The Knicks Fix

na no euro players please
trade the pick for charlie villan from the bucks he will be a great fit

c'mon fixers, be patient. the franchise wasn't going to be turned around in one night. gallinari sounds like a perfect fit -- NYK needs to fill out the roster with some guys who don't throw alley-oops to themselves off the backboard. a smart, savvy, sweet shooting SF sounds like a perfect complement to LeBron in 2010.

I like those Zach to Philly rumors. Alan, any "high ranking team officials" willing to confirm or deny if there's anything going on there?

choosing between Rose and Beasley is like choosing between Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony. Who would you rather have?

Plenty of guys in the NBA can score and rebound, but a talent like Rose is very special. Chicago would be stupid to pass on him.

Alan another thing about Papaloukas, he was the floor general that beat the USA team at the world championships
ESPN said at the time (May 2006) "Greece stuns U.S. in FIBA semis, Greek guard Theodoros Papaloukas, who carved up the U.S. defense with 12 assists"
I think this guy is worth much more than Jerome James and Jared Jefferies, who have been given the mid-level exemption, and malik rose who is making about 7 million.
I think it would be a good move...

Allan,
Did Uncle Jimmy Dolan tell you to write that now that you're owned by him?

No Euro players ? Why do you say that ? It's like back in the 2001 Draft, where Knick fans badly wanted PG Omar Cook over that "soft Frenchie" Tony Parker.

As for Randolph, does Philly even have the contracts to match ? Consider that they're not trading Dalembert or Miller, the Knicks would have to add a 3rd team. However, a deal in which the Knicks would trade Randolph and the 6th pick, and get back 21 year old PG Louis Williams (11.5 PPG, 3.2 APG last year backing up Andre Miller) and the 16th pick, would be something to consider. The Knicks could still nab a quality prospect like Nicolas Batum, Joe Alexander, or Chase Budinger.

Charlie Villanueva is a very good thought - I can see the Knicks being interested in him. I can also see Milwaukee making him available - he doesn't seem like a Scott Skiles player.

He sounds alot like Mark Jackson. The Knicks have not thought outside the box for a long time. This certainly seems like something worth exploring.

guys... what about baron davis?!?!?!?

Alan you mentioned the idea last week and since then i've done nothing but think about how great this would be. The guy's one of my favorite players and would fare well under d'antoni...

is there any kind of possibility whatsoever? would it be stupid to even consider??

I love Theo Papaloukas.
It's natural because I'm Greek and proud, but the guy is just a phenomenal player regardless. I also own his Greek jersey and am a huge fan of his. That being said, I don't want to see him come here and ruin his reputation. Not that he wouldn't do a good job, but people would expect too much from a 31 year old point guard.

Stay in CSKA Theo, and keep your status as the best player outside the NBA. That's nothing to sneeze at.

The thing I like least about Paploukas is his age. People who compare him to T-Mac...what happens to NBA guards after age 30? Nothing good, pretty much. Less so points than wingmen, to be sure, but I'd spend no more than a second-round pick on a guy north of 30. Since second-rounders rarely make the roster anyway...

Nothing against international players. There are some pretty good ones. Dirk, Pau, Tony Parker, Manu, just to name the most obvious. There have been plenty in recent history too, guys like Detlef Schrempf, Arvydas Sabonis...I'm just listing 'em off the top of my head. The international game relies more on passing and spreading the floor, and since that's D'Antoni's gig, one or two of those guys would be an obviously good fit.

Thank you Alan for mentioning Papaloukas. I am Greek as well so I am obviously showing some bias but the man is amazing. He is the greek Steve Nash. The problem is he is old and will ask for too much money from us and considering we want to get under the cap, it's not the best idea.

don't get me wrong i would luv to see this current roster under dantoni as a player u gotta adjust to the coach an what better than free offense.
if we can add talent that would be a plus but this roster isn't bad zeke aint the coach no more the players got new life..

manu is from argentina people keep getting him confused..

williams from philly when he gets his chance will be good
charlie from the bucks is a double double guy with range

sleepers are dorrel wright from the heat he will be good in time h.s guys don't disappoint when they get the chance
i would even invest in gerald green dude is young an no 1 is picking him up thatz crazy
hakim warrick from the grizz i also liked i wanted the knicks to pick him instead of frye.

the knick are going to be watchable not to sure if they going to make the playoffz

lets see by jan we will know where this team is going

stay tuned for more KnowLedge

Gerald Green is a UFA right now, is that correct ? He might be worth a flier.

Baron Davis is a good player, but the Knicks should stay away. Very injury prone and it would ruin their plan to get under the cap for 2010.

In regards to this Greek PG, would the money matter as long as the Knicks don't offer him more than 2 years ? Because he'd be off the books by the summer of 2010, right ?

Granted that's a highlight reel, but wouldn't it be great to have a guard on the team that actually plays defense...AT ALL?

Matador Marbury and Crawfor (no D) have hurt us consistenly for years, esp. with the absence of a shot blocker.

So, if we don't solve for the PG spot, then let's move on to a real shot blocker...a Camby type. ESPN has some interesting (possibly cheap) Unrestricted Free agent shot blockers in 2008:

1. DeSagana Diop
2. PJ Brown
3. Primo Brezec
4. Alonzo Mourning
5. Mutumbo - old, but will take vet minimum & only needs to play limited mins.

Mike,
Papaloukas would not cost the Knicks a 2nd round pick. He is basically a free agent, and he just became 31 this month.
besides he is would only make a quarter of the 20million the knicks are paying "Starbury"
Also there are a few Guards that come to mind who are over 30 who the knicks would love to have for example....
Steve Nash 34, Jason Kidd 34, Chauncey Billups 31, Allen Iverson 32, Vince Carter 31...

@Old School - I like you're thinking, but why a "Camby-type" and not just Camby himself?

Maybe Zach, and the number 6 would be enough to get it done. Looks like Denver wants to shake things up anyway...

And PJ Brown? He's the biggest Knicks villan of the 90s. I hate PJ Brown. He's a dirty player that screwed the Knicks that year, and I would never want him in NY. PJ sucks, remember that and boo that man anytime you see him at the Garden. I was so pissed when he hit that big shot for Boston in Game 7. The dude needs to retire already..

OK, thanks stevek. I wasn't sure what the protocol would be. In that case, if it's only money, then the issue would be, to what other uses will the Knicks want to put their exception? Point guard and center are the most important positions, and I wonder what kind of effort Jersey will make to retain Diop (who fits both Walsh's and D'Antoni's wish for an athletic big who can block shots and rebound). He might even be a decent fit with Curry, since Diop is somewhat more in the mold of Camby, a guy who's effective on offense going after table scraps, and not having the offense run through him.

You win with DEFENSE- trade down and take Robin Lopez-a shotblocker who's quick enough to fit D'Antoni's offense,build around Lee, Chandler and Lopez!!

@ Matt B

Camby just stated yesterday (or at least his agent did) that he'd like to finish his career in Denver. http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_9327345

I wasn't thinking about the past, just guys that could fill the role...PJ seems to be getting up and down the court w/ the C's, plays tough D & would come cheap...that's all.

Good find OSO, but that's what Camby's gotta say. I'd still think we'd have a chance at him.

I'm with you. They need a shot blocker. Period.

@ Alan -

Need clarification on next year's draft (due to Curry trade by Isiah):

It sounds like Chicago has our 2nd rounder locked up, but they also had the right to switch picks this year (2007), if NY got the better pick. It obviously didn't happen...

SO, does that mean they have that right next year as well? Any pick, correct? (Since Zeke the F'n Genius didn't protect it, if it was say 1-3)?

...meaning NYK have NO draft pick next year, as of right now!

that papaloukas guy looks lame, i rather keep marbury. i've seen better point guards at the Y... i'm interested in this galliani guy. but our knicks have a bad history with euro players. we'll see what happens.

great stuff again Alan... love this blog.

The Knicks draft pick obligations ended last year with Chicago's pick of Joakim Noah. That was the switch. We got Chandler with their pick and they got Noah with ours. They also had our pick the year before. They picked LaMarcus Aldridge and traded to Portland for Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa.

We owe Chicago nothing more. We still do owe Utah a protected pickthat they recieved from Phoenix. Phoenix got our pick as a part of the Marbury trade, and I believe it becomes unprotected in 2010. It could be 2009 though which would mean we don't have a pick next year.

Portland owns our second round pick this year from the Zach Randolph trade.

Sorry, my mistake, Portland got our second rounder this year for Demetris Nichols.

his drive-and-kick style relies on having shooters around him, something we don't have. he is also going to have trouble keeping NBA guards in front of him. remember in fiba ball you can zone all day, but in the NBA his inability to keep his man in front of him will expose him.

HE from NJ, you are a moron. The sad thing is you've never seen Galinari play either and consider him great while Papaloukas is lame." Pathetic.

Uh, George, HE from NJ never called Galinari great. He only called him interesting. And I agree, he's interesting.

Intriguing thought about Gerald Green...if he were to develop a reliable shot, he'd be a real weapon on the 7 seconds offense.

If you're the same as George from Scottsdale (or even if that's someone else)...I agree that you need defens to win. But really, it's not a matter of having great defense, and then some measure of offense after that. It's about having an effective blend of both. A winning team will have a focus, either offense or defense. That's part of the team's identity: do we score, or do we stop others? But you need versatility, too. Every scoring team needs to be able to stop others, at times (witness Phoenix, Dallas and Golden State). Every defensive-minded team needs to be able to score (witness San Antonio last night).

D'Antoni will undoubtedly want to install his 7-seconds offense, to some degree. That's good. But the team will still need to make life difficult somehow for opponents on the defensive end. And that's where a shotblocker is doubly useful: not only for the stops, but for effectively generating turnovers, and quick scoring opportunities. Rather than Camby, who's getting old, I'd go for someone younger. If the team's going to blow its midlevel on a big, I'd make a push for Desagana. He's a good, quick, middle-tier shotblocker.

Mike -

The point about Camby is he's got a contract that could stack up with Zach's, but it expires sooner.

He's getting older, but he, as a player, would be more of a short term solution. His expiring contract is the long term solution, because (if traded for randolph) it will help them get under the cap by 2010.

This is going to be really interesting. I wish the draft wasn't more than a month away.

Knicks fans go to nbadraft.net and compare Joe Alexander to Danali Gallinari. Joe Alexander is far superior!

@voice of reason: The site and you tube clip is w.virginia team scrimmage. the best video of this guy is some dunks with NO DEFENSE on the court? There is not one team game, and not one jump shot.

Have YOU seen the video BAZ ? There is not only at least five different teams West Virginia is playing their playing Syracuse at MSG ! Tell me what prospect do you feel could stop him at the next level. Also check out his first step! The Knicks would be fools not to draft him if he's there!

To the Knicks fans who continue to mention Robin Lopez as someone worthy of a top ten pick if you had seen him play you would know that he is a super project! He's too slow and have a hard time getting his shot off against 6-8 and 6-9 players let alone players his size. Yes the Knicks need interior defensive minded players but also for Dantoni"s system the Knicks are going to need bigs who can pick and pop the way Amare did. The only big the Knicks should consider taking at the six spot is Javale Mcgee. He's a lot less of a project than Lopez and his potential with the right COACHING is through the roof !

Thanks, Matt B. I hadn't looked into the salary matchup. That is a pretty interesting idea. And you've got to think that Denver would like a genuine low-post scoring threat (since Melo's not a pure post player) to go with the rebounders and perimeter guys they have. Viewed that way, I'm on board absolutely. He would fill a need...

where's peaceman?

is he still campaigning for Mark Jackson as coach GM and commander in chief of the knicks?

he posted that "Mark Jackson is the best & greatest Knick ever.'
peace is so SPECIAL!

isiaih skunked us again.
zeke was prabably laughing his azz off when knicks dropped to 6th

I can't let go of the Zach to Philly rumors, so I cooked up this deal: NYK gets back Willie Green (three years, $4M each) and Reggie Evans (three years, $5M each) and a Kevin Ollie sign-and-trade for one year, $3M to make the numbers add up.

If it's true that Cheeks and Zach are boys from their days in Portland, Philly has to pull the trigger on this deal, right? From NYK's perspective, they would still be carrying bad contracts beyond Summer 2010, but at least it's less, and it's broken up. For example, Reggie Evans has value; you can dump him to a team looking for some rebounding and toughness.

Also, anyone out there like Jose Calderon to run D'Antoni's offense? His numbers last year were excellent: 30 minutes, 51% shooting, 42% 3-pt., 90% FT, 8.3 asst, 1.5 turnovers. He's a restricted free agent, and Toronto would rather keep him than TJ Ford, but maybe he could be had in a sign and trade. Some combination of Crawford, David Lee, or whoever the Knicks draft at No. 6. Toronto needs a backcourt scoring punch, and had a rebound margin of -6.2. Lee could help that.

ramon sessions.

zabarius randon

Denver wants expiring contracts and young players for Camby so he is out. The Knicks need to target a point guard from Calderon, Ford or Lowry and offer Zach or Curry and the number 6 pick. Maybe we could get a lower first round pick and pick Love who would fit in well and is reportedly training hard and seeing results. They should try to keep Lee and Crawford, maybe Robinson and Chandler too. Mainly, we should shed salaries not take on more so we are ready for FA in 2010. I am good losing one more year bad enough to get a top 2 pick.

test post

Main goal is to shed salary before summer of 2010. I think most fans are OK with this plan. To do so means the main goal is to shed Zach. He's the main salary problem. Despite talent, teams are not going to line up to take his 14 mil going up to 17 mil. We can line up three or four players that teams might be willing to get rid of to add up to that magic 14 mil, but ... the more complex the less likely a deal is to get done. Teams are also going to be less likely to deal expiring contracts for a guy with the rep of Zach. So, I was looking for players who expire after 09-10 season who make comparable money. Next criteria was that the player must be overpaid and therefore less desireable to the team they currently play for. There's not many players I could come up with. Remember, the goal is to shed years off of bad contracts. I would be willing to take an overpaid bum back for Zach if the contract ends in 09-10. Well, here's what I came up with.
Larry Hughes - 12 mil
Ben Wallace - 14 mil
Darius Miles - 9 mil
Obviously these guys wouldn't do much for the knicks but shed salary in the long term. What do you folks think? Would you be willing to take any of these guys for Zach? Or do you think other teams would take Zach?

There's no way Portland will ever take Zach back. Miles isn't an option.

I thought the Knicks should've traded Zach for Ben last year. It would've worked straight-up. I don't know if Cleveland will go for that deal, since they don't want to help New York be a rival for LeBron's services in 2010.

Larry Hughes is an interesting possibility...he's a slasher and a streak shooter, so he'd have a place in D'Antoni's offense, and Chicago still needs post scoring. And his contract comes off the books in 2010...if Chicago's willing to throw in someone like Cedric Simmons, the deal could work. And they have a defensive, rebounding-minded big guy in Noah to pair him with...it could still work.

Let's go, Chicago!

Since we're talking Euro PGs, what about Anton Ponkrashov? Another big, 6'7" PG that led CSKA to a Euroleague championship, AK47 raved about him. Would be a lot cheaper than Theo, similar physical skills.

Barring that, we'd be better off persuing one of Toronto's PGs, they can't keep both and one of them straight up for Eddy Curry might be the right deal.

Any deal to move Zach without taking on a contract longer than 2 years is a good one. Put the "Fire Sale" sign on the lawn, it's time to make a deal happen. If we can squeeze a second round pick, then super, we can use it to snag DeVon Hardin or Joey Dorsey.

Very interesting scenarios fellas. I'm readin' and learnin'. keep em' comin!!

@ Voice of Reason,

I agree with you wholeheartedly in your opinion of Joe Alexander. I've been watching this kid the last couple of years, and his progression was magnificent. He does it all and his stock is rising quickly. His first step is off the charts, and he should be around by the sixth pick (I hope)., He would absolutely flourish in D'Antoni's system.

I love Gallinari's toughness, but Alexander isn't exactly a wimp.

Guys we need still need a Center. Curry most of the time can only get 5 rpg. he cant even block.
LOPEZ in 6th is will be fine. since we still have marbury and he is expected to play his whole heart out for another contract.

"Greek mythology"

Try blatant fiction.

See other examples of European point guard fables (who won't soon own low-class pizzerias in Italy):

Marco Belinelli behind the Baroness;

Juan Carlos Navarro behind Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry; and,

Thabo Sefolosha behind Kirk Hinrich and Chris DuNothing.

I wonder if chicago will even trade with us as they are pissed at knicks stealing coach. It would be in their best interests to keep us losing and pitiful

Draft Bayless at 6.
Trade Randolph & Balkman to NJ for Carter & 2nd Rd. Pick
Draft a PF/C with 2nd.
Buyout Marbury and Q-Rich.
Sign Diop and Speedy Claxton.

Curry
Lee
Carter
Crawford
Bayless
=========
Chandler
Nate
Diop
Jeffries
PF/C
Claxton
MRose

Draft Bayless at 6.
Trade Randolph & Balkman to NJ for Carter & 2nd Rd pick
Draft PF/C in 2nd
Buyout Marbury & Q-Rich
Sign Diop & Speedy Claxton

Bayless
Crawford
Carter
Lee
Curry
===========
Chandler
Nate
Diop
Jeffries
PF/C
Claxton
MRose