The Knicks Fix

Thanks Alan . . .it almost seems that Memphis and the Knicks are negotiating through the media . . .

I'd make the deal with Crittendan as he has great promise, but it would be a better deal if the Knicks could get Warrick (great for D'Antoni's system) or Lowry (a tough, pass first, PG).

Hopefully the deal will be done soon.

NO. Any trade that involves us GIVING a pick should never happen. If anything we should be getting a 2nd RD pick with Darko & Jaric for Randolph and LITTLE money. If it gets us a pick the money is worth it.

Joe Johnson flourished in the D'Antoni system while a SUN. Crittendon is a lot like Joe only a lot younger.

I'd do it without a problem.

Then dump Steph and Jerome and we're set for the new season.

Let me echo that "No."

I'm with Donnie -- you want a pick, then include Warrick or Lowry. You don't want to do that? Then no pick. Crittenton is not enough for a first round pick even if it's protected.

This deal gets worse and worse by the day. Good thing I'm not in charge or I would already have told Memphis where to shove it...

Only if the 1st round pick is lottery protected

All depends on what you mean by "protected" too...

Top 10 protected is a lot different than top 3 protected.

I like that Donnie is standing firm, and working things instead of just pulling the trigger quickly on this one.

This is all positive.

No picks go out until our first championship, but the steady drumbeat between Memphis and New York continues to re-establish the Knicks as a franchise that knows its business. With each up of the ante (even though it comes with that request of a pick) ups Randolph's value and changes the game going forward. I would be content for this to fizzle even, and both sides continue to agree to disagree. That way everybody knows that the Knicks are no longer drafting for the league, and most importantly, we are not desperate.

Since everybody knows its Walsh's goal to get rid of salary, GM's (Clippers) have assumed it would be an easy thing to pluck players and picks from the Knicks. No more (Walsh, back me up here). Change perception, change the market, change the game.

The other reason not to give up picks, even if Critt is a great prospect, is that wee don't know yet what wee are going to need. We have to have the flexibility going forward because the team we will be, is not going to look anything like what we have now. Why lock in another player - albeit cheap and probably a nice trade piece down the road - when we haven't even had our first training camp practice? Two years down the line, a mid first, late first round, even a second round pick could be an important role player (when was Dorsey drafted this year, a guy we like, or Chalmers) plus and infusion of a new player at a position of need without having to give anything up.

Excellent post, Willis. Totally agree.

We don't need to get desperate with Zach -- he will continue to be move-able right up to the trade deadline. In fact, he might even be worth more...

Nice to see a Knick GM doing the right thing.

If we're giving up a protected first, the Grizzlies HAVE to either substitute Jaric for Walker's expiring, or better yet, give us a trade exception instead of Jaric. The first scenario would seem much more likely seeing as how its more of a compromise. I would also prefer Crittenton since we wouldn't have to worry about resigning him until after the 10/11 season.

I agree that this deal shouldn't be done unless it fits exactly what the Knicks want. As Willis said, no need to get desperate. Say what you want about Randolph, but his value is only going to get higher as he puts up numbers this season.

If we give up a protected #1, we damn well better get value in return for it. J-Critt ain't that guy.

Who gives a flip about a first-round pick so long as it protected!! Some of you guys think a first-round pick will transform us from "worst to first". We're a long ways from a finished product, my friends.

Also, what makes you think there are better deals on the horizon??

Don't get me wrong fellas...I happen to think Zach is a baller, but his teams have a tendency to have serious chemistry problems, and he's definitely suited for what Mike D. is trying to do.

If we can get Crittendon out of the deal, let's do it!! Let's not forget, only two years ago he was a first-round pick himself .

That was supposed to read, "and he's definitely NOT suited for what Mike D is trying to do".

Who cares about a future first rounder as long as it's top-10 protected. They have a lot of young/younger guys now. It's more important to get guys like Randolph, Steph, and James off the roster so the young(er) guys can develop more.

JCritt is very interesting, he has the most upside out of the 3 players, and much like Be a Real Fan stated Joe Johnson flourished under D'Antonis system after looking like a bum in Boston... But Joe is also 6'7'' so its slighty different...Warrick will always be about what he is now, and Lowry has the ability to perfect his jumper and really be solid... I always liked his game... The biggest problem with adding Lowry or Warrick is what do you do when you have to resign them... That puts you in the same situation as you have with Nate and Lee... The Knicks are trying to rid themselves of long contracts not add more...

But no way I make this trade unless the pick is totally lottery protected all the way to 14... Because none of these guys were even drafted in the lottery and none have shown they are worth a lottery pick... The Marko Darko, Zach trade is already fair... U wouldnt trade a lottery pick for any of these guys...

And for all those who think Zach's stock will go up remember we got him in his best year and it cost us Steve Francis and Frye... Both coming off their worst seasons... What the hell do you think we could get for him, without involving a young player or a pick...

No way we give up next years # 1 pick. Crittendon or no
Crittendon. In case you fixers forgot....we don't own a 2010
1rst rounder, So we are to gamble next years Lottery pick?
Which may be a 1 or 2 the way things look now!
HELL NO!

The Knicks cant trade next years pick Peace they could only trade a 2012 pick, you cant go consecutive years without a 1st round pick... And being that we are already in the hole for 2010, the pick would be 2012 or later

Peace,

The CONDITION would be that it's a "lottery" or "top 10 - 15" protected pick. If they could agree to that, I say we have a deal.

I would take Lowry over Crittendon in a skinny minute. I believe he brings what we could use RIGHT NOW. Crittendon, on the other hand, is the more intriguing of the two, and probably has more upside. I also love his size at the pg.

Unless it happens to be a very deep draft, how would the 16th pick really help us?......I mean really?

All protected lottery picks become unprotected at some point if a team continues to be bad. Not worth the risk and embarrasment of giving up top picks like we did to Chicago. Again we are talking about trading our first round pick for a Memphis bench/role player. C'mon people. I think we Knick fans underestimate the power of draft picks because we have not had a good one in forever. Talk to Portland and Boston about the power of drafting well. None of the players mentioned would even start on our squad. Warrick, Lowery, oh man.

Is anyone else here concerned about J. Crawford saying he hasn't seen Eddie Curry all summer? To me that is crazy and speaks volumes about why we suck so bad.

Alan,

Thanks again for the awesome update.

At this point, if it were you, what would you do if you were Donnie?

warrick or no deal
lowry is ight an he will be injured
so warrick only

so stay tuend for more KnowLedge

What did you say???? "lowry is ight an he will be injured"???

I'd like to stay ignorant, if you don't mind.

Willis,

We don't have to wait for the perfect chip on this transaction. As long as we get rid of that $48 mil, we win. Darko/any guard for Zach, we win.

As Bx stated, Zach is a misfit in our new system and that contract is an albatross.

Zach a misfit on a team of misfits? Come on Harlem in md,

Exactly what is our"system?" Your telling me Curry is a perfect fit? Or even a better fit than Zach? I really doubt that! In fact Zach may be a better fit than Lee and Curry! Didn't know "pinkeye" was contagious!

OUR.... 2010 plan should be Bynum not Lebron.
If the Lakers and Bynum camp can’t agree to terms before the start of the season that begins in October, the young center would become a restricted free agent next summer. Hmmmm..... Marbury is off the books, Rose too.
Push James in front of the A train and we may be able to make a run at him.
Oh snap! I forgot about Darko......

Javaris Crittenton is not an option. We could pick him in the future on waivers. Jaric, Darko don't impress me. No different than inserting Balkman into the line up.

Zach to Memphis
Protected First Round
Cash

for

Rudy Gay
and future second round pick

* I give David Lee his walking papers

Please do this trade already!!

Al,
Donnie Walsh needs to make this trade, I compare darko to Chauncy Billips, I think he could finally realize his potential under
coach D'iantoni.

Give up the pick if we get back back one of those young players.

Bits and pieces;

Grizzlies: They give up a washed up bench guy and an underachieving big man for a very consistent big. Randolph is not in Memphis' long-term plans, but while they rebuild and progress their young guys, they still have to win some games and put some butts into seats, and Randolph will help.

The Knicks should trade Curry, instead, but.... two things wrong with it. It would be better for the Knicks, but Memphis gets a far inferior player, in this trade. Randolph would help give the Grizzlies some wins, Curry would not.

OK, I get it. I do. I really do.

"Here, take Zach Randolph! Take this extremely talented player who just so happens to play at your weakest position! Nooooooo, we don't want anything back! You just take him!"

I get that. When your job is to improve your team, and you are offered a highly talented basketball player for essentially free, it's a tough one to turn down. And Zach Randolph really is highly talented.

The current reported trade talk sees Memphis giving New York nothing more than Marko Jaric and Darko Milicic. That is something, at least. Milicic is a player who has failed to pan out for three teams, and Marko is someone Memphis didn't want in the first place. The two players combine to earn $35,860,000 over the next three years, and they represent the two worst contracts that the Grizzlies have.

LETS GO KNICKS!

@AR "I give David Lee his walking papers." You what? You simply dump our best rebounder and one of our most energertic, motivated players? You would make Isaiah look good as a GM!

Lee is a great rebounder. But, he is an average defender and not a scorer. Gay can get better as a rebounder. But has the ability to block shots with a longer wing span. Isiah has blessed us with one dimensional players that are forever work in progress. We need bball players not jokes. Even Warrick can block a shot. We lack a shot blocker something Donnie has failed to get.

Only if the pick is top-15 protected. He was drafted 19th overall, so Memphis shouldn't have a cow. If they expect a lottery pick for him, they're sadly mistaken. He's still raw, having left GT as a freshman, still needs to hone his decision-making and shooting skills.

This way, we keep our '09 pick, the '10 pick goes to Utah and the Grizz get it in '12.