Just another programming reminder, Fixers, that you should always check out Ken Berger's NBA Insider blog for all of the NBA free agency news. That's his beat. My main responsibility is the Knicks, who will mostly be deciding whether to Du- or Don't-hon while seeking trade options.
So it was Ken who was on top of the Baron Davis-to-the-Clippers info earlier today. And do recall in May it was your beloved blog host who first reported Davis was investigating through backchannels what kind of interest he would receive on the open market. One of the teams he checked in on was the Knicks. It was made clear through intermediaries that the Knicks were not going to be giving anyone a long-term committment.
But clearly the Clippers were interested, though, curiously, they made a major play for Beno Udrih -- Beanie YOO-drough, Mikey! Beanie YOOO-drough! -- at the stroke of midnight, but Beno stayed with Sacto. So Baron goes to Hollywood.
Well, Clipperland. It's like "Wally World" compared to Disney.
Just bloggin'.
We can confirm Chris Duhon met with the Knicks today. Got a tour of the MSG Training Center and had a good visit. Is it me or is this a lot of effort for a backup point guard?
He's off to Orlando tomorrow and so forth. As we said in the previous blog, Duhon will get the mid-level from someone, but when it comes to the Knicks he'll have to take opportunity over security. He might have a shot at being a starter, but I don't see the Knicks committing to him contractually for more than two years.
Stay tuned . . .
Comments (8)
I would take duhon if we definitly could buy out stef... Im just afriad that if we get another point guard, and keep stef, nate will be the odd one out like Alan says. If Nate and Dlee go, I will not be a season ticket holder this year. I just think that if Nate average 13 ppg and 3 apg in 26 mpg the kid has to be able to get on the court. I can't take any more nights when nate get DNP, coaches decision. Not too many people have scored 45 points in a game, and if you'll recall the portland game last year Nate did. He's also shown signes of becoming more of a distributor, last year he got 10 assists in a game for the first time ever. But last year if nate entered a game, and wasn't scoring points isiah would take him out of the game quickly. If nate played say 5 minutes and got 2 assist but 0 points he would come out. If nate came in the game and scored 8 points in 5 minutes he'd stay in for the rest of the half.
What are the chances nate being the primary backup at the 2?
If Danillos considered a 3 what are we gonna do with 4 guys playing SF?
Duhon would be an excellent signing.
I also like Arroyo.
Duhon would flourish in Dantonis system.
I'm not saying he would be all star, but hed be nice 4 sho
If I was the Knicks, I would try to get Posey but I think
he looking for the full mid level.
From last blog Z-bo to Lakers for Odom makes no sense for LA who has Gasol and Bynum. Bynum has an extension coming up so that would be alot of money to invest in two PFs and a C. I think LA's biggest problem other than toughness inside, that a health Bynum will bring, is a 3 who can be a lock down defender. They should really do everything they can to sign Posey.
I could never be a GM because I don't have the patience to field a starting lineup of Duhon, Crawford, Chandler, Randolph and Curry. 3/5 of that team is the Bulls starting lineup . . .from the wrong decade. We need to start accumalating multiple picks through trades of Lee and Curry. I can't see Zach going anywhere. The Clippers just became a top 5 team in the west if they can re-sign Brand b/c they have actually done a decent job in the draft and can now add a very good veteran. PHX, Boston, SA, LA did the same thing. We stink b/c we haven't had a good draft pick in decades and IT traded away all our picks. Can't win taking other teams garbage.
I agree with you on Curry K4L. I wish we could trade that stiff away. I can't at all understand why in the world the Knicks want to keep this guy. How much more do we need to see of this big man who can't rebound or defend, and doesn't give any effort to stay in shape or improve?
I actually have no problem with Duhon because he'll be gone in a few years and allows us to get rid of Marbury although I was hoping he would have trade value because of an expiring contract(Dallas PLEASE take him), but I'm probably dreaming on that idea. I also like Randolph as a player but unfortunately he doesn't want to be here and that forces the Knicks to trade him. Other than the fact that everyone in the league knows the Knicks have to move him because he wants out, I can't see why teams wouldn't line up to at least take a chance on a guy who is a legit low post scoring threat and can actually rebound some unlike Curry.
I also really like Crawford as a player and was hoping Larry Brown could help him improve defensively but it doesn't look like thats going to matter much anymore now playing D'antoni's style. At least he has improved his game in past years, as despite some limitations he is a pretty good scorer and go to guy in the last minutes.
I can deal with duhon...
i would prefer arroyo
he is tough and won't back down and can
make the open 3 shot.
its sad the knicks have to compete for 2nd tier players
this two year commitment thing is
going to be a big turn off for any
free agents.
money talks...
players would even play for the d-league
if the money and years are right.
money and commitment are what players are looking for
all the knicks are going to get now
are left over table scraps
should have just drafted a PG
Hey Fixers,
I'm not much on made-up trade possibilities, but here's one that is absolutely irresistible for both sides:
LA Clippers get Crawford, David Lee, and Jared Jeffries
NYK gets Cuttino Mobley, Tim Thomas, the rights to Eric Gordon, and a future No. 1 (or maybe two No. 1s, depending on what you can negotiate).
I disagree with Knicks4Life when he says that the Clips are a top-5 team now with Baron. The west is too good. Mobley is washed up, and Gordon is too young to be expected to play big minutes in April and May.
To me, they look like a 48-win team that will be fighting for a playoff berth. With this deal, they add two very good rotation players, and maybe a nice role player if Jeffries finds his game out west, which is very possible (certainly more likely than Tim Thomas finding some heart.) They roll out a pretty nasty lineup of Baron, Crawford, Thornton, Brand, and Kaman, with David Lee anchoring a bench unit that still needs to be filled out. That, to me, is a possible 60-win team that could make noise late in the spring.
NYK gets rid of THREE guys whose contracts pose problems for The 2010 Plan, add an excellent prospect in Gordon, and pick up a pick (or two) to use in a package for Ricky Rubio or Brandon Jennings. And, if by giving away established players for the future, this causes NYK to have a few more ping-pong balls next June, I'm OK with that. And if this shortens the rotation so that expendable guys get more minutes to showcase themselves for the trade deadline, I'm OK with that, too.
Here's how the salaries look:
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_york.htm
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/la_clippers.htm
Knicks4Life
Did you not read that the Lakers would also be getting Ron Artest, who loves Kobe and the Lakers, and Ronaldo Balkman out of that deal.
Artest brings toughness, is a lock down defender, ca stretch the perimeter and hit the three and post up. Balkman could be groomed by the Lakers under Artest to be the heir apparent lockdown defender on the wing.
Artest is more valuable than Posey, he punked Pierce in the playoffs before.
So it is win win for all teams involved.
Note that Z-Bo is a very good rebounder, and would have Kobe and Artest, Gasol, and Jackson to keep him in line. I think he could be a solid contributor on a good team. Even Alan said as much on 1050 ESPN.
So take a look at my trade again.
It's easy to criticize when you don't read the whole trade.
@ Flybanjo
Do you really think the Clippers will give us 1 let alont 2 first rounders. I think they would prefer to keep young low price talent such as Gordon, and their future first rounders.
But please explain your reasoning again.
Lastly my trade proposal one more time- read it through carefully!
Check out this trade I ran through the RealGM Trade checker.
New York ...
Trades to LA Zach Randolph and Ronaldo Balkman
gets from LA Odom, and Mihm
NY Trades to Sacramento...
David Lee, Malik Rose, and Jared Jefferies
gets Mike Miller from Sacramento
Sacramento fowards to LA
Ron Artest
LA Fowards to Sacramento
Trevor Ariza.
I believe this trade makes sense for all involved but please smack me down if you disagree.
Here's the RealGM TradeChecker Link
http://www.realgm.com/src_tradechecker/4/
Perhaps We can try to keep Balkman as a safetynet in case Wilson Chandler isn't 100 percent.
Feedback suggestion?
Too late.
Strictly CYA material for a scribe with other priorities.
Now, about the Islanders.........