There has been a need for some damage control after it was revealed that Isiah Thomas would remain with the organization in some capacity rather than be outright fired from his position. This afternoon on the Max Kellerman show on ESPN Radio, Donnie Walsh addressed the Isiah situation:
"I don't want there to be some kind of double-voice here, so he's answering to me and nobody's reporting to him," Walsh said. " . . . He's not going to be here on a full-time basis anymore. I'll be calling the shots, I'm in charge of the franchise. It's my responsibility where it was his."
Walsh also added this about Isiah's role:
“There is no job description. He more or less is going to – when I call him and ask him to do things, he’s a guy, for me, that I could call up and say, ‘Listen, there’s a tournament in Europe and there’s a guy playing and I want you to go see him and give me an opinion on this guy.’. . . That would be an example of the kind of things I would ask Isiah.”
Walsh also had a conference call with the writers. More on that later...
Comments (25)
To paraphrase some of what Walsh said:
He says Isiah's talents are that he can scout and has a good eye for talent.
He said he hasn't decided if he will bring in a GM or not.
Crawford - plays hard, needs to be stronger to helps his defense
Zach - great offensive player in the low post, needs a good defensive scheme to protect him.
Curry - He's confused about him because of his age, talent and skill and is looking at him very closely and he's still undecided. He said he could be a problem for other people down the line.
Morris - he didn't play much so hard to make an evaluation. He "kinda liked" what he saw from him.
Marbury - "I don't know". Major talent in the league, thought he was getting better, if he can get better after surgery he'll be a very very good player.
Mark Jackson - he likes him but it doesn't mean he has the Knicks job, but that he will have a conversation with him for sure
He says the biggest draft need is a point guard and that it's a very good draft for PGs.
Says Isiah has no job description, but that he will ask him his opinion on some players
On 2010 free agency - must protect the cap flexibility and that NY is attractive for FAs and that we need to be under the cap to attract these players.
He says Knick fans should expect the team to be competitive and give the fans something to cheer about.
Don't have a lot of time today, so here it goes quick-style (can comment later after the discussion continues):
KEEP:
Marbury - contract year...like he's not gonna play hard
Nate - attitude bugs me, but best shooter & doesn't chuck...yet
Lee - showed signs of getting a jumper, needs to work on D next
Randolph - as said needs a shotblocker, at least he rebounds
Malik - I love wathin him "pull the chair"
Chandler - will be a legit player if mentored right
DUMP:
Crawford - best trade chip we have...chuck for someone else
Curry - No heart, no hustle, no rebounds
Morris - NBADL at best
Q - I know...next to impossible
Balkman - don't have time for him to find his offense
J.James - Doesn't deserve a #, just a picture of a hamburger!
DUMP:
Jones - no explanation needed he only dunks...sometimes
Collins - Horrid shooter & always seems lost
So Isiah will be a scout of some sort. They're getting some return on their investment, anyway. Besides, maybe Thomas will start showing up at college games incognito again.
Alan, the poster "Anonymous" (though more than one might be using the name) is a guy who used to post under the name Mark, and was banned last year from several sites (including probably this one, since he doesn't use his previous name). He was an incurable brawler, on every topic, with everyone who bothered to engage with him. As soon as you see phrases like "Coney Island Cupcake" you know who's talking. He continued attacking Marbury in the immediate aftermath of his father's death, and that's when just about everyone decided they'd had enough of him, and finally started ignoring him.
Back to coaching. Nobody has mentioned Hanners. He did a pretty good job with the young ones this summer.
Alan, do you have any take on him?
@Mike: Thanks, yeah, I know who he is. He gets only sympathy because he's clearly a miserable person. He's been banned by name, but, obviously, he identifies himself by his inane diction.
@godot: I personally like Dave Hanners. He's a well-read man and a deep thinker. He did a good job with the summer league team but, obviously that's summer league. Not sure a third assistant gets tabbed for the head job, but perhaps his LB/Carolina connection helps him hang on.
Knicks used to have an assistant...Mike Malone (??)...who was supposed to be an up & coming assisstant.
@ Alan - I think I saw him on Cleveland's bench last night...what's his deal now?
Alan,
Why such a need for a press conference about Thomas?
Let me borrow a statement from "The Wire"
"The Bigger the Lie,the Bigger the amount of people will believe it"
Also,
If what Walsh was saying were true............ that would have to
be the BEST job in the NBA...for 18 million over 3 years!
That's like Hitting the Lottery!
Why would we trust Isiah in his scouting duties? After all we've seen his draft.
Channing Frye instead of Bynum
Nate the nut Robinson
Balkman over Marcus William
Collins, can't play when the games count.
D-Nice they cut instead of Fred Jones or Jerome
Morris what a bum
D Lee is probably his best pick, but will he be anything more than a good role player.
Chandler, can he play when the games count
And his free agent signing
Jerome James
Jared Jefferies
Jamal
We've got the short end of the stick with his trades:
Curry and Balkman for Thomas, Fat boy, and two #1
Marburry & Penny for expiring contract and 2 # 1's, 1 still owed.
Zach & Jones for a $13M expiring contract this year coming up and Frye
Malik for Mohammed which at least got us D. Lee
Why would you ask his opinion?
Anonymous did have a funny line when he said "Fire Gracie". I know Alan was probably upset but I thought it was pretty funny.
If we keep Curry like you want Alan he will be playing 30+ minutes a night and we still be terrible defensively. We have to draft a PG, and David Lee can't block shots or defend the other teams best big. It would be better to trade Curry, keep Zach as instant offense off the bench and bring in a defensive minded center. Keeping Crawford, Nate and Curry won't work because they are all defensive liabilities. Have to make a choice there and I say let Curry go. Sounds like Walsh is leaning my way anyway
Could be, Knicks4Life. Walsh is on the record that he prefers his centers to rebound and defend. The obvious limitation to going after good players, aside from lack of tradeable assets, is cap space. The underlying reason I'd keep Eddy around is that his salary will come off the books in 2010. Unless someone'll trade back a decent prospect, or a genuinely serviceable big for him, I think he's a better option than Zach (who's more expensive and less coachable). But your points are valid.
I thought it was great that Walsh said the Knicks greatest draft need is for a point guard. Rose, Bayless, Westbrook, Augustine are all excellent prospects, and I'd be pleased if he selected any of these players.
Mayo is intriguing too, but he is not a point guard.
This is a (somewhat) graceful "exit strategy" for Znake with the hope that he'll resign and nullify the $ 18.0 mil. coming his way.
The demotion, absence of clearly defined title & responsibilities, and lack of subordinates reporting to the Zuksiah are all design to break his spirit and quit. They are doing a graceful Isiah on Isiah.
MSG & Dolan clearly wants Zicko to quit or earn his money. Zukazz will be a go-fer for Donnie boy. Next thing that'll be announced is that Zeke has to spit-shine Walsh's shoes.
"What goes around, comes around."
@Old School Oakley: Mike Malone is the son of longtime NBA coach Brendan Malone, who also served on the Knicks bench on three different terms. I'm not sure Mike is head coaching material yet because he's still quite young (mid-to-late 30s, I believe). But not a bad guy to bring back to New York for your staff, of course.
@Knicks4Life: Gracie has a diaper-full for you just for bringing that up again!
I THINK THAT WALSH HAD TO MAKE SOME CONCESSIONS TO DOLAN
SO HE CAN REMAKE THE TEAM HOW HE WANTS!
i like the fact that isiah will not have contact with the team.
let him be a scout or something...
dolan wants him to do something for all the money he is paying him so make him do trivial tasks to make his money.
AS LONG AS WALSH IS MAKING THE BIG DECISIONS I AM COOL WITH THAT.
eddy curry has got to go!
his contract is easier to move and i think the knicks should try.
eddy curry is the biggest mistake isiah has made as GM
(i also count Jerome James but he did not trade two 1st round draft picks for JJ)
he is a lazy.no rebounding,no defense bum of a center.
when he is not scoring he is comepletely useless.
allan says that curry is coachable?
BUT HE HAS PERFORMED THE SAME WAY IN TWO CITIES!
he is the same no rebounding,no defense playing center he was in chicago.
the difference is he does not have tyson chandler to clean up his mistakes.
You can tell the story of Isiah’s total failure in many ways. But one need only look at this pitiful roster and you think: It took him 4 and ½ years to build . . . THIS? It’s such a complete condemnation of his skills as a GM that it’s almost hard to believe that anyone of us could have done as bad a job. You almost begin to believe the conspiracy theories – namely, that he came here to trash the Knicks. I have to believe that if we’d had Tommy as GM – you know, that deaf, dumb and blind kid – tossing a coin for each decision . . . we couldn’t possibly be in worse shape than Isiah has left us. After 4 ½ years, there is not one legit starter on a decent team, with the possible exceptions of Lee and/or Zach. And, in keeping with the total failure that is Isiah – of course, they play the same position.
I don’t think it’s possible to say who you keep until you have a better sense of who might generate even minimal interest around the league, and what you might be able to get in return.
The bottom-line is: Ain’t nobody untouchable, even the sacred David Lee. Depending on what’s available, Walsh has to be prepared to listen to – and generate – as many different trade scenarios as possible. Then, unlike Isiah, he’s got to look for players that COMPLEMENT (no, Mark, that doesn’t mean say something nice about) . . . that complement the skills of his other players.
Yes, we know who we don’t want: James, Morris, Collins, Jeffries, Jones. I’d add Rose and Curry. Then I’d hope someone wants Nate and Crawford, maybe even Zach.
It will take time. But somebody has to start to turn this into a legitimate basketball team – one that isn’t just the punch line of a sports-radio joke.
"Michael Tillery talks to Jermaine O'Neal for SLAM:
Michael: "I spoke to Ron Artest and I could genuinely tell that he misses playing with you, Jeff Foster, Stephen Jackson, and Jamaal Tinsley. He told me he messed up there by walking away from the team because he wanted to finish his career playing with you. What's your response to that?"
Jermaine: "First and foremost, Ron's a tough cover. He can post it up, shoot the three and put the ball on the floor. He's like a 4 playing the wing position. The decision he made was a decision he made. He's just like anyone else in life in that we all make mistakes. I've never held it against him. We had great teams (stares off). Honest to God I wish we won a championship together. I respect him as a man because no matter what I saw him away from the basketball court. You see it Mike, but most haven't and don't. I saw him with his kids. I know what type of father he is. I respect it because I have kids. I thought we had a core that could have won for many many years, but things happen. I wish him the best of luck. I know he's having a tough time out in Sac right now. Just reading some of his comments as of late I think he's&sometimes we have to have things happen in our lives to understand what we need to do to approach life. The key thing is learning from our mistakes, make adjustments and keep it moving forward."
Fixers, based on the interview shown above, here’s my ideal offseason:
1. Fire/reassign Zeke. I know, obvious first move right? Hey I’m being realistic, it’s obvious the organization is looking to keep Zeke around in some capacity or else Walsh wouldn’t be taking his sweet time making a decision on Zeke’s future. I’m all for due diligence but this here is a case of Code Red. Zeke can be reassigned to the scouting dept. where he will be the team’s “top scout evaluator” or some other fancy title that still makes him at least appear relevant, not to mention it looks good on his resume considering this is the last NBA job he'll ever secure.
2. The basketball gods aka David Stern sees to it the Knicks land the top pick so they can draft Derrick Rose. If we don’t land a top 2 pick, trade the pick for an established vet who can play defense (see my #2 offseason move next)
3. TRADE FOR JERMAINE ONEAL. Send Marbury and Balkman(high character guy to entice Indy to take on “Starbury”, and it helps dislodge the logjam at SF here) or Marbury and this year’s lottery pick NOT #1 or #2 to Indy for J.O. J.O’s contract expires in 2010, right when LBJ, Wade, Bosh, etc. will be available so he fits into Walsh’s plan for the Knicks. This is a trade Zeke would have made last year if he had any type of repertoire with Bird the way Walsh has, instead he pulled the trigger on Zachary. If J.O. can stay healthy, and I know that’s a BIG if, he’s the interior defender they need to play alongside Curry. It’s a low risk award considering the years left on J.O.’s contract and the player we get rid of, even with the injury issues.
Yeah I say keep Curry if you can trade for J.O. cause J.O. compliments Curry better than he would Zach. I think Curry will thrive again (similar to how he did playing with Tyson in Chicago) alongside J.O. cause Curry can focus on scoring the way he likes to and he has a good help defender and rebounder in the post with him. J.O. doesn’t play the post similar to Curry/Zach and is a decent passer out of double teams, his basketball acumen and on-court leadership compared to Zach makes J.O. look like Aristotle. I can see Curry/J.O. competing with Garnett/Perkins if J.O. can stay healthy. Let’s face it, the only thing Zeke said all year that had any credibility was when he admitted that Curry may never be the defender/rebounder everyone would like him to be. But when he focuses on what he does best and has someone available to pick up where he is weak, it can work.
Why would Indy do this deal? Indy gets back the self proclaimed best PG in the league who although has had his share of injuries and is an enigma would still be an upgrade or worst case scenario insurance for Tinsley, it also gives Indy flexibility to trade Tinsley while getting a huge contract off the books in Marbury next year. Not to mention they get either Balkman, a young, high energy guy to back-up Granger or a top lottery pick (3-5) to help mold their core.
4. Sign Artest on a flyer, based on J.O.'s proclamation above it seems both he and Artest are open to a reunion. If Artest wants financial security give it to him but his contract must be built in with clauses and incentives based on his past. Such as he will receive x amount of dollars if he receives less than 5 techs all year. Or he loses x amount of dollars if he engages in any activity which violates any law or Walsh’s new media policy. This is a tricky one cause of Artest/Walsh/J.O's past history together in Indy, not sure if Walsh would be willing to go there again especially since the Knicks/Denver brawl but again if the risk/reward is kept low where Artest contract is limited to 2 years with a player option for a third and the contract is incentive-based, you get a top flight defender to shore up the next biggest weakness on the Knicks which is perimeter defense. It’s obvious Artest doesn’t want to go back to Sac and wants to play in NY, he may be willing to sign a contract which forces him to back up everything he says about playing here and turning things around.
5. Trade Zach for players whose contracts expire at or before 2010. Unfortunately due to salary cap restrictions the salaries must match so we have to take back close to a max paid player which I’m all for as long as the contract doesn’t extend past 2010. Convince Memphis to trade Kyle Lowery, Mike Miller and Brian Cardinal for Zach (works in ESPN’s trade machine)Memphis has been dying to get rid of Cardinal’s bad contract, and they’ve been trying to move Miller too. Cardinal’s bad contract is worth it to get Lowey to be the starting point until Derrick Rose is ready (which could be by mid-season), making Nate expendable in possibly another side deal somewhere before training camp. Maybe we trade Nate for a role player, or someone who’s contract is worth the team buying out. Cardinal and Miller’s contracts both expire in 2010, right in line with Walsh’s timeline.
5. Buyout Q Rich
6. Buyout Jerome James
7. Let Fred Jones walk. Randolph Morris too. Good luck to ya both.
There you have it, if I were the GM, “Ideally” this would be my 15 player roster 2008-09 Knicks. This team gives you a young veteran true point guard, interior and perimeter defense out your starting rotation while still retaining a lot of scoring power. Best of all it offers the potential for the kind of toughness we haven’t seen on the Knicks since the Oakley/Mason/X-Man days with the Artest/J.O. reunion in place. The bench is solid, with good rebounding and defense available as well as outside shooting to stretch defenses. Best of all there isn’t as much redundancy in player’s roles as the current Knicks where for instance we have Jefferies and Balk bringing similar skills to the table. I know this is all too optimistic especially when considering Walsh must also address character and image issues in this process, which is why selecting the right coach is imperative. The new coach must be someone the veterans will respect. I know there are still issues with this squad such as PG/SG depth, but its a start. Without further ado:
Starters
1.Lowery
2.Crawford
3. Artest
4. J.O.
5. Curry
Bench
6. Lee
7.Chandler
8. Jefferies
9. Miller
10. Rose
11. Collins
Inactives
12. Cardinal
13. M. Rose
14. Nate’s replacement
15. Summer League player/NBDL who's skills are interior defense and post play, mold him as the successor to J.O. or at least as a serviceable bench player down the road
On second thought, I'd make M. Rose ax part of my active players and drop Collins to the Inactives. Although this further hurts point guard depth (which is why I had Collins on the active list) I feel like the risk/reward in to our advantage getting Malik some minutes whenever possible. Dude can knock down a consistent outside jumper and is a very good interior defender. Collins needs to show me more cause right now I'm convinced he may need to head to the NBDL until he gets a jumpshot.
Hahn
Nah, no problems, just sick and tired of Jackass Journalism. Hope Sam Zell calls you soon. Or Murdoch buys Newsday and picks Berman to cover the Knicks.
Manage to explain yet how Crawford's a one-trick pony who just needs to play better defense to become, what, competent? A one-trick pony with no defense, no board work, no dishing, no ability to move without the rock, no desire to make his teammates better, and no leadership.
Figure out the difference yet between Little Man Nate as a superstar in the Girls Junior Varsity Summer League and a water boy in the League?
Or why Eddy Curry will never work and never rebound?
Or that Stephon Marbury's been a Loser Since Lincoln and Always A Loser will Marbury be?
Or get the ETA for Zach's first trip to a Gary strip club during the 2008-09 season?
Or understand that Rose, while a fair vet, won't average 16-and-10 at 48 just because he averages 2.7-and-1.7 at eight?
Hope you'll explain those illogical arguments of yours. Before, of course, Zell calls with The Hook.
Isola Eats his words again! He used the words " Banned."
And now Walsh responds:
Donnie Walsh denied that Isiah Thomas is not permitted to have any contact with his former players while admitting that he doesn't envision a scenario where the exiled Knicks coach would have a reason to communicate with the team.
"The only thing that we agreed to is that Isiah is dealing with me, and nobody is reporting to him," Walsh said Tuesday. "That is the description of what he will be doing. It was never discussed about players and all that. He is not coming in every day like he used to, but he is there as a resource to me."
The News reported Monday that Thomas, as part of his reassignment agreement with the Knicks, is not allowed to have contact with the team or attend practices at the team's training headquarters in Westchester.
Walsh, the new Knicks president, remains vague on exactly what role Thomas will have with the club, although during an interview with ESPN Radio, he did hint that Thomas may do some scouting. Thomas was fired as coach last Friday and reassigned to an unnamed position. When asked specifically if he would have a problem with Thomas communicating with the players, Walsh replied: "I don't think he'll do that, I think he's going to try to deal with me. That's the way we set it up."
The idea that thee is some hidden Machiavellian plot to keep Isiah around as the secret power behind the Knicks is utterly ludicrous. As ludicrous as Anon's stilted phrasings and repetitive unfunny catch phrases and nicknames. Isiah is around because the team owes him millions over the next two years and Dolan doesn't feel like paying him to hang out with his family on a beach somewhere.
Trane - I like your analogy, but blind coin flips would be right half the time.
Pete,
You want funny? Check out the Knicks for the past five years or Stephon Marbury's entire career.
Both are hilarious and will bring tears to your eyes.
We now return you to the regularly scheduled Peaceman & Its Propaganda Possettes on the Home Depot Hockey Network.
MSG is gracefully embarrassing Zuksiah to quit but it's not working yet.
But we all know Zicko boy wants his money:
Let me quote my idol:
* "You can take my dignity but you can't take away my money."
* "Mom, take the money!!!!" (This he said to his mom while his momma was insulted that a college recruiter offered them cash.)
* "They gonna have to kill me (but they still have to pay me)."
* "I'll sell my momma if it'll benefit me. (This he said jokingly in an interview.)
[Now who in their right mind would say something like that? ]
Teflon Zeke will tough and gut it out to collect his money. Pride, dignity, integrity means squat to my idol. Money talks.
* Donnie Walsh WILL probably do a “Ted Nugent” if Mark Aguirre applies to be head coach.
“Mark, say what? You want to be considered for the head coaching position? YOU BETTER GET THE F * * * OUTTA HERE!”
So... basically Isiah is Walsh's whipping-boy? Aka his bit**