Got home from the MSG Training Facility sometime around 2:30 a.m. It's an even longer drive at night, when there's construction on the LIE and your mind keeps going over the details of a trade you think is nothing but bad news for the Knicks.
What do you guys think? It's funny, all the while I was checking in on the situations with Rashard Lewis, Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O'Neal, the name Zach Randolph kept coming back to me. But, being the enterprising, instinctive reporter that I am, I ignored it. No way the Knicks bring this guy in. Too much baggage. James Dolan doesn't go for people with baggage and a penchant for making appearances on the police blotter.
Someone told me he's a good kid. Just hangs with a bad crowd. Typical story.
I awoke this morning and saw the terrific back page by J-Dub, one of Newsday's most veteran editors. New York Zach Exchange. Great headline, J-Dub.
I'm still trying to see the positives of the deal: a 20-10 guy who is only 25, the disappearance of the Steve Francis contract without having to buy him out, you basically dealt an uninspiring Channing Frye for a dominant low-post scorer and a rebounder.
But the negatives keep creeping back: Randolph's contract (4 years left at $61 mil) is even longer, and more expensive, than Francis' deal, he doesn't play a lick of D and is not a shot-blocker, which means any penetration into the paint will mean more easy baskets for opponents...and, oh yeah, there's that thing about his character and this affinity for firearms and assaults.
Conference call is at 10 a.m. So much still to digest.
I'll check back in later. Sorry, I just don't have the juice going yet this morning.
Oh, and Taurean Green didn't get picked until the second round.
I still say the kid's gonna turn out to be a steal.
Comments (18)
Well Alan, as Ronald Regan once said (paraphrasing) "there they go again." The Knicks, like addicts who fall out of the program time and again, just made a move that they will regret in only a few months. The Randolph acquisition is all that was bad about the Marbury, Francis, Curry, Curry, and James acqusitions:
--they bid against themselves. No one really wanted the guy due to his bad history, injuries and huge long term deal.
--he has never won anywhere, just like the guys I just mentioned.
--like with Marbury/Francis, Curry/Randolph are very similar and will hurt each other rather then help each other.
--the Knicks will not make the playoffs as the Cavs, Bulls, Heat, Nets, Wizards, Raptors, Pistons, Magic are all far superior. And the Knicks will be stuck with Randolph's contract for four years.
And finally, despite the fact that most educated fans, press and others were on board for a plan that called for building through the draft, getting under the cap, and making a run at star players like James, Bryant and others in two years, the Knicks are back in cap hell.
This deal reminds me of the McDyess deal. From outside appearances it looks like they picked up a top player, but when you look closely, the Knicks set back their franchise dramatically.
Alan, this is bad, bad deal.
Another typical Knick deal. A player who looks good but nobody else seems to want him because he is a bad guy with a bad contract. He plays no defense and blocks no shots (exactly like Curry) and has played for a loser for years. Just proves that Isiah is never going to build a winner. Mediocrity is acceptable and as a past season ticket holder for 18 years, this is the reason I have given up my tickets and will never go back. Isiah and Dolan are made for each other but New York deserves better
Isaiah Thomas has done it again. It was a busy night for the knicks which included some great moves for this franchise. Getting Zach Randolph will create a "beast of a frontline" for the knicks. What a steal, we got a 20 and 10 scorer for very little compared to what we would have given up for Garnett. In addition, Randolph’s numbers are very close to Kevin Garnetts. So what if he has a rap sheet that’s longer than 5th avenue, he plays hard and will produce Big time in the Big Apple. I think that getting Demitris Nichols in the second round was also a steal, this guy led the Big East in scoring at 18.6 pts. Chandler, Fred jones are also good young players. Since the knicks currently have 17 players and are over the player over the maximum by 2. I believe the knicks should look to package a few players like Nate robinson, Morris randolph, and Dickau, to persue Rashard Lewis. That proposed deal might not sound great, but if you have a better deal for lewis please post it. Yesssss, the knicks are finally gonna make some noise this year. It depends on team chemistry and no major injuries. Here's my projected Knicks lineup if we land Rashard Lewis.
C- Eddie Curry
F- Zach Randolph
F- Rashard Lewis
G- Jamal Crawford
G- Stephon Marbury
Guarantee playoff bound, and much more…stay tuned for an exciting season of Knick basketball
@bobby, I can't believe that I just read something that started with "Isaiah Thomas has done it again" and was a positive comment.
Nigel, That team has a better chance of winning a fantasy league then an NBA title.
Sure Zach is a '20-10' guy, but look at the teams he did it for. If you give any guy 40 minutes and the rick, they'll put up numbers. I bet if you played Nate Robinson 40 minutes and let him heave it up 15 times, his numbers would look GREAT. Doesn't mean the Knicks would be any closer to winning anything.
With Randolph and Curry's poor D, lack of blocked shots, and terrible passing, you can kiss the fast-break' good bye.
Are you guys nuts? This guy will be the best power forward in the east. They just need a starting shooting guard now.
I think a lot of people don't remember what Isaiah Thomas HAS done for this team. And, no I don't like him. Not particularly. I thought he made a mess of the coaching situation, and I thought he screwed up several mid level agents. But look at what he has done. David Lee. Everyone looks at him an almost salivates at his upside and what he is delivering now. Balkman. Same deal. He's going to be a good if not great defender some day. The man has shown a keen eye for young talent.
The deal for Randolph wasn't amazing. But it is interesting. We gave up almost nothing. Frye proves that a mid range shooting big man doesn't necessarily = good chemistry next to Curry, and he didn't bring much more to the table than that. Randolph is a decent mid range shooter, but can pull down 10 boards a game, which is damn needed on the defensive end. He doesn't defend, but it's not like he's replacing someone who could. He gives us higher salary, but, it's not like we are going to get Dwayne Wade or LeBron James anyway (as cool as that would be, I just don't see them moving to NYC).
So yeah, I Thomas has messed up. A lot. But don't let that blind you to what he has done well and that this is a good deal; a starter for what amounts to spare parts. And we didn't give up David Lee to get him. If I were Portland, I would love the chance to get Lee next to Oden, even coming off the bench.
Besides, in terms of defense, maybe Zach can simply punch the opposing team in the face.
when everyone talks about character issues with this guy can we at least mention the fact that the Knicks once took Latrell Sprewell and his problems and it turned out pretty well. I know it's a simplistic comparison but it's something to talk about.
Look, Knick fans are so used to losing in spectacular fashion, the idea that Isiah did something right is shocking to all of us. That aside if you find me a more dominant front court combination than Curry and Randolph in the East I would be amazed to know who it is. The one thing that happened over and over again last season was that as teams realized how dominant Curry was, they were instantly doubling him - they can't do that anymore or else Randolph will abuse them from the other side of the low blocks. And if Crawford can be Mr. Big Shot like he was last season then the only question is whether or not Stephon will dish enough to get the ball in the hands of all these weapons.
We have to look at the Knicks right now as two different teams - the first team of Marbury, Crawford, Richardson, Randolph and Curry won't defend much but they'll also be almost impossible to stop - the second unit of Nate, Chandler, Balkman, and Lee with either Jeffries, Jones, Morris, or Collins - will make up a high energy group that will defend very well, run the floor and create match-up problems of their own.
As for the negatives - ESPN's Chris Sheridan says this about Zach "he's a knucklehead but he's not a bad guy, there's a difference." He's right - Randolph gets into stupid situations but it's not like he's Qyntel Woods running dog fighting rings or Latrell Sprewell.
His contract is obese - but so what - Knicks are never ever going to be under the cap anyway so what's the difference?
I think that as long as they keep Curry and Zach away from the post game buffets this could be the best offensive front court over the course of the next 5 years.
Seriously guys, we just got rid of Steve Francis. I will write it again. We just got rid of Steve Francis. We got a 25 and 10 guy who has trade value among NJ, Detroit, etc. If he is not already being discussed in a trade or if he does not pan out, we can at least get something for him. We are in a hole people plain and simple. We could not just let Francis go away. At least we got someone for him. As much as this looks like the Francis trade, it might turn out to be like the Sprewell trade. We already had Houston, why would we need Spree? I think that worked out pretty good, right? Right now, I think we put overselves in a better position than where we were.
Just for the heck of it - what if the trade for Randolph wasn't made with the idea of keeping him? The Lakers were very interested in getting Zach at the deadline last year.
How about Randolph and Crawford to the Lakers for Kobe?
It is amazing that so many people view this deal positively. A few reminders:
--Curry and Randolph both are low post players, who are poor defenders. Very similar problem in fact, to the Marbury/Francis duo with two shooting point guards who can't play defense. That worked out well, didn't it?
--The Knicks biggest problem last season was not interior scoring or even rebounding (they were one of the leagues top rebounding teams) but rather their poor interior defense and poor defense of outside shooting. This deal doesn't improve this problem at all.
--For those of you who are thrilled that Isiah shed Francis' contract -- he took on MORE money not less and MORE years not less. A prudent move would have been to hold on to Francis and let the contract expire in less than two years.
--The Knicks still have no outside shooting. So defenses will both play zones against them like last year and pack the middle. And guess what, the Knicks will clang shots and lose games.
--Doesn't it bother anyone that Isiah goes from building a team that is highly athletic an he claims will play like the Suns, to building a team "the old fashion way" that will pound it inside?
--Is any one concerned that Randolph has a very long rap sheet?
The Knicks were better off sticking to the plan that Isiah had six months ago, which was shedding Francis'/Marbury's/Rose's contract in two years and getting under the cap.
This deal will go down in the pantheon of deals such as the Francis deal, the McDyess deal, and the Marbury deal (they still owe a first round pick for this one).
This is a great deal for the Knicks. Randolph is a legit PF and with him and Curry up front... name me another team in the east that can hang with that besides the Pistons? You can't.
Zach can play off the block since he has a solid jump shot. The kid has had problems, but remember - he's 25 and now Zeke is coaching him. The sky is the limit for the Knicks in 2007-2008. A solid, solid move.
All of this talk of the Knicks waiting 2-3 years to get under the cap to have a run at Lebron, Wade, etc is a pipe dream. Great players want to go to good teams... if the Knicks can gel during this off season and pre-season - they finally might actualy resemble a good team again.
Disagree? I'll see you at the Knicks playoff games in 08.
I haven't seen anybody mention the fact that wr got one of the top 2-3 shooters in the whole draft in Nichols. Along with Chandler, Zeke does again at the draft.
I like the Zach trade as a Knick or a guy with good value around the league we can trade as well.
Hopefully, he can get Marbury to play PG like he did last year and this team should win agt least 45 games.
Dont judge a book by its cover when youre not a judge....
If Rodman, Sprewell, Sheed Wallace and their likes bring with them their baggages in their new teams and changed them to gold, then Randolph is worth a try.
For me to have Randolph in Knicks is better than to keep Francis.
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