The Knicks Fix

PE Jr. cut?
This does not make any sense at all.

We need height with Big Snacks and Big Butt Curry useless.
At 6-9, Jr. can help.

Plus we need some floor burns.

Roberson?

I've sided with Walsh alot this offseason, but here there's no budging me.

This was a stupid, stubborn move.

I'm really dissappointed.

Awful move by Donnie Walsh. You do not cut a hardworking player with character and pontential like Patrick Ewing Jr. in favor of the biggest theif in the NBA in Jerome James. This is bad karma. F minus for Walsh!!!

What a f#cked up move by Donnie...didn't he hear how the garden was rocking, chanting Ewing's name - I say the knicks get booed on opening night because of this move...

You got to be f#ckin' kiddin me....The knicks paid millions to get rid of:
1. Shandon Anderson
2. Penny
3. Mo Taylor
4. Jalen Rose
5. LB
6. Anucha Brown
7. Isiah

And you're f#ckin' tellin me that they didn't want to cut the fat f#ck Jerome James....and even roberson - cmon' man - this dude won't even get off the pine... and about his shot being smooth like eddie house - yea right....in every game i've seen him - it's never fallin....

You f#cked up on this one Donnie....

Bad PR for the Knicks, and a questionable move. Is Roberson that good? If I were Jr. I would say thanks but no thanks to Knicks D league and look elsewhere. Not worth it.

Not bringing Ewing Sr. back in any role, now this. I was mad at Ewing for forcing the trade that put us on the road to cap hell, understood why they didn't bring him back at first, but it seems now like the Knicks are just being vindictive.

Maybe I'm being sentimental but as fans we have absolutely nothing from our recent past to celebrate. Keeping Jr. would have celebrated the past while looking towards the future. Was Roberson really that much better of a prospect than Jr.?

Donnie Walsh is a moron. This move makes no sense at all. Like Matt B said, "It's a stupid, stubborn move". Jerome James has no use at all other than Comic Relief.

This team needs to be building for the future, not worrying about mistakes that should be put in the past.

So we have to watch Snax and Curry on the bench all season long, huh???

To cut PE Jr., when he brings so much energy to the table (which is precisely what this team needs, BTW) seems almost criminal

I'm havng Demetrius Nichols flashbacks.......last year's victim of "Garden Politics"

I am pretty disappointed in this decision. I have not seen anything from Roberson since SL that makes me think he can be a meaningful addition to this team. As long as MikeD is committed to an 8 or 9 man rotation, then you might as well give the fans what they want, I mean, you want NYers to pay top dollar to see the Knicks play, why not give them a player they want to cheer for? If only to remember when times were a little bit better?

It isn't fair that Roberson's tenure in NY will be tainted by the simple fact that he is not PEJ.

Let the doubting game begin.

Just another typical poor decision by one of the most woeful franchises in sports. James is a waste of space. Roberson will never play. And neither have any upside. Cutting James makes the most sense but would cost $12m. However, cutting Roberson would just cost the team $500K or so. And they make more than that each night by ripping off the fans for $10 cotton candy, $8 sodas, and $7 hot dogs.

What were they thinking, seriously?

I have been a Walsh fan since he came here, and was in favor of everything he's done so far. But what was the point to this move? Every fan that I know, plus the guys commenting here have wanted Peej to make the team. He's explosive, energetic, and a crowd pleaser. Instead of having that, we get to see a PG that will see 0 minutes until April, and a fat schlub getting splinters in his oversized butt all year. I just don't get this. In 2 years this kid could've been in the 8-9 man rotation, and the fans would've loved it. The Garden crowds have watched this kid grow up, from being the son of a legend, to his days at Georgetown in the Big East tourney. I just don't get it. PR nightmare, personnel disaster. What more can I say?

The Roberson vs. PJ choice is a bogus one. The Knicks could have kept both if it weren't for Walsh's dogmatic insistence on never buying anyone out. Look, the Blazers bought out Francis after the Zach trade and they have the best upside in the league. I have no problem with general principles, but sticking to them over keeping an interesting prospect is inane. If PJ didn't project well, fine, but I can't see the logic keeping useless fat guys around on principle rather than adding a developmental project or two for the future on a capped out squad. Nice message.

This sends a horrible message to Knick players and to Knick fans: Be fat, lazy and uncooperative so long as you're under contract! I have defended Walsh and D'Antoni, but this is pitiful!

The only possible defense of Walsh I can imagine is that Dolan is suddenly cost conscious. But if that's the case, Walsh is not in charge!

I'll respond again after I've had time to process this, but right now I'm angry and feel that Knick fans have been slapped in the face again! I too have defended Donnie Walsh consistently, but I think we need a better explanation than "we need shooters."

Reality check time.

NBA basketball is a business. Big Snax and Roberson are owed more money and management thinks they are obligated to earn it. Your boss would fire you if you pissed big money down the drain by cutting them. Walsh does not want to look like a whimsical idiot, like wut's his name who preceeded him.

Ewing Jr. is no Ewing Sr. I watched Jr. last year and he was not even a star as a senior. He's a nice kid without proven pro talent. His 9 minutes of fame in the 4th quarter of one preseason game with a few stuffs does not make him a talent worthy of a regular NBA rotation, and you know it. He's not even tall enough to be a legit power forward. At the most he might have gotten into less than 20 games if he stuck. You guys are thinking with your hearts, not your heads here....but as a Knick Nut I do that a lot too.

Let Jr. play and develop elsewhere and see if he can fit in some day as the 10th man on an NBA roster. Right now, he can't shoot, is no regular and no one thinks he will be key player unless he develops, i.e., improves a lot.

Here's hoping that Big Snax is sent to the moon for something worth more than Jr's little contact.

Best wishes, Jr., you got the spirit, are a good man and can try again.

DTR

Anthony Roberson - When you're booed during player introductions on Wednesday, it's nothing personal.

So first Knicks management disrespect their greatest player ever by not reaching out to him once to be a part of the team in some capacity. Then they give his son a chance to try out for the team - where he just like his dad shows promise, determination and a winning attitude - only to cut him.

The PR goodwill alone was worth Big Snacks contract buy-out. I had great respect for Walsh, but this does not make any sense at all... also, with the Knicks being one of the worst team in the league for years and years, it's amazing how hard it is to make the 15 man roster... I guess listening to the fans is not a strong suit for current management either.

Walsh didn't want to do it. He looked for a two for one and couldn't find one.

Move on. Ewing was never going to see one minute of play. he's better off going somewhere where he can refine his game. He'll be back within a year.

Regarding Walsh's side, has Roberson been tearing it up in the preseason? He was shooting 20% from the field and 25% from 3pt range! If he had raised some eyebrows with his play, Walsh could argue that he took the best player and while we would have preferred Jr. make the cut, most of us I believe would have understood it. I know I would have.

Terrible move Donny !!!! I know that he wouldn't have seen any time this season and maybe not even next but who would the fan's rather see at the end of the bench ??? Fat Azz Jerome James being a reminder of the worst signing of all time (Fred Weiss close second) or PE Jr. who is all heart and hustle ? I think Mike is trying to establish a work ethic w/ this team. Why would he keep the guy w/ the worst work ethic on the team ? Wouldn't you want to distance yourself from guys like that so it doesn't pervade the locker room ??? I just don't get this move at all.

Being realistic, Patrick Ewing Jr. never would have seen the floor. Would you have wanted him taking minutes away from Wilson Chandler?

If Roberson can shoot the ball, he'll find playing time.

Walsh's mistake was aquiring Ewing when he already had too many contracts.

Ewing Jr. is NOT an NBA rotation player...not even close...he's Balkman lite.

This decision means NOTHING to the reality of the Knicks situation this year or in the coming years, you may as well be arguing over which deck chair to cling to as the Titantic sinks around you. There are countless players in the D league or CBA with better skills/size than Ewing Jr. If this kids name was anything but Ewing...no one here would care.

This is a business...over paying lousy players...and then paying them to leave, so you can go trade for other overpaid players, or keep other medicore walk-on players, is NOT going to get you out of the deep hole the Knicks are in for following that strategy for the last several years.

Reality check...the Knicks suck...they are a collection of overpaid, underachieving players...Walsh is REBUILDING...it will take YEARS to fix this mess...chill

Jerome James and Eddy Curry should be forced to run non-stop sprints in every practice till they puke. If they refuse, or feign injury, suspend and fine them.

seriously ny fans can be idiots. im a knick fan myself so im saying this. who really cares if ewing got cut. its not like the knicks would make the playoffs or something with him. you stupid fans need to take things easier you f#cking drama queens. WE ARE IN REBUILDING MODE!!!!!!! THINGS DONT CHANGE OVER NIGHT!!!! i liked jr. too. he is a much better player than james but who cares!!!! maybe walsh can trade james later, who knows wut is gonna happen. why dont u stupid idiotic f#ck headed fans just sit back and watch wut happens.

In response to those who are belittling our disappointment, this is not just about sentiment for Ewing, it's about a continuation of players who have been a disgrace to the organization. I said in a post on the previous blog (16th man intrigue) that we wouldn't regret cutting JJ even if Ewing and Roberson did not work out.

I know this is a bad team and I have been one calling for patience, but this is disappointing. Those of you who are telling us to "chill" or "get real" are missing the point.

By the way, booing Roberson is not the answer. He didn't make the decision and he should have our support.

@ny fans are morons: Congratulations on posting your thoughts in a moronic way!

what a horrible move... i'm pretty ticked off about it, especially with all the hyping (by Alan) of the certainty of Jr staying on the team past the cuts... Completely negates the Freddy Weis coup... Maybe they're hoping they can keep James on the roster so they can prove to him that he's unfit to play, and convince him to retire??? Maybe just too obsessed with not buying players out under any circumstance??? They can't possibly think James will help them in any on-the-court sorta way, can they???

Isiah se%ually harrassed Anthony Roberson, that is the only possible explanation here.

here we go guys

first of all rite
donnie gave duhon 12 mill
second he gave roberson guaranteed money

this is what donnie said/at some point they gonna need shooters
defensive wins
u can shoot your way back to a comeback but your gonna win with defensive stops
i like balkman alot an when ewing jr came i was happy cuz they both hustlers

donnie didn't wonna eat roberson 800000.......

but i think they might bring him back if someone else doesn't pick him up
we need height but we just cut a 6'9 hustler player that play D an doesn't care for the O

well itz bizzness......

stay tuned for more KnowLedge

This move has to be in anticipation of a trade, probably involving Jamal and/or Marbury.
As much as I can't stand James, he is big, has a big contract, and if Curry keeps screwing around, we may need him more than we think.
Unfortunately, Jr. has the least to offer right now.
Roberson may get to play if we trade a guard or two. Jr. was never going to play.

donnie walsh = idiot

ny fans r morons = double idiot .
we ny'ers speak our mind n want players here who play w/ heart, fire, passion, desire. charles oakley is my fav knick of all time. there is NOT a player CLOSE to oakley's drive on this team. that is what NYC basketball is all about and that is what this team needs...even if pat ew jr brings just a little bit of it to energize the building, crowd and team. that type of thing can spark a run dummy. if u don't like it or don't like wat tha rest of us REAL ny'ers like and feel you can go eat a d*ck !! u phony!!

@pverne:

your "point" is stupid cuz you like everyone else has ZERO ability to change anything so stop your whining and wait and see wut happens.

also i learned to post my thoughts from your mom

@Tha Prowler:

everybody doesnt want to do wut u do in ur personal time

I see Donnie's basketball reasons for the decision. That said, sometimes decisions need to be made for other reasons, and this was one of those times. By cutting Jerome and eating his contract, keeping Ewing, you make two moves that ratchet up PR for the franchise and make fans happy.

By doing exactly the opposite of that, all he did was keep a guy we're all disgusted with that has limited talent, and let go of a guy that was a feel good story with some upside for the Knicks franchise.

Again, he made a decision based on basketball need, when he should have swallowed his pride, paid the money to James, cut him, and kept Ewing on. If neither James or Ewing was going to get any time, then other than the money, what was the difference?

I agree that Roberson is useful in this system and I agree with keeping him. But the choice shouldn't have involved him. It should have involved paying out to dump JJ, and keeping Ewing, and making the buzz positive around the Knicks.

All he did was piss off the fanbase and give us more to complain about.

I GET IT basketball-wise, but Roberson should have remained regardless. He should have swallowed his pride and canned JJ. One more payout to get rid of a bad contract wasn't going to hurt, particularly with a player that will not get any playing time on the team.

Good luck to Ewing, and hopefully he goes on to a productive pro career.

It's always painful because you have to let somebody go that's worked hard

Jerome James has worked hard?? At what besides lining up a the buffet table?

Just outrageous

i was born in new york and lived there about 20 years. now i live in LA. i gotta say the knicks suck as bad as the city. its not the city's fault, its just the people that live in it. you are the rudest, most arrogant people in the country. i find it hilarious how u new yorkers always think all star players wanna play for new york. your all a bunch of losers just like your loser knicks.

Prowler - clean up your act. It's embarrassing reading your immature crap. You, JJ, and Curry all need to grow up, and we'd all be better off. Let's just have fun and bs about the Knicks like everybody else.

STUPID!!!

Keep Jerome "Worst Ever As a Knick or WEAK" that slob has been an insult to this team from day 1.

We want PEJr. We want youth, energy and Charachter.

This team is gonna Suck all year.

Can we get a little RESPECT???

D#ckHead Dolan doesnt pay the bills

THE FANS DO!!!

Screw you Donny Walsh!!!

I had faith in Donnie Walsh but this one blows.
This move simply does not make any sense at all.
This is a move that Idiot Thomas would make, not Walsh.

OK, let's put things in perspective.
It's year one of D. Walsh's regime. The 1st real game that counts in the Win/Loss column hasn't even been played yet. Let's see where we are mid and at the end of the season.

It's not looking good though. Year 1 may be a rough year.

Note:
Isiah Thomas is garbage and he is history in the gutter.
Why even talk about him?

Did Walsh really say he wants to "see what James can do"? This guy is senile.

You can't fault Walsh.

James is a fact, a big fat one, but a fact none the less. There is no more wi$hing problems away at MSG.

Ewing does not have a position yet in the league. He was a training camp invite like all the other playres that have to find their game. The Knicks have taken a look at his character and work ethic, treated him like a man, like everybody else, and said, we can't use you right now. Would Ewing really want to be some goddamn pet they trot out like the glee club up in the stands? This is about real business, real ball, real respect. If Junior is half the man his dad was, he wouldn't want anything other than what he earned. I suspect he's ready to sweat for everything he gets, and he'll come back better and stronger. This is a good move.

Roberson has an NBA skill, and is therefore viable. Walsh will not forget Ewing, when the team is in a position to use a guy like that, he will be found again.

BOOOOOOO!

No words can explain what I'm feeling so I won't even say anything right now.

Hope you know what your doing Donnie.

I'm tired of the excuse that gets trotted out in defense of not buying out the deadwood that this is a "business," as if buyouts to clear up roster messes are somehow foreign to the NBA. To cite one example - the Blazers took on Francis' contract to get rid of Zach, decided that they didn't want him around a rebuilding franchise with some PR problems and... wait for it... bought him out! Does Brandon Roy now think he has a green light to slack knowing he'll still get rewarded? Of course not. I'd also swap GM's for Pritchard in a heartbeat. We've seen Walsh trade his way out of an image problem - the pennies on the dollar swaps that landed the Pacers the likes of Murphy and Dunleavy for a combined 16 million or so per, just before he was politely shown the door.

I'm not saying Jr. is the second coming of his father, just that Walsh's moves thus far, including this one, have not inspired the blind faith some posters insist on showing in him. And that the idea that buying out an inherited roster mess is somehow contrary to NBA business regardless of circumstance is asinine.

what is the difference between having someone on the bench that will hardly ever play than cutting that person. In both scenarios, the person will have no impact on the team and are a total waste of the money. So why not cut the guy, and take the prospect in Ewing Jr. This makes no sense! Horrible move! And can someone please tell me who are our small forwards? Cause I could of sworn, all were nicked up! Chandler: Knee, Richardson: he tweeked his knee in the Nets game, and Gallanari: Bulging disc in his back (Predicting he will be on the bench injured half the season) Ewing, was the only healthy small forward, the position we needed some depth in due to injury, but we cut him! U got to be kidding!

knicks p.r. dept number 212-465-6471.

Only way this move makes sense is if they are confident they can package JJ with David Lee or Nate in a trade to free up room for next year..

Keeping 2010 alive
with some Bulljive

Sorry Willis,

The move is gutless, but I'm glad Walsh made it because eventually the ruse had to be revealed through his decisions and their results.

First, I suggest everyone read a very good story in New York magazine about Walsh. It is a valentine ( a feel good for Walsh) but it puts he's placement as the Knicks President in context and supports what I have suggested all along -- Walsh is Stern's plant and accordingly perception is far more important than reality as it has been almost forever in the NBA.

Second, if you live by the ruse you eventually get burned by the ruse. The Weiss-Ewing move was a public relations move and Ewing did not have a real chance of making the team, unless they were going to get rid of Starbury. Getting rid of Randolph was not going to make room for Ewing, because Randolph was going to be at least a two for one deal. With Darko and Jaric on board, Ewing would not have had a chance as the 17th man on the roster.

D'Antoni could not have expected that Ewing would give the perfomance of a lifetime in nine minutes and usher the team back from a 21 point deficit. The only starter on the floor was Crawford. It was simply garbage time and Ewing's last shot in a Knicks uniform. But he stunned management. Good for him. Hopefully the world saw.

Keeping James makes little sense. It is neither a good business move, nor a good basketball move. But it is clear evidence of the direction the Knicks are going. First Balkman and now Ewing gone. Raw hustle guys whose offensive impact would not be as good as their defensive impact. Be clear that D'Antoni chose New York over Chicago because he knew that Walsh would not put pressure on him to play defense. Chicago knows what it takes to win championships and it is not run and gun. Walsh has lower aspirations -- just look better than last year and eventually become more marketable internationally.

Walsh embarrasses himself by suggesting that he needs to see James play. If that's so, he needs to fire everyone who works for him in the Knicks organization that has seen James not in action, because clearly he doesn't trust whoever is left and all the videotape that says James is practically useless in the D'Antoni scheme (unless he makes the ultimate adjustments to deal with the likes of Oden and Bynum -- the bigs return).

Paying $12 million to keep Ewing would have bought him some much needed good will and would not have hurt the team on the court since James was not going to be part of the rotation. Walsh would have to honor the contract whether James was released or not, so it's not about the Knicks honoring the contract. Did they at least try to restructure the contract by spreading it over three years? (If so, I guess James wanted the money he earned by playing good for one year in Seattle).

The notion that Ewing has done less to earn a spot than James makes little sense. All rookies must do to earn a spot is to demonstrate that they are good enough to be on the squad ahead of other players. He may not have been a better fit on the floor than Roberson, but he is certainly a better fit on the floor and the bench than James.

Donnie got two more strikes to go before i'm done with him. He used one for this moronic decision. Bottom line is TO GET FANS TO THE GARDEN and sell tickets. Having Roberson instead of the son of a Knick legend that has a better upside than Roberson is moronic.

They are not looking at fan appeal. Donnie this ain't Indiana. We want talented players with appeal that have potential.

Lets talk about Isiah's suicide attempt. This move is depressing...

No reason to keep one more guard when we need another forward. Especially if Chandler is going to be our primary power forward and he is looking like he is returning to his knee problems. Lee and Randoplh defense make you want to throw up. We have no shot blocker.

I want to go the record and say Gallinari will be a waisted pick at 6 overall or for the lack of a better word bust. He was not worth the 6h pick and will ride the bench most of the year. I would have went with Anthony Randolph from LSU. We need a new center and JJ snacks is not the answer.

How long do other teams have to decide if they will pick Ewing up? When will we know if Ewing is going to the D League or Europe?

He wants to see what Big Snacks can do...lol

walsh i was trying to give you
the benefit of the doubt

but this decision just reinforces
the poor management choices
the knicks have made in the past

Big Snacks is a joke
and walsh you just rewarded him
for being fat and lazy

hard work pays off...yeah right!

What a bad move!! They should have ate JJ's contract, they are the Knicks, they are the Dolans, they could have afforded to eat his contrat. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Ewing Jr. back in a Knicks jersey before the end of the season.

Donnie Walsh talks to the fans as if we are some dumb hicks from Indiana. So are we supposed to give Jerome James a clean slate too? Does Walsh really expect us to believe him when he says James can help this team? Are you freaking kidding me?!

I think Walsh is also OD'ing on sleeping pills and needs to wake up. You're the GM and you can do whatever you want. But don't spoon feed us garbage like this. I personally as a loyal fan do not appreciate being talked to like a 10 year old. We know a good basketball player and a bad one. And James is the worst one I've ever seen for the money he makes. Cut it out Walsh! I'm losing patience with you!

Hold on, guys!!! I would have really liked it if Jr. was still on the team. But that would just have been a PR exercise at best. There is no way Jr. would have played this year.

We have to move away from all the sentiments and soft corners and feel good stories. I admire Walsh for taking a principled and consistent stand. He is not going to play to the gallery. He means business and that should bode well for the Knicks in the next couple of years.

Guys, remember when IT made all these moves, each move at that point in time looked good. When he brought in Eddie Curry we were a very undersized team and needed height. Most of us approved the deal and didn't care what was given back in return. Same with the Marbury deal - we needed star power and play making abilities and thought we got one. Same with Crawford and Jefferies. And when the Zach trade was announced, I remember watching Steven A Smith on TV screaming Hallelujah and asking the Knicks fans to celebrate. But now in hindsight, we can see that none of these moves were made with any great vision. They were whimsical and populist in nature and each piece was not meant to be a part of the puzzle but just a collection of potential. Obviously, it does not work that way.

But here is a man - Donnie Walsh, whose hands are tied right now with all the heavy contracts and unpalatable roster but seems to have a vision and a plan. He will not try and take shortcuts because they generally don't work. He will methodically and patiently rebuild and before we realise it, the Knicks will look like a team with a good future and headed in the right direction.

So, either we put up with a little bit of a down period and give him his space to make his plan come good, or we drive him out of here and revert back to our whimsical ways and opt for populist measures and stay downtrodden for a long time with no real light at the end of the tunnel. The choice is up to us.

Ewing is not ready for prime time. He is training camp fodder right now. No outcry about losing Grunfeld, and he's a better fit than Ewing and has already earned a contract in Spain.

Training camp is for feel good stories. Houston? Never a chance in H - E - double-hockey-sticks he's making the knicks or any team. But you have him in and give him a job in the front office. Ewing is a great kid, has a future, but there's just no room. Roberson has an NBA skill, James is a guaranteed contract. Ewing was going to be cut by pretty much any team he was on. DJ Strawberry got cut this week too.

This was never a competition between Jerome James, Roberson, and Ewing. The last roster spot on a last place team is not important. James will continue his monthly kick-backs to Zeke and make jokes at the end of the bench. Like Marbury, he's D'Antoni's problem, and D'Antoni seems up to the task. Walsh is talking his book when he say's he wants to see what James can do. He means, after this year, which is a waste because this team is a mess, he'll be an expiring contract, and maybe I can do something with this. James is a joke, but he's not disruptive, he's only a danger to himself.

What this means to me, is that we need a real developmental league where teams can give guys a job and develop players in their own system, and you can hold on to a guy like Ewing, or Demetrius Nichols, or that PG from Marist. See you in Harlem, Patrick.

All the real truth behind this move is Isiah is still running the team. Unfortunately he was sleep during the last game and didn't see Ewing play in the 4th quarter

Just wait until the knicks are getting blown out in the forth quarter and the Patrick Ewing chants start. That will be classic.

We'll atleast Ewing was able to live out his dream. He grew up in the garden and went out with a high flying dunk.

Lets retire number 6

Lol at all the Walsh defenders on this move.

I said last blog that Ewing, J.r. didn't make much basketball sense because we already had too many small forwards. It would simply have sent a message to the franchise that they were rewarding hard work over guys not living up to their contracts (J. James). But, all this being said, how can anyone here defend why they TRADED for Patrick Ewing, J.r. instead of Dorsey. If this was about basketball, why not bring in a shotblocker and low post defender that would have made both Curry and James expendable.

Other than his coach, Donnie has not had a good summer, period. If you are looking at the draft, free-agent signings, and more importantly, the moves that weren't made, his regime thus far has not been good.

Top 5 bad moves thus far:
1.) Trading for Ewing, J.r. instead of Dorsey, then cutting him in the same summer
2.) Not cutting Marburry
3.) Drafting another SF instead of PGs Bayless or Augustine
4.) Not Cutting Jerome James
5.) Giving Duhon the full-midlevel exception

Honorable mentions:
1.) Not getting any defense or shotblocking help
2.) Not clearing any cap space whatsoever
3.) Keeping IT with the organization
4.) Constantly feeding Alan misinformation causing him to loose the faith of his loyal Fixers like: Marburry will be cut, Ewing, J.r. will make the team, Zach will be traded to Memphis, Curry will work in the system, etc.

Sounds like a guard may be swapped in the near future.

Serves me right for watching that last quarter with Ewing leading a comeback and getting excited for the season to start. There is NO reason to keep James over Ewing. None. James will be getting paid to sit for 82 games regardless. Whether he's sitting at the end of the bench or at home on his couch, his salary will be the same. The added cost of Ewing on the roster would be his meager salary -- probably around 400K or so. Besides, regardless of his name, wouldn't it be a worthy investment to groom a young player with tremendous defensive ability, a team first guy, with guts and heart, something this team has been lacking for about a decade? I thought we were planning for a future, and I'm certain James has no part in it.

What this also proves is that the new regime has as little regard for the fan base as the old one did. Sure, they haven't made the dumb moves, but that's a very low barometer to judge.

I don't know why this organization can't ever do right by it's very loyal fan base. Is it our fault for always going back to them? I don't know. But when I'm at the Garden to usher in this new adventure of a season and the players are announced I will be screaming the name of the one player that deserved to wear the blue and orange -- PATRICK EWING!!!!

When I hear Ewing Jr. was cut over Anthony Roberson or Jerome James, I was frankly in disbelief and was way too pissed off to put forth any coherent thought on the matter.

To calm down I checked out the internet for what the consensus would be on the choice to can Patrick Ewing Jr. over Anthony "shoot blanks first and ask questions later" Roberson or Jeromes "BIG HEIST" James.

The consensus is pretty overwhelmingly against this latest decision by the entity a fellow blogger dubbed Waltoni. Actually come to think of it this entity is a three headed hydra which once and for all disproves the theory that two-in this instance three- heads are better than one. This monstrosity, the terrifying Manegerial creature I dubbed Waldoltoni, (frightening combination of Senile Donny Walsh, Penny Pinching James Dolan, and Offense First and Last Mike []'antoni) initiated a Garden coup to exit a young player who represent's a link to the Franchises defensively inspired fighting spirit of yore. The move also ousted a talent who might be able to help the franchise addresses several possible pressing needs that are more glaring than adding another gun to what many here believed was a pretty fully loaded offensive entity.

Although Ewing Jr. stands at only about 6'8, he demonstrated during the preseason an ability to be able to play bigger than his stated size as exemplified in his ability to block shots, rebound, and play above the rim where many a shot of our other fowards- Z-Bo, Lee and even Curry often get sent back. Moreover Ewing Jr. comes in at about 240 pounds and possesses a 40 inch verticle leap coupled with a relentless energy that could have only been passed down from a legendary father. Ewing surely played bigger than the two pouting and lazy oaths that will now continue to occupy the Knicks roster and bench while creating pot holes and cracks in the flooring of MSG. Also D'antoni has relied on a small but combative front court lineup of David Lee, and Zach Randolph. In addition D'antoni has suggested that he would utilize the rail thin and brittle Jared Jefferies as a center in his system. Therefore the argument that Ewing is to small to play in the post for the Knicks plainly fails to recognize the coaching staff reliance on smaller but more active players on the front lines and in general.

Ewing Jr. also would have provided young and cheap fronline depth that the knicks could have used and surely lack- Jefferies injury, Chandlers Knee issues, Curry's and James ineffectiveness in []'toni's system, Z-bo & Lee's possible exit via trade, and Rose age.

Yet, Walsh's stated reason for keeping Roberson over Ewing Jr. was that he needed to address a need namely shooting.

That excuse is as naked as the Emperors new clothes were to the young child in the crowd telling the emperor he was naked. The Knicks currently have a roster of players capable of shootng the ball- Robinson, Crawford, Gallinari, Richardson, Randolph, Marbury and to a lesser extent Duhon. Yet again the managerial monstrosity of Waldoltoni chooses to pinch pennies and slight the defensive side of the ball. Waldoltoni chose to keep a shooter who shot 20 percent generally and only 25 percent beyond the arch to sure up it's shooting, when more glaring needs- unstated by either an incompetent, disengenouse or outright senile- Donnie Walsh went unmentioned.

At the end of this day the Blogger Lives mantra that the mask on the Knicks recievership has come off cannot ring more true.

I strangely get a feeling of a soldier going out to war with an abundant arsenal of weapons but that has failed to even strap on a either a bulletproofvest (defense in general) or a blast shield (shot blocking) in a machine gun laden warzone.

This to me spells TROUBLE when the big guns in body armor come out to play

Hey, I know everyone is down about the Ewing thing....but maybe this Knicks rap I made today will cheer you guys up ; )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQAK-mpil6U

Check it out guys. And Alan, don't be afraid to throw this up on your blog! :) I'll even out the few curses there are if you'd like.

Jerome WEAK James
(Worst Ever As a Knick)

Take the Retirement and get out of Town

You
beefy*, big, blimp, bovine, brawny, broad, bulging, bulky, bull, burly, butterball, chunky*, corpulent, distended, dumpy, elephantine, fleshy, gargantuan, gross, heavy, heavyset, hefty, husky, inflated, jelly-belly, lard, large, meaty*, obese, oversize, paunchy, plump, plumpish, ponderous, porcine, portly, potbellied, pudgy*, roly-poly*, rotund, stout, swollen, thickset, weighty, whalelike

Bum

Pat 1 and lil Pat 2

where are you?

Couldn't agree more with most of you above. If Anthony Roberson can shoot, I haven't seen anything of it in PRESEASON and even SUMMER LEAGUE games. But with Jr. I KNOW the guy can hustle, finish, and block shots. And even after the move Walsh has the audacity to say, "You want people who people like"

Well, well..the creative juices are flowing
here. Great Job Walsh. Let's review your
resume. He just got rid of two young
defensive hustle players in Jr and Balkman.
He took a # 6 draft pick that makes
Penny Hardaway appear to be the
Image of health?

Maybe Walsh should Consider 50
Lunesta washed down with Jack Daniels.

Look I am all for fiscal responsibility, but this is the same organization that paid Shandon Anderson while he was winning a title with Miami....Chaney, Anucha, Larry McGoo Brown, Isiah, Allan Houston....plus a few I am sure I forgot...They then trade for the kid (Pure PR) play him vs NJ and the kid shows real flashes, especially with how D'Antoni wants to play...

Playing time this season (SO WHAT) what player on this current roster would be able to actually push Chandler/Gallinari in practice to make them better players?? Jerome James still here?? When will he see playing time??

From what I saw LiL Pat's real value would have been on the practice floor....Karma is real and this season will be a disaster! At least I truly hope it is! I'm disgusted over this move!

F*CK THE KNICKS!

all this agita about junior smacks of mccain talking about earmarks.

the ship be sinking, and we're talking about holes in the sails?

The Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling!
Donnie Walsh is a traitor...a Stern PLANT! A Thomas sockpuppet!
Ewing Jr. would have pwned Elton Brand, Garnett, and Chris Bosh cause he dunked on some Nets scrubs in garbage time!!!

muwhahahahahahaha!

All the wannabe GMs coming out of the woodwork.

Hey, why don't we pass around a collection plate to all the brilliant Fixers, who are so, SOOO, much smarter than Walsh, can raise the 12 mil to buyout James?

@ Chicken Little Another blogger who doesn't get it! Have we over reacted? Possibly. The problem, however, is not that we know for sure that PE Jr. will be a terrific player. It is that we know that JJ isn't and won't be! He has become a symbol of overpaid, underachieving dead weight. Knicks fans long for energy, combativeness and defense even more than we long for a championship! (The former will help attain the latter) Perhaps Walsh will redeem himself in our eyes. Right now, however, it feels like more of the "same old, same old." Further, the Walsh explanation of needing shooters is full of holes. This seems cynical in view of all the other Knick needs.

I have consistently defended Donnie Walsh and I will continue to give him a chance. This was just a tough pill to swallow. One of the things we do on blogs is share our opinions and reactions. Without that, this medium would be totally useless. I oppose obscene and hostile approaches, but I also recognize that there is energy in lively debate. This is easily the best forum for Knick fans and it is not helped by those who smugly mock the process!

Chicken Little - the 12 million for James is the same 12 million he'll be paid to sit on the bench for the next two seasons. It comes from the same place as the money he's been paid to sit there for the last few.

And if you could find someone who claimed Jr. would be a match for Garnett, Bosh, etc., please point them out - it would be worth the laugh. But if you actually want to contribute to the conversation, try responding to the real postings - you'll find them in the Comments section.

Isn't it time for the NBA to move the Developmental League into a model more like minor league baseball? With players coming out of college early or not belonging in college, teams should have the option of giving players time to develop without being on the big league roster. Why not?

Chicken Little

Cant be a Knicks fan- go put your Bulls er Jordan er Lakers ..I mean Kobe shirt back on.

PEJr has better stats, more points, dunks and blocked shots
in the preseason
than Jerome the slob has had in his whole Knicks career.

Donnie had a chance to do something right. Like someone said above, change the Karma, get a young energized player who wants to hustle play D and do whatever it takes

It would have been worth it just to hear the name Ewing at the Garden again.

We are the Fans
We pay for all this

Dummie Walsh you really blew it.

Nothing new to add but had to vent. Jerome James is a disgrace to the Knicks. Whoever said it was bad karma to keep him on the roster hit it right on the head.

If Walsh wanted to see what James could do why didn't they play him 1 minute in these meaningless preseason games. They threw fat a$$ Eddie Curry out there for extended minutes, why not James. Trying to shame him into retiring obviously won't work, he laughed it up on the bench all year last year and was still laughing on the bench this year.

"He just got rid of two young
defensive hustle players in Jr and Balkman."

he got rid of brainless Balkman.
whats your problem there?
Balkman did not fit in

Jr. is a keeper

you guys are all dumb. ewing junior wouldnt have gotten any minutes ahead of lee, chandler, richardson, gallinari, jeffries, etc etc. Im sure he will make it back onto this team eventually somehow

I'd say the guard set is more solid than the big men we have in terms of stability on the roster and health. Richardson will start, but how long will that last? Gallinari's going to be played tenderly for a bit yet, and with Jeffries out for so long and the inevitable recovery time, I'd have liked to have seen Snax and Roberson go. I mean that's what really burns me about this. Throughout the horrible decisions of the past two GM's, one of the only consistently good things we could take away was we had an owner whose head might not have always been in the right place, but his wallet was.

I understand Walsh's reluctance. It hurts to flush MILLIONS of dollars away, especially if you've never been in favor of the idea in the past; but this is a different situation with an owner who has been free with the cash. How the *cut* did we justify Crawford's signing when we were really outbidding ourselves? Great player and I think he's a maybe all-star with this coach. Money pit. Houston's contract(god love him, one of my favorite players) where we outbid ourselves again? Money pit. Basically Isiah? Mone..yeah.

So why can't we get rid of the biggest albatross in the history of balls going through hoops in favor of what would be a great PR move and actual good basketball move in keeping Ewing? Roberson has shown us nothing in the preseason to make us think his shooting is any good. The guy's 2-8 but he at least his FT% is high? I know we're talking 15th guy on the bench here, but he's popular with teammates and fans and he's more versatile than Roberson which adds value in this new system. He'd be better for the squad in practice and fit a more logical need for injury insurance for our big men than having to bolster our guards. I've already typed out more here than I ever intended, so I'll just end it with this was a bad move that could have been made, but shouldn't have been made.

" he got rid of brainless Balkman.
whats your problem there?
Balkman did not fit in"

Wow. You are right. Balkman actually plays defense
so I guess he would have fit in as well as, James, Curry,
and Cripplenari. Alan...this cat is a Ringer! Don't
let him go!