The Knicks Fix

You the best.

Have a great weekend with the fam

Am I the only Knick fan who thinks it's pretty much guaranteed Artest's craziness will overshadow any contributions(significant they may be) he makes on the court and give us buyer's remorse in a year? Or less?

Oh, the throw up thing. I'm not feeling the idea of Kobe on the Knicks. Not at all.

Is he a great player? Sure.
Maybe the best in the league? Sure.

Still. A little bit in my mouth if I think of him on the Knicks, now.

That's like asking me if I wanted to trade for Michael Jordan in the midst of our rivalry in the 90's. Just can't see MJ in orange & blue. Might we win a championship with the great MJ? Sure.

But the whole challenge of it, the sweetness is beating him. Its one of those cases where winning ain't everything.

The saying is, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Not if you can't beat 'em, trade for him and have him join you.

NBA Live 08? Any good? I'm thinking of buying the PS3 because of it but haven't seen it in action. You got any insight?

Later!

Paul,

no. you are not the only. You're actually in the majority. But when it comes to the hardcore fan...who blogs in the middle of summer...like we all do...

You take the risk because the reward is so sweet.

And anyway, if you're a real NYer and not a transplanted one...you probably know someone just liek Artest. Super talented. Relatively smart. A bit obsessive. A bit maniacal. A lot passionate. Sort of uncontrollable.

He's a hometown dude. I'm of the opinion that Artest will be here and be home. Be with his family, his friends and his charities. He'll be too busy to get in trouble. In smaller markets, all you got is your home and your imagination. Think about it. I don't think its much of a stretch.

Here's the "internet" rumor for those who missed it:

Cory (North Dakota): Rick, The internet is buzzing with a rumor that claims you said Artest going to New York. Any truth to the rumor?

Ric Bucher: Good to know the Homeboy radio program by Roger B. Brown in Dallas gets that much attention. I spoke with Roger yesterday and said that I'd heard a rumor that a Artest deal was in the making, but the terms I'd heard didn't work under the cap. That said, Artest would love to be in New York, Sacramento would love to move him and the Knicks would love to have him. When you have three parties who want something, I have to believe -- much like the Minny/Boston/KG situation --it's going to get done.

Alan:

Keep up the excellent work. Your blog has many contributors who are regulars at a rival tabloid paper, but are looking for a more objective viewpoint. I look forward to your future posts.

Well Artest to the knicks I would love that. But what do we give to get him. Maybe too much. They are not going to take Rose or James Or even JJ. They want something thats good like Lee or RB. I would not give thouse two for him. You know what I think Lee is going to be a Star, but I think RB is going to be better than Artest. I think he plays the same type of deffense. The offense is not there yet but it will come. To me Lee Brings it every night he will be your 10-10 man of the bench. RB will shut down players From point guards to Power forwards. The only way I trade any of them will be for Kobe at this time. I think he is the best player in the NBA. He is not just a knick killer he is every team worst nightmare. He in the knicks with curry and Randolph down low and starbury in the backround will be crazy. If you are the oppossing team you really have to pick your poisson. The team we have now will be one of the top team in the east. We were last year until we got heart, lets face it the east is not that good The celtics got a lot better with no bench how long can you ride them. Maimi Shaq will never be Shaq again them days are over, They will still be good. Detroit too. Cleveland will be there also. NJ it all depends They have a lot of Ifs. The Wizzards we dont know how will agent Zero be, it all rides on him. Toronto will sacare you. Now the Bull are a team to recon with. I think this year they come out on top. Im a knick Fan so I always think my knicks will be on top. Indiana forget about them. Orlando they will be alright No deffense. I will make my Christmas list early I want Kobe. Thats a no Brainer. Thats the only way I trade Lee and some. But I would try to stay with RB he will be ebentually my starting small fordward. Artest why trade for him when you can get him for nothing next year. But its all talk right now we will see how it all plays come Nov. Adios for now

Oh I know Artest is a talented guy. Artest knows it, too. He feels he should be in the pantheon of current players with Wade and Kobe; he wanted more plays called for him in Indiana, and he knows his defense is lauded but wants his O to get the same attention. If this was Random Joe with the same skills, it would be a no-brainer even for Billy Knight.

But it's not.

You know he'll eventually spout off about something. Maybe that Q's taking too many of his minutes. Or second-guess an end-game play Isiah drew up(which we all do anyway). Or decide to go into Soul with his next CD. With our team's chemistry at such a tipping point, that's not a risk I want to take. ESPECIALLY if you take our media into account. Everyone knows where Steph came from. He was no stranger to how things go here if you falter OR succeed, and you knew it still cut him whenever he ended up on the back pages with a towel over his head. You think Artest will handle it any better?

Maybe my main problem is we'd either have to give up Balkman or Lee to make this work. I'm willing to wait a year and see how much of his lip service about wanting to come home really means when its his own potential money on the line. It's just too risky for me.

Alan – fair enough. But if you’re not willing to include Lee, can I assume you see him starting down the road? Even though we’ve just committed to Zach? See, I’d almost be more willing to let Lee go over Balkman. Despite Lee’s talents, he’s always going to be playing behind Zach – or next to him, at times, certainly – but not starting. If you agree that bringing in Artest makes us competitive with anyone in the East, I’m a little surprised that you don’t consider Lee worth that chance. (What other moves do you propose that would get us that far, that fast?)

Let’s assume for a minute Isiah is confronted with his worst nightmare: The Kings demand Lee in the package. Let’s say it’s Nate, Lee and an expiring contract – something like that. Yes, we’d be weaker when it comes to a big, banging, rebounder. Rose and Morris aren’t confidence inspiring. But that’s still a very deep team, with Crawford, Collins, Balkman, Jeffries and the rookies. And a starting 5 of Marbury, Q, Artest, Zach and Eddy. (I gotta believe we could make up for those lost rebounds on a 2nd unit more easily than we could come up with an alternate, elite, starting 3.)

Are you keeping Lee to always play behind Zach (an elite 4, with a long-term contract, who also brings offense)? Or as an asset? If it’s an asset, if not Artest, who? If not now, when?

I’ll ask it one other way. Okay, you’re Isiah. They demand Lee. And you walk away from the table. What’s your rotation? Q has to start at the 3, right? Which will be tougher on him physically. If Jeffries had been the guy we were sold, then he’d fit. I don’t believe we’ve seen the best he’s got, but he’d have to vie for most-improved player of the year to justify the kind of minutes he was getting last year. You have a double-double coming off the bench in Lee, but you’re still fighting to make the play-offs. I can’t believe that’s a desirable alternative.

I just see this as another fortuitous opportunity (another talented pariah) to make a major up-grade in talent at less than fair-market value.

how about trading jones or dickau, future 1st round pick and nate for artest...? can it be done?

and if the 60 days have past, how about we trade zach and other players to indiana for jermaine???

Alan, the appreciation is mutual. You are operating your blog like I dreamt it – fun and smart. The attitude of your blog reflects leadership (See “Remember the Titans”). Of course, you should know by now (assuming a friend has bent your ear and told you) that you have become quite the celebrity on a rival blog to remain unnamed. I can’t wait until we meet so that I can pick up that check, and I’m not referring to the mark you put in the squares before the words, “male,” and “size: extra large and satisfying.”

I am also glad to read someone else share and put my own reservations about the Nets into words. I think an intensive and extensive look at the Nets is my next project only because too many posters (like BARF) feel very strongly about the Nets being at the top of the finals-bound class. I’ve watched them very closely, at least since the Byron Scott Era (?) or moment, and they look like a mess. They should be so much better (more consistent) than they are. They could be stylistically similar to the 1980s Lakers, but they are collectively weak-minded. I think Kidd is an exceptional talent who does not play to his potential. He is one instance where I think the individual stats just fool anyone taking a cursory look. He plays when he wants. Much of his dribble penetration stops before he gets to the rim. Although, this often results in kick back passes to open jump shooters, his failure to command the paint turns the team into a jump shooting team when he can just dominate. Carter has turned into a mid-ranger who often times seems afraid (or wary) of mixing it up in the paint. INCONSISTENT. And Jefferson’s talents have been wasted on this team from my observations. Well, at least they have a coach on the bench, as someone said, with the arrival of Brian Hill as an assistant – no disrespect intended to Bill Cartwright. All that talent and no cohesion. I can’t see what others see, so I must look deeper to determine whether I have just been blinded by the Nets’ moving van lights and the “Going To New York Banner” flapping in the wind..

Trane, with all due respect, I think you guys continue to look at Lee in the wrong way. While I acknowledge the merits of having Artest, I am not interested in dealing with the Artest for Lee scenario here. I’ll leave that tough decision to Zeke and deal with the aftermath of a trade or non-trade. But as you look at the team now, to consider Lee simply as a back-up to Zach is the wrong approach. Lee is an integral part of the ROTATION and he spells both Zach AND Curry in the rotation. Lee also replaces Curry when the big man has those lapses in effort and execution. He also is another link between the “up tempo” unit and the “post up” unit.

In the “second unit”, Lee is offensively more diverse than given credit by some critics. He plays the post and becomes a hub as he passes the ball out of it to open players moving without the ball. His overall passing skills are excellent and he also has the option to drive to the basket with either hand. He also sets up the pick and roll nicely from the high post. If necessary, he can also play point forward, giving the offense a different look. I am not sure, especially with his season-ending stress fracture barely behind him, that he will improve defensively, but guess what, he has a few fouls to give and is smart enough to know when to use them. If he has a mid-range shot by November, he becomes even more dangerous.

No doubt that Artest brings a more complete, but different package, offensively and defensively, but if he is not on the team, so be it. In November, it will be time to love the one you’re with.

Nets to Knicks: What Rivalry?

Defensively, the Nets wil not have an answer for any of the Knicks, Marbury, Crawford, Curry or Zach. The Nets defense is a sieve and they will occassionally employ a 2-1-2 or 1-3-1 zone to cover up the deficiencies. However, the problem is that the guards are not quick enough (plus they don’t stay in front of their man) to stay with Marbury and Crawford. They also won’t guard Zach closely enough to stop hos mid-range shot. You can expect Curry to be the third option.

Offensively, the Nets should be a fast break team. Watch Vince Carter play the point. He can drive with the best of them, but he can be enticed to take the jumpers and to eschew the paint. No one Knick can really guard him. (Ron Artest can however).

Offensively, the Knicks can make Carter work by posting

Defensively, the Knicks would probably do better to pressure the ballhandler near midcourt forcing the guards to release the ball earlier in the dribble and encouraging the forwards to go one on one. Jeffries and Balkmen will be assigned to Carter who can drive right by both of them with his quick first step. However, if he does not have a hot jumper, the Knicks will do well.

All the nba rumors every day are on the insidehoops.com rumors page so just use that to keep track of what everyone, everywhere is reporting

As for the knicks, artest, zach R and eddy curry would at least be interesting to watch, even if they're all flawed and or crazy

Lives,
Stoic, provocative, and steady as usual. IT has already alluded to this observation that I'm about to type and acknowledges it as his responsibility to fix. The NYK perimeter defense MUST improve. In the past some have advocated one-on-one defense as a return to the stellar defense years. The zone was not in effect then and help defense was an art applied by the better teams. I cetainly see Unit 1 (post-up-double-doubles) considering a 2-1-2 zone. Still, EC's help defense must improve requiring he become more alert onm the defensive side of the ball and read the game better. As he heals from his last tragedy, I for one hope that he's in his luxurious cinema room doing some film work (watching the likes of PE, HO, DR, MM, DD, to name a few exceptional bigs). Fortunately, we have at least three coaches on the NYK bench to resolve this and other defensive matters.
Lee as "point"-Forward is less likely than Balkman (a poor man's Artest sans libel) in that role due to his lesser ball handling skills. Going forward, Lee (and Curry for that matter) must reduce their number of TO/PG. Admittedly, some of the TOs are attributable to knowing the system and more significantly, buying into the system as coached. I believe this element makes up what we often hear/read coined "chemistry". Recall what happened when Stephon finally "bought-in" the system. I would argue that after a year, our NYK should/will have that "chemistry".

Alan, you'll be seeing us pitch-in from time until the transformation is complete and the traffic rivals that of the other paper. Just keep doing what you're doing. Steady as she goes--stay the course. I'm certain your beloved father had the opportunity to tell you--"You tell on yourself by the company you keep." That's why we're here. Tman will be by to finish the rest of that thought.

KFL

Lives – Can’t argue with any of your points. They’re all valid. Certainly, Lee’s talents bring more to the court than simply a second unit banger/rebounder. I did say, however, that he might play behind or next to Zach, acknowledging his versatility in the rotation.

Look – you’re right. I wasn’t trying to misrepresent his value to the team. It’s immense. I love this kid. As I’ve said many times, I’d be thrilled if he retires in a Knicks uniform. And hell, for all we know, last year was just a preview of even better things to come. How do we know he’s reached the top of his learning curve?

Moreover, I hate being cast as the guy looking to run Lee out of town. I’m not. I’m just trying to be realistic. Remember – I also applaud Zeke’s attempts to be patient and try to find another way to land Artest that doesn’t include Lee. My problem is that, realistically, I can’t help feeling that the Knicks + Artest (minus Lee) are a MUCH better, more dangerous and well balanced team than the Knicks + Lee (minus Artest).

But I haven’t given up hope that the Kings will be blinded by their desire to rid the locker room of “bad influences.” (I’m praying we’ll go into camp with Artest AND Lee.) Maybe the new-age version of the “bad boys” is that Isiah’s putting together the “all-pariah” team. Then it will be up to him to craft them into a unit hell-bent on winning.

"realistically, I can’t help feeling that the Knicks + Artest (minus Lee) are a MUCH better, more dangerous and well balanced team than the Knicks + Lee (minus Artest)."

I absolutely do not disagree with you. Artest is a stud who can hit the three, beat his man off the dribble, hit the mid-range jumper, slap the leather off your shot, strip you in the open court, post and hit a turnaround, score 18-30 at any point, foul the devil out of you, and scare the hell out of you. The problem with the last ability is that he can scare the hell out of his teammates too.

Anyway, if he gets here I will cheer like everyone else. If he doesn't I will cheer like everyone else.

BTW. Good Stuff Trane.

WE'RE ROCK STEADY,

The other team ain't even ready.

WriteOn Steady.

Yeah Steady if that perimeter "D" does not improve, we are going to be some very angry hombres. And that my friend does start with Zeke.

I think I'd rather have Q, Balkman and Lee sharing the duties at the "3" over Artest.

Not just because of personality chemistry, but also what I think the aformentioned trio could do this year.

You won't be able to keep those guys out of the line up.

Lee will find time at the "4", as well. Q should see time at the "2"

If they do get Artest, Q should probably start over Crawford as shooting guard.

GO KNICKS

Read Ric Bucher's piece about Kobe on espn.com.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=bucher_ric&page=bucheronkobestatus

Kobe's going to get traded, and it's going to be ugly. He's going to end up in a big market in the Eastern Conference: Chicago or New York.

If you're Mitch Kupchak, do you take Deng, Gordon, Tyrus Thomas (plus salary throw-ins) and a No. 1 or Zach Randolph, Q, Wilson Chandler and a No. 1?

We should trade Lee and Rose/JJ in a package for Artest, then sign Webber or PJ Brown as the back up to Curry and Randolph. Our starting line up would be tremendously better and the team would benefit from Webber's passing ability or Brown's veteran presence. Our team would be a force to recon with and a definite playoff team.
We wouldn't miss Lee if we do this or find another way to get Artest before the season starts.
We have to get Artest to make the Playoffs or have a chance to get to the nba finals.
Our team as presently constituted may not make the Playoffs. I am tired of not playing in the Post season.
A Knicks fan for life.....

Zeph, what are you thinking man. Isiah would get booed out of town if he traded Lee for Atest. And I would hate to see Weber or PJ (Charlie Ward fight) Brown on this team. I would like to take a shot on Artest but not for so much. JJ and Nate for Artest, that it if not then let my rookies play some behind Q and Balkman. Then they'll be ready once Q goes down.

I saw on ESPN that Oak is talking about a comeback. Not that I think there is that much gas left in the tank, but wouldn't his work ethic and defense-first mentality cure some of what ails the Knicks? His role would be more as a coach than a player. I would rather have him at the end of the bench than James or Jones. His biggest contributions would be during practice and in the locker room.

I would love having Artest on this team. He would take this team to a whole new level as mentioned. I beleive were already a 5-6 seed, but with Artest we could be even better. Just imagine, his defense will drive guys like ray allen and vince carter CRAZY. Artest would make them quit basketball and send them into early retirement. Bringing Artest to the Knicks makes a whole lot of sense. The only thing is Isiah shouldn't trade David Lee or Ronaldo Balkman under any circumstances. If Zeke wants to trade Nate and a 1st rounder than I beleive it can be done. We already have a great young core and a lot of talent that developed good chemistry last year that we can spend a 1st rounder to bring Ron back home.

I just don't see a trade for Artest happening.

Malik Rose, Q and Crawford are the only players who could be traded straight up for Artest.

Lee's salary isn't enough to trade by itself. You'd have to package him Jerome James or Jared Jeffries, who have 3 and 5 years left on their contracts.

I'm not convinced Arest works for us on offense, but I'd make that trade. I don't think Sacramento would.

Talking about Kobe coming to NY, you could do that salary-cap wise with this trade: Randolph Morris, Jamal Crawford, Mardy Collins, Quentin Richardson.

We get one of the best players of all time.

LA gets a smart, tall PG, which Jackson craves.

They get great offense from Crawford and Q.

They get a big man with potential.

With Luke Walton on the roster, I don't think they'll demand Lee in the trade.

As much as I'd like to package one of the JJs in the trade, the salaries don't quite add up without giving up more of our younger players.

Malike Rose is another option in place of Jamal or Q, but probably not as interesting to LA unless they don't want to reunite Q and Odom.

What do you think?

What have I been missing here?

I love this blog...

I promise no Kobe talk guys....only our beloved Knicks !!!

I also can't see a trade for Artest happening. I can see the Kings waiting him out and then he opts out at the end of the season. We can sign him next off season unless Sac. comes to their senses and trades him at the trade deadline.

They are not going to get equal value for him because nobody in the league is going to trade an important piece of their team to land Artest.

I don't think Isiah would trade Lee and I hope he doesn't. I don't know why people refuse to understand that Lee is our best young player and he is the hardest worker.

shp..I like the Kobe trade you proposed above but I would rather trade Marbury and other players for Kobe. I don't think you want to break up the Jamal and Curry combination.

Crawford, Kobe, Q, Zach and Curry.

Remember a trade would be much easier with Marbury because his salary is almost the same as Kobe.

Great point about them having Walton and not demanding Lee is a deal. They might want Balkman and that's fine. However, don't get it twisted. Kobe is the only person in the league I would even consider trading Balkman or Lee for.

We're in for a big year this year. I just hope that once we're able to trade Fred Jones and Dikau on August 28th....we make out move for Artest that way. If we can add Zach Randolph and Ron Artest in the offseason and only lose Francis and Frye...you have to give Isiah the credit.

Let's not even talk about Wilson Chandler and Nichols...

You can't be thinking realistic if you would trade Lee for Artest. That's not even close and I wish people would just accept the fact it's not going to happen because Isiah is not dumb enough to do that.

Like I said before...

Isiah said he wouldn't do it...

Artest said he wouldn't do it....

Why do you still think he should do it?

You and the Kings GM are the only people on the earth that would do it lol....

Get over it guys...Lee is a Knick for life...

Maybe you can move to Sac and cheer for Artest out there....

Only way we get him is in a late off season sign and trade or at the trade deadline or at the end of the season when he opts out.

Lee is not going anywhere.....

Welcome, D.J.

Peace

its nice to see so many daily news bloggers migrating here, davon, lives in jersey, barf, paul (i'm assuming its paulnoise). isola doesn't deserve your talents on his blog. i used to go by anonymous, then starbury fan on the aforementioned blog, but Isola's point of view just doesn't mesh with mine any longer.

enough with the hate.

this is a great blog. hahn is good writer, and only rarely makes hockey analogies :D we can overlook those.

i hope you're right alan, about artest being with the knicks by season's start. I do think the knicks would improve defensively if it were a sane and balanced artest that would join the knicks.

everybody is talking about kg and boston's newfound relevence. I think he's a great player on and off the court and deserves a chance at a title. just not at the knicks expense! reminds me a lot of what happened to ewing, except ewing went to seattle and orlando where no one was waiting for him (yes I called t(b)mac nobody when it comes to winning titles). from how KG's handled himself in the 12years of purgatory that was his minny tenure, I wish him the best. Just not when he plays the knicks.

i do think that fantasy dorks like rick kamla get too much credit for making a career at out memorizing box score stats, and just because this man enthusiastically says the knicks are headed straight back to the lottery (12 years of KG in the league, 12 years of Kamla worshipping KG from his suburban home), it doesn't mean people have to take his word for it. for all we know, this man kamla hasn't played any real ball--besides nba 2klive on ps2. i'm sure he's mistaken in this case. we have d lee, zach randolph, e city, jamal, a presumably healthy Q, stephon, mardy collins, chandler, and many more! and that's without artest, so I think the teams that sould watch their ass are older teams like Miami and new jersey, both of whom seem to be satisfied with their former success (kidd the exception). Can't wait to read those perrenial preseason reports were the reporters say they've seen shaq and he's 25lbs lighter and as quick as he was in his rookie season with the magic. happens every year.

just one last thing.
everyone keeps saying boston will be successful because of three unselfish all-star players joining forces. where did this come from and why is everyone repeating it? from what I've seen of paul pierce, the kid doesn't pass. now all the fantasy bloggers can say he averages 4 dimes a game (kamla loves to use the 'dimes' slang for assists, makes them feel like they are less from the suburbs) but i still think pierce shoots it everytime. same thing with ray allen. only kg would I classify as unselfish. the other two are paid to put the ball in the basket.

I’m not going to belabor the Artest/Lee debate. Those were valid questions, but at this point I think we should simply agree to disagree. It’s still early days, and there are so many possibilities (including that nothing will happen) . . . let’s just see what Isiah can put together. Hahn obviously agrees that we shouldn’t give up Lee, so I’ll be interested to see his thoughts. And yet, I think everybody’s in concert on what they’d prefer to see happen (i.e., keep Lee) and some disagree about the relative value to the team, long-term prospects, etc.

For the record, however, I doubt any Knick is untouchable. For the right deal.

It’s fascinating how wide-open the Eastern Conference is at the moment. Impossible to tell how new players will gel with new teams. Which of the teams that have been together for a while are over the hill, or have a few competitive years left in them.

This could be a really fun season to watch . . . whatever the final roster looks like . . .

I like this blog. Got connected to it through Hoopshype.

Alan, you seem to have that "Joe Benigno" quality to you - by that I mean, you seem to be a fan first and sports writer second. That's the reason I like listening to Joe and I feel that I'm gonna get the same pleasure reading your stuff.

I would like to comment on the Knick players trade value and the Kobe trade scenarios in particular. I don't think that we can get a big time player like Kobe without giving up significant players in return. The Lakers were soundly criticized for the Shaq trade and are not going to want to go through that again. Without Kobe, the Lakers become today's Knicks - a big-market franchise with no stars and thus no reason to be on the national TV schedule. The only way that the Lakers trade Kobe on the cheap is if Kobe forces their hand by being the bad guy and sitting out games, not taking shots, etc., and the fans demand he be traded. Other than that, we have to look at what we have to offer. Remember, Chicago (Kobe's supposedly #1 choice) can offer a package that includes Henrich, Gordan and Deng, all very desirable players. What does the Knicks have to offer?

1) Desirable Trade Value: Lee and Balkman seem to desired by other teams so they leade the list. Zach should be the most desired Knick because he is, in my opinion, the only Knick that can make the All-Star team next year. But we got him on the cheap so I'm not sure what is real value is around the league. The two expiring contracts (Jones and Dickau)are desirable as well.

2) Lukewarm Trade Value: Crawford, Nate, maybe Collins (eye of the beholder sort of thing), Chandler (supposedly a lot of team were trying to work him out before the draft) and Morris.

3) No Trade Value: Marbury, Rose (both will become desirable during final year of contract), James, Jeffries (especially after last year's performance), QRich (I can't imagine other GMs really believe his back problems are over), and Curry (no insurance coverage and no team wants the media nightmare of him having a heart attack while wearing their uniform), and maybe Collins (again that eye of the beholder thing)

So to get Kobe, I believe we would have to offer up Lee, Balkman, Zack, Crawford, Nate, Chandler, and the expiring contracts for the Lakers to choose from. Is that enough to get it done? Is that better than what Chicago could offer?

While this trade scenario guts both teams, Kobe is a one-man gang. Kobe with Marbury, Curry and whoever is left should be able to get it done.

"The only way that the Lakers trade Kobe on the cheap is if Kobe forces their hand by being the bad guy and sitting out games, not taking shots, etc., and the fans demand he be traded."

sounds exactly like what Vince Carter actually did to get away from the Raptors. I still don't like him because of it (look at his production prior to the trade and immediately after it). that was sheer selfishness personified.

I can't agree with the trade of all those guys for kobe, we'd have nothing left if it were just three guys (curry, marbury and kobe) how is that much different than boston's approach?

what makes ny unique right now is their unparalled depth at seemingly every position.

the game is different now, injuries are to be expected, the team that wins it all hits its stride at the right time and the teams that rely heavily on just three veterans are risking much in terms of timing. you could say that san antonio has done it for years, but they are just now beginning to get older, plus they've got those role players from hell. I doubt they can continue their success much longer going forward, however.

I'd give up crawford and lee for kobe, but I doubt that is enough, so I say keep crawford an dlee and let kobe rot on mediocre teams the rest of his career. he had a good thing with shaq, and their egos got the best of them, so let some players who deserve rings like Nash or Dirk get a shot at a ring coming out of the west.

speaking of the west, with several allstars now moved into the atlantic division, is the west still that much better than the east? Could this be the first year in a long time that the east is the stronger conference?

Good new week everyone. When's the mailbag this month?

Brevin Knight signed with the Clips.

What other PG's are out there for Boston? Without a decent veteran PG, they really will be an enigma. They can look forward to an up and down year with Rajon's second year performance.

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