. I hope they completely ignore him and make him feel unwanted.

And Marc Berman is a disgrace. No wonder why he gets along with Methbury. I'm glad the rest of the media trashes him.

Chris will make a big impact in NY!!!! As I recall a 4 to 1 turn over ratio to Jamal's 2 to 1 and Nate's 1 to 1 ratio, come on people (that think Nate and Jamal could be a starting backcourt) let's be real they're guards that takes the ball out of everyone else hands, turn the ball over and can't run a high school offense. The League need more point guards like DUHON pass first, a floor leader, defense and good chemistry in the locker room, lets get back to the guy's that do what it takes to win and play their roll. ISN'T THIS WHAT A TEAM LIKE THE KNICKS NEED!!!!!!?

You can't score if you have guy's like Gordan, Hinrich and Deng taking 90 percent of the shots in a no pass or 1 pass and shoot offense but let's face it Duhon plays good defense, does what it takes to win, won't turn over the rock, rebounds from the guard spot very well and will hit open shots. And when Gordan & Hinrich was out of the line up the offense flowed better and look at the kid numbers. He'll produce when he gets minutes just ask Golden State(34pts 9ast) and Milwaukee(22pts 15ast)