This has to be the worst time of year for any of the non-playoff teams. You have to sit through this purgatory and wait until you can finally make moves again and get your team ready for the coming year.
But it might be a long wait, kids. I know you all are thirsty for rumors - legit ones, I mean - but let's get real. The Kevin Garnett talk is media-driven, from what I'm told and, to be honest, there's little chance the Knicks would be a front-runner to land him if he were on the market. Pau Gasol would be the next-best fit, but the Knicks, again, don't really have anything to offer to interest the low-budget Grizzlies, who are not about to take on a major salary, at least not for a player in his 30s.
And if you're Larry Bird, would you trade your franchise player -- we're talking Jermaine O'Neal now -- to not just Isiah Thomas, but the hated Knicks?
Yes, Bird told NBA.com that the Pacers would be interested in acquiring a first-round pick to replace the one they lost to Atlanta as a result of the Al Harrington deal (clearly a worse deal than Isiah's deal for Eddy Curry). The Knicks have a pick at No. 23 and would be willing to part with it in a package for O'Neal.
But, again, why make the Knicks better at your expense? What's the best the Pacers can get from the Knicks? Just to make the salaries match, you'd have to start the bidding with Stephon Marbury and the No. 23 pick for J-O. I don't think fans in Indiana would be happy about that, though Marbury's image -- what with the Starbury line and his recent feature on Oprah --would be a dramatic improvement to what the Pacers have had there in recent years.
I've been told that, despite their close relationship, Isiah still would consider dealing Marbury, especially if it improved the team. I also feel that Marbury might be ready to get out of New York and away from the media scrutiny that has dogged him. But where would that leave the Knicks in the backcourt? Sure, they'd be stronger in the paint - though it remains to be seen if O'Neal and Curry could mesh their games - but while I have confidence in Mardy Collins, I'm not sure he's ready for a 40-minutes-a-night role. Is Steve Francis the guy you put at the point with Mardy off the bench? Possibly.
Let's just assume, as Ken Berger reported last week, that Isiah has no plans to buy out Francis and let him float down to Houston at a discount. So as far as you know, Francis is going to be a Knick next season because, as some of you correctly noted, no way Houston picks up that salary in a trade.
Marbury and O'Neal have almost identical salaries in the next two years. Marbury has a player option after next season and his deal is up after 2008-09, which saves the Pacers one year off O'Neal's deal. I removed Channing Frye from this equation for several reasons, including the fact that Indiana has Troy Murphy who is pretty much the same type of player. Frye has some post-up potential, but both are soft defenders. Murphy is a better rebounder.
But this is all just fantasy league chatter, because Bird dealing O'Neal to the Knicks would be as likely as Isiah dealing Curry to Michael Jordan and the Bobcats. You know how much Isiah loves Michael.
* * * *
*- Speaking of the Bobcats, it sounds like Sam Vincent is the choice in Charlotte. Vincent has one year as an assistant coach under Avery Johnson, so you know he comes cheap. Herb Williams interviewed for the job on Jordan's request.
*- You have to respect the self-assuredness of the Van Gundys. After Jeff decided to leave Houston before they had the chance to fire him (same as in New York), Stan decided not to take the job in Indiana. The longer Jeff stays unemployed, the more Lawrence Frank should be concerned.
Comments (13)
Alan, very good blog and very accurate. It is unlikely that the Knicks have the assets to get a major deal done, however, the good news is that a major deal is not necessary. With a young emerging core, the key is to have consistency, health and continued maturity of young players such as Frye, Lee, Curry, Collins and Balkman. If there are needs, it would be great to get a strong interior defender to play next to Curry and a pass first/strong defending point guard. Neither has to be a star, but team leader types would be great.
Isiah may have had it out with Jordan before but who hasent? Isiah always blew Jordan when he was a commentator and Jordan was playing, you would think Isiah loved the guy.
Mardy Collins is downright awful. A PG who almost has more turnovers than assists, shoots 35 percent from the field, 27 percent on 3s and 58 percent from the line? Sheesh.
A more realistic deal would save the Pacers $$ by including Malik Rose (whose deal expires in a year)... plus maybe Crawford and/or Robinson, since Indy is hurting for a shooting guard.
I'm just paranoid that Isaiah would offer David Lee.
A Jermaine O'neal for Stephon Marbury deal...I would celebrate the day for years to come. When is Isiah going to learn from the Timberwolves, Nets, and Suns and get rid of Starbury so we can start winning.
Elite you have to be kidding me about Mardy! He's not "awful". He was a rookie and he got better when he was given consistent minutes. The guy is a PG and his shooting will get better. Or do you regularly give up on all players after their rookie seasons?
I think we can figure out that Bird won't want to make a deal with Isiah, but his options may be few. How many teams really want to take on all that salary?
Mardy Collins was the main reason to watch the Knicks in say the last 15 games of the season. He, Lee, and Balkman are keepers/
Knicks should look into making a trade with either Portland or Seattle. Both have 2 2nd round picks this year. This draft is deep and these picks are close to the top of the 2nd round. They can go after what they really need. They need a guy to block shots and Sean Williams is the best in the draft at that. He has been labeled as a head case, but we need to take a serious look at him. He would be the perfect player for the Knicks in this draft. In trading their one for two 2nds the Knicks will have the option of getting someone else, possibly Herbert Hill, who is solid and has improved every year, at 6'10 he can also block shots and rebound, and has a good attitude. If the Knicks don't have both/one of these players available they can go after a small forward or shooting guard/point guard. Isiah has been great at getting talent late in the draft. Even Trevor who they traded is doing well with Orlando. If the Knicks can't get two seconds for their first, perhaps they can trade Jeffries in a package deal. Also Portland might take James since Nate McMillan coached him in Seattle and was able to use him effectively. Jeffries becomes obsolete with the emergence of Balkman. I think he is a good player but knicks need more rebounding and shotblocking help. Both Sean Williams and Herbert Hill give you these needed skills. Also Seattle and Portland pick 1 and 2 so they might want to pick up just one more player in the first round. They will be more trade friendly.
I think this an opportunity that the Knicks cannot pass up. If they do a hit and miss on Sean Williams they still have another second round pick. They may also be able to package a deal for a player/s or draft picks. Seattle has the 7ft center Sene who can block shots in abundance, they may be willing to part with him for a first round pick now that they are picking number 2 overall. The Knicks can then throw in Jeffries and a first, taking Sene and a second. This would be the ideal situation since they would have a chance at two of the most proficient shotblockers emerging, Sean Williams and Sene. Now that would be a steal of a deal. Then perhaps the Knicks could send James and a second to Portland for their two second round pics (and pick up someone elses contract in portland).
Just a lot of options, Isiah. Please don't go after O'Neal. We don't need two big men down low demanding the ball. It would be better to keep the team together that they have now to build unity and also to keep a young core group together for the next 10 years. That is what championships are built on. Trading away Frye, Nate and any other combination for O'Neal would take away from team moral. It would also undercut the future which Isiah/fans have worked and hoped for for so long. Isiah, do the right thing, we are hoping in you.
i expect isiah to sit tight this offseason and let his team develop. They can't trade francis and the knicks don't have any desirable contracts to put in a big deal. They should draft a shot blocker like Sean Williams, and trade nate robinson who has worn out his welcome and has no spot in the rotation next year with francis still here and mardy collins emergence. They can possible pick up an early second round pick for nate and get another young player. Aside from someone offering to take Jared Jeffries or Jerome James off our hands, thats all expect to the knicks to do this offseason. And maybe thats not such a bad thing.
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