86mets

I thought this article summarized everything pretty well...and shed some more light on the 2010 strategy...

RotoTimes.com - Cory Elfrink - Offseason Overview: New York Knicks


The part that concerns me..is that Knicks still likely can't afford(cap wise) TWO Max players..

What can realistically be expected next summer?
Everything we have been told essentially paints the picture of LeBron James-or-bust for the Knicks next summer. If the Cavs fail to win a championship this season, the King may very well leave town, and New York is believed to be his top destination. However, they don't exactly have the pieces in place to present James with a very attractive supporting cast. As it stands now, the Knicks will consist of Curry, Jeffries, Gallinari (team option), Chandler (team option), Hill, and Toney Douglas. Aside from Chandler, there's not a good starter among them. That mix of players stands to make $21.3 million combined. The NBA also has rules that assign a "roster charge" equivalent to the rookie minimum salary for teams that have less than 12 players signed. That salary is $473,604 next summer, and it will be charged six times over to the Knicks, given the current makeup of their roster. This brings their assigned salary up to $24.1 millions. Also, that's without factoring in a draft pick, which seems unlikely. Assuming an optimistic cap of $60 million next season, James and his 2003 classmates (along with Dirk, Yao, Joe Johnson, and possibly Manu) will stand to make $18 million in their first season of a maximum contract. This will make it virtually impossible for them to land two max-contract players, unless the cap unexpectedly jumps above $60 million. However, there are a ton of good players that won't command the max salary. Veterans such as Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Tracy McGrady, Josh Howard, Marcus Camby, Mike Miller, and Rafer Alston are a few of the non-max contract stars (used loosely) that will be available. Clearly, they need to move Curry and Jeffries (who combine to make $18.2 million) for expiring contracts or buy them out this season.


I don't think Bron+ a 2nd tier FA will be ENTICING and good enough..I could see Nash "possibly" coming for Mid level..but what else?

I give up hope on dumping Curry....but pray Jeffries can still be moved...I wonder if Wizards still have interest..they have too many guards and the offer was supposedly him straight up for Mike james (who could be useful on this team) and expires for 2010...

The other scenario/trade to get Rubio I DON't See happening..why would they give up Love...AND TAKE CURRY..LOL...

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ACCEPTED TRUTH: That I will be ROYALLY F**CKED OVER by EVERY TEAM I ROOT FOR (METS, JETS & KNICKS) !!!

MrHat

Well most folks here know I've never been a huge fan of this 2010 plan because I've always said they've had a hard time getting 2 studs here and I still believe that Lebron wont come here unless there's at least some sort of foundation in place.

To me, thats why getting Rubio while hopefully keeping Chandler, Gallinari, Hill, and maybe even 1 of Lee/Nate is hugely important.


You have that in place, sign someone solid for the mid-level and then I think you can put a stake in the ground that this team has enough talent to put around a guy like Lebron (assuming Chandler continues to improve, and Rubio/Hill/Gallinari live up to their potential).

I mean you look at the list of the older guys they give most are garbage or likely will be by then --

Nash is a heck of a player, but he'll be 36. Stockton played forever, but he played in a 1/2 court offense and post-35 barely played 30 mins a game and his stats still dropped big time.

Allen has been done for at least 2 years now.

McGrady is injury prone and teams typically play better without him than with him.

Camby would be nice off the bench, but I dont want him starting at 36.

Miller? Zzzz. Chandler is a better player than him today (different style tho) and Gallinari has all the potential to be

Alston - Yawn another short shooting guard that people stick at the point.

I really think the Knicks need to give up the dream of having enough to sign 2 big guys and focus on building a solid core to get 1 guy to plug into.

86mets

All valid points..which is why I think the plan needs to be RECONFIGURED....all attempts should be made to go after Rubio/Flynn..curry..(doubtful)..but they need to be made without SACRIFICING all the YOUTH in the process as it counterproductive..it needs to be YOUTH...sprinkled in with some vets..look at the position Portland has put themselves in...young..and now they can add in the Vet or two..

I know Nash ISN'T the long term answer..and I wouldn't give him more then mid-level..but if anything it answers the pg spot for a year...perhaps he would be rejuvinated playing in NYC with the coach who elevated his game..that still leaves ONE MAJOR FA to be added..with NO IDEA who that will end up being..

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ACCEPTED TRUTH: That I will be ROYALLY F**CKED OVER by EVERY TEAM I ROOT FOR (METS, JETS & KNICKS) !!!

Hojo of 1991

Well, ath this point, the Knicks have no shot to get Rubio. From reports, the Wolves turned down Brooks and Battier from the Rockets for Rubio. Stupid on the Wolves part if you ask me, but if that isnt enough for them, I have no clue what the Knicks could ever offer that is attractive to Kahn.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Isola There was no greater leader, teammate or unselfish player than Larry Johnson. He'd arrive for games at 4:30 just to stretch his aching back. He always played hurt. He always guarded the other teams best big man. He had the most underrated Knicks career in franchise history. The Knicks won two playoff games the year after Patrick Ewing left. They've never won a playoff game since Larry Johnson retired. They haven't had a winning season since Larry Johnson retired. Larry is the man

MrHat

Well who was going back to the Rockets besides Rubio I think is the question there. Battier is making like 7 per and Brooks is making 2 per. So they've got about a 5 mil gap to close don't they? If it was anyone with any kind of skill I could see why they would turn that down

Overall tho.....Battier is pretty overrated. The guy is a backup player at best, who doesnt have a great shot and has basically settled into being a 10/5 guy. The Wolves already have 2-3 guys like that at the Forward spot.

Brooks is a 6 foot point guard who wants to play shooting guard, but barely shoots 40%.

Personally I dont think those guys are any better than Gomes and Telfair....and I dont think it would be a stretch to say a sign/trade of Nate and Chandler blows that out of the water.

Obviously I'd like to try to keep Chandler and thats where things get tricky, but maybe you can get Jeffries to go along with Nate and take an ugly contract right back rather than anyone with any skills? (The completely useless Brian Cardinal comes to mind...)

86mets

True that HAT..that offer wasn't impressive from Rockets..Knicks if they DESIRE can top that easily..still a chance..but Rubio would need to continue adding pressure..I'm just not sure it will be enough..Kahn drafting Flynn really gives him a safety net..If for example Wolves DIDN'T have another pick..thye would have had EXTREME pressure to sign him..and in fact..I would say..they maybe would have PASSED on drafting him altogether...I do beleive as was printed in article..they drafted him with the hope of him being a Wolve at best..but just as importantly as an ASSET..I'm starting to believe that Kahn would let him play overseas..continue to improve his game while retaining his rights..and he would still LIKELY get alot for him in a trade in another year or two..

__________________
ACCEPTED TRUTH: That I will be ROYALLY F**CKED OVER by EVERY TEAM I ROOT FOR (METS, JETS & KNICKS) !!!

MrHat

I dont see how you can trade up and draft someone on a hope. If that's really true then Kahn is a bigger idiot than Omar.

To me, the reason the Wolves traded up to get Rubio was to get 2 proven players that are CHEAPER (if not better) than the guys they sent away to move up - So Foye and Miller. IMO Nate/Chandler fit that bill and then some.

As for letting him play in Spain...Again I find it hard to believe his value would go any where but down. He's coming off a year where he was in the spotlight because of his play in the Olympics. I don't really know how you top that.

86mets

Who knows...perhaps he did to take a big gamble..and is now playing poker to see if the bluff works out..I wonder if he was shocked that Rubio dropped to #5 and then felt he HAD to take him and figure out what to do with him later and then draft an insurance policy in Flynn..perhaps he feels team were gonna offer the moon for him later..guess we'll see who blinks first.

__________________
ACCEPTED TRUTH: That I will be ROYALLY F**CKED OVER by EVERY TEAM I ROOT FOR (METS, JETS & KNICKS) !!!