The Knicks Fix

This rumor surfaced with a one-line mention in a Cleveland report late last week and blew up on the web because there's not much happening out there right now. Basically the talk was that the Cavs were talking to the Knicks about a big man. It did not specify Zach Randolph, but that's always the assumption when you're talking about Knicks bigs who could be on the move.

The Cavs, who are clearly trying to load up around LeBron this summer (see: Mo Williams), could use legit low-post scorer. But is Zach a good fit there, especially for defensive-minded coach Mike Brown?

I've always had this opinion about Z-Bo: he's a better player when he's on a good team. When he's in a losing situation, Zach tends to go for self. Last season Zach seemed to be ready to buy into being part of the team concept but quickly fell into get-mine mode once he saw the mayhem around him (and the obvious lack of discipline). Perhaps in a situation like Cleveland, where LeBron is the clear leader, Zach would buy in and be less inclined to fall into the get-mine approach. And when Brown needs defense down low, he can go to Anderson Varejao.

It's worth some exploration and since we've got Fixers all over the place, some of them embedded in strategic places, we can say that we're hearing there's been some chatter about a Zach Randolph-to-Cleveland scenario inside NBA circles. Most team executives are on vacation right now (just like your favorite blog host) so details aren't easy to dig up right now. In the meantime, we can open it for a rhetorical discussion.

Who would the Knicks take in return? One idea could be Wally Szczerbiak, because shooters are always welcome. Another thought, however, could be Ben Wallace, which would make more sense for the Cavs from a contract standpoint and despite his painfully obvious weaknesses on offense, the Knicks could use the low-post defense and rebounding abilities.

The contracts work in either scenario with Zach's numbers (he's owed $14.6 million this season). Wally has an expiring deal at $13 million and Big Ben has two years left at $14.5 mil this year and $14 mil the year after (just in time to melt away in that critical Summer of 2010).

We know that right now the Knicks are preparing to go into the season with Zach on the roster. I've been told that Mike D'Antoni has chatted with fellow Team USA assistant coach (and Portland Trail Blazers coach) Nate McMillan about coaching Zach.

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We've been saying here this summer that Stephon Marbury's days with the Knicks will be soon over. This point was echoed by the Boston Globe on Sunday.

But we heard Donnie Walsh last week told season ticket holders that Marbury had "a clean slate" -- those exact words couldn't be confirmed on video provided by nyknicks.com, but Fixer "david" insists that's what DW said -- and Walsh also suggested Marbury would be in training camp this fall.

He very well may be there to unwittingly (or not) steal the spotlight at Media Day on Sept. 29 and could even be there the next day for the opening practice of training camp in Saratoga. But that doesn't mean it is a given that Marbury will be on the opening night roster. Camp may be the place D'Antoni and Walsh use to decide that Marbury -- aside from everything else -- doesn't fit the "plan" and moves on without him.

You have to read into Donnie's words sometimes because he tends to speak very carefully and, at times, cryptically. All along he's suggested that he doesn't know what he has on this roster because the team played so poorly. He wants to "see" what he has, which is why I am starting to believe he may want to bring Marbury into camp. At that time he and D'Antoni can make the decision to cut Marbury for basketball reasons instead of dumping him in August or September for what everyone will view as personality issues.

In the end, behind closed doors, the truth may be that D'Antoni and Walsh don't want to invite the potential for trouble by having Marbury on the roster this season. But publicly they'll call it a basketball decision...that Stephon doesn't fit what they want to do going forward. That's what I'm reading in the tea leaves right now, Fixers.

Just bloggin.

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Programming note:

Some of you who also visit the Yankees blog on our site might have noticed a change in the comments area that will soon be the standard on all Newsday blogs. To put an end to "trolling" and you bold "anons" who try to dominate the conversations or cause trouble, we will require all commenters to go through a one-time and FREE registration so you can be identified (and dealt with personally...it's only fair right? You know who I am and know where to find me...now I'll know who you are and how to find you.).

Just an FYI: this is not exclusive to Newsday. In fact, if I read correctly, Starberman's blog will have a similar system over at the Post.

For those who are wondering if the recent talk of Cablevision spin-offs and aggressive shareholders could mean the end of Dolan rule at MSG, Ken Berger did some investigating and wrote this for our Sunday paper.

Writes K-Berg:

Dolan's gesture to investors -- allowing them to voice concerns during a "listening tour" last week -- seems to have been little more than a head fake. People knowledgeable about MSG in particular, and the sale of sports franchises in general, tell Newsday that it's premature to run out onto Seventh Avenue traffic and celebrate Dolan's departure from the Garden of Ills.

Team USA made the entire team from Spain look bad, so you can't judge off that game, but from what I've read, seen and heard about 17-year-old point guard Ricky Rubio, he could be one to watch for in next year's NBA Draft. NBADraft.net compares him to, get this, Steve Nash and Walt Frazier.

Rubio has dynamic ball-handling skills and great court vision. Right now he looks like a combination between The Karate Kid and a young Pistol Pete, but he still has some growing to do. His game, of course, fits right into what Mike D'Antoni wants in a point guard for his system (though Rubio's shot has to get a little better).

Of course the lead dog at the PG spot (and an absolutely perfect fit for the D'Antoni system) will be Brandon Jennings, who is playing in Europe this winter. All eyes will be on the crafty lefty to see how he does in the pro game overseas as opposed to tearing up the NCAA like his 2009 draft classmates will.

Yo, bloghost, why are you talking lottery picks in August? You implying that the Knicks will be in the lottery again?

Just planning ahead, Fixers.

Starberman came off vacation time to reiterate Stephon Marbury's desire to play in Italy next season, after his Knicks contract expires.

As "david" reported to us from Donnie Walsh's meeting season ticket holders' meeting, Walsh said Marbury has a clean slate. If Marbury is there for training camp, it'll be the big story, of course. Sort of the opposite effect that Brett Favre had when he arrived at Jets camp.

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The Ron Artest trade to Houston was officially announced yesterday and there is some speculation that Patrick Ewing, Jr., who was part of the five-player deal with Sacramento, may be waived.

If that is the case, could we expect Walsh to extend a training camp invitation to Lil Pat?

NYKnicks.com has posted video from this exclusive "town forum" with Donnie Walsh and season ticket holders on Wednesday night.

Part I:

Part II:

Longtime Fixer "david" and his son attended the season ticket holders' "town forum" meeting with Donnie Walsh. Here are some of the highlights david had to share:

1. Walsh said that Marbury has been a very good player in this league, and he's not sure what has happened here but he's worked hard this summer and has a clean slate. They want to see what he can do when he gets to training camp.

So it sounds like they are keeping Marbury around for awhile.

(Bloghost note: Stephon is currently working out with some NBA players in Vegas at Tim Grgurich's camp).

2. He said that the rumor about trading Zach Randolph with a first round pick for nothing is a rumor and he won't comment on it. But he also said that if they Knicks don't value their own players, then the rest of the league won't either. And he is not giving away and of the Knicks for less value.

(Note: david and I both agree this is a non-denial denial...but time to move on)

3. Walsh said that he watched the Knicks last 7 games last year once he became GM, and that it was hard to tell how good they were because Curry was out, Marbury was out and "Zach was half playing."

(DW is being generous to Zach here)

4. When asked about the starting line up to start the season, he said he has no idea but a lot will depend upon who plays well in training camp, who works hard, who is a team player.

(That would have eliminated most of last season's roster)

5. Naturally, he loves Gallinari. He said he is not saying he is another Larry Bird, but he also said he's not going to say he can't be that kind of player. He said Gallinari, has "an unusual package," as he handles the ball like a guard, is big and tough and shoots the lights out.

(Howard Stern plans to have Gallo on the show to discuss this 'unusual package' Walsh keeps talking about)

6. When asked if the Knicks might trade Lee at the trade deadline because they don't want to sign him to an extension, he said "I like Lee, so why do people keep asking about trading him?" He got big applause for that. But then he said, something to the effect of, "but we could trade him if we get great value for him."

(Rent David, don't buy.)

7. Walsh said that Balkman was traded because they had "nine forwards," and he was not going to play. And when that happens, a players value declines, and also it creates "chemistry problems."

(Chemistry? Aw man, crazy.)

The overall sense was that the Knicks are rebuilding, that he is not going to make any more moves this summer, that they believe the talent on the team is better than its played, and that they will evaluate the players in training camp.

(Translated: Brandon Jennings could be the PG of the future....so many teams in the East got better - and have you seen Dwyane Wade in the Olympics? Dude....)

Chicago-based Mouthpiecesports.com caught up with new Knicks point guard Chris Duhon in his Chicago flat as he packs up to leave for New York.

Duhon talks quite optimistically about his anticipated role on the team and also drops a little dirt about some former teammates. He says Ben Gordon has a "man slave" who handles all of his menial chores (such as driving, making arrangements, perhaps even the shake at the urinal..ok, maybe not) while Luol Deng is a "ladies man."

Chris found a place in Westchester near where most of the Knicks live. On a two-year contract, C-Du is renting. And the fact that he's not renting in Manhattan has to be some relief to Donnie Walsh....

...anyway, without further ado: