Monthly Archives: April 2008
ESPN “analyst” Steven A. Smith insisted that the team do whatever it takes to get Memphis point guard Derrick Rose.
“Keep in mind y’all, the Atlanta Hawks are in the postseason this year,” Smith
screamed at,told Chris McKendry the other night on SportsCenter. “They’re not even a .500 team. Trust me. The New York Knicks will be able to compete for a playoff spot if they got a leader. Derrick Rose. Memphis. I keep saying that. Derrick Rose Memphis. I don’t care what you gotta do. Fix the ping pong balls, do something. Get him. Get him.”
SAS is such an easy target and this one is just too easy, and maybe a little reach. But you mean to tell us, seriously, the best move for a team in desperate need of a franchise point guard is to invent ways to get him and we’re supposed to accept that as analysis?
Thanks SAS, what would the basketball world do without you.
Hat tip to “You Been Blinded” for the link….
Andy Katz of ESPN highlights the impact of several college players who have declared for the NBA draft but have failed to sign with agents, meaning they can still head back to campus.
Names like Chase Budinger of Arizona, Ronald Steele of Alabama, Marreese Speights of Florida, Darrell Arthur of Kansas, Donte Greene of Syracuse and Bill Walker of KSU will rely on good pre-draft camps in order to maximize their status in June.
Meanwhile, Chad Ford discusses just which players who have made the ultimate leap of faith, actually may have made the right decision.
The draft is easily my favorite event of the summer and we are working towards posting from both the NBA lottery and the NBA draft, but we will provide in-depth coverage including our own team-by-team mock draft in the weeks to come.
Not surprisingly,
Larry Brown has gone home (how many homes does this guy have?) and will be reunited with UNC brethren Michael Jordan having accepted the head coaching job with the Charlotte Bobcats, the Charlotte Observer is reporting.
I’m one of the few who actually thought Brown got a completely raw deal here. He hated Isiah’s players but realized he couldn’t move any of them and became frustrated. Granted, he should have realized that before taking the job in the first place. Either way Brown deserves on last chance, he’s too good a coach for the Knicks to be his swan song. Good luck ya nomad.
Did T.J. Ford play his last game in Toronto last night? The Magic closed the series out in five games 
and rumblings are that Ford may be on the move, and one possible destination is with the Knicks. Ford himself acknowledged that his days in Toronto may be nearing an end.
“Ford was asked if he felt he had played his last game for the Raps. He smiled before replaying: ‘No, not really, but I also know it’s a business and I’ve been through that process before so it won’t be anything new for me if that were to happen. Do I think it will happen? No, but I’m not sure. I don’t really know. I guess we’ll see how it goes.’ “
Someone call the cliché police please.
I think acquiring Ford is a step in the right direction for Walsh even though he has said there is no way he will sign players past 2010 and Ford has a player option for 2011. Yes, he’s injury prone, but he’s one of the most productive point guards per minute in the NBA when healthy. If you could swap Crawford’s contract, you’d have to really think about pulling the trigger and having a true point guard on the roster. Unless, of course we manage a top 2 pick.
….Andrew Smith writes…
If the Raptors would trade Ford for Crawford, I think it is a no-brainer. When healthy, he is one of the best drive-and-kick point guards in the league, and in a division with lightning-quick guards like Rajon Rondo and Devin Harris, we will need a point guard that can keep up with their pace. He is definitely vulnerable to being posted up, but Crawford is vulnerable to everything on the defensive end of the court, and despite the injury risks, an injured Ford might even be more valuable than a healthy Crawford. It’s no coincidence that Crawford’s never been on a winning team in his career. The Raptors also have Jason Kapono making 18 million over the next three seasons and he is rotting away behind Jamario Moon and Andrea Bargnani, we know how desperate our team is for a spot-up shooter, could there be a match in a 2-for-2 trade?
Like a vacationer at an outlet strip mall, Donnie Walsh 
appears to be taking his time shopping for his first head coach, and by now you’ve heard most of the names. Mark Jackson, the local product and former Knick rookie of the year, who set the city a buzz when he commuted to work at the Garden from Jamaica, Queens, seems perched on top of the list of these candidates, Chicago interview aside. Tom Thibodeau, the former Knick assistant and one who would bring a defensive system to a team that plays at a second grade level defensively would also make Knick fans happy should he get the nod. Mike D’Antoni, Avery Johnson and Sam Mitchell are also being discussed but are considered long shots at best.
But one name that hasn’t been mentioned and should get serious consideration is Hornets assistant Darrell Walker, for a bevy of reasons. Yes, I know he has had his shot and in two full NBA seasons he’s managed just a 56-113 record, but you tell me who could have won in Toronto and Washington? Plus at 35 he may have been a little over his head. First, and foremost he was a Knick and frankly, may have been the best on-ball defender the NBA has ever seen, a weakness that has plagued the Knicks for years. When you don’t have pressure on the ball and guards get into the lane at will, it exposes the team’s lack of interior presence. That needs to be fixed and who better than Walker. Secondly, he’s entrenched himself in a winning situation as a member of the Hornets staff, preaching defense first leading to transition, a game plan that the team has executed to perfection and one that needs to be adopted in New York. Walker also learned under the great Hubie Brown, and managed to find his way on the Bulls roster, learning championship basketball under Michael Jordan. Oh, and did we mention he’s been involved in turning around a franchise that didn’t have a home gym for over a year and is now possibly on the cusp of become Western Conference champions?
Obviously, this team is a few years away and Walker should be given the chance to succeed, like Doc Rivers has been in Boston. Remember it wasn’t too long ago that Doc was about to get the pink slip after losing with an ensemble cast of rookies. The patience (2-2 verses the Hawks aside) shown by Danny Ainge was the wise move, as the Celtics still are the favorites to come out of the East.
The old saying goes “anyone can win with talent” and I agree. But plenty of coaches have lost with talent. Maybe Walker can grow with this team and be the right choice as the team looks to add talent much like the Celtics did last offseason.
I mean with a laundry list of candidates what’s one more, right?
Patrick Ewing went on TNT over the weekend and told confidant John Thompson that he 
is “bothered” by the fact that he hasn’t received a phone call about the Knicks coaching vacancy.
“Obviously I played in New York, I know the area, I know the team, I know the fans, I know everybody, I know the media,” the Big Fella said. “So, naturally, I would have loved to interview.”
Also, Hahn has tossed Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy‘s name into the mix, who’s been on shaky ground in La-La Land for a few years now.
“Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy was on shaky ground with owner Donald Sterling earlier this season; if he were available, the New York native definitely would draw interest from Walsh. “
Any coach lacking job security that has ever lived in NY please send your resume to 2 Penn Plaza…..
Read Alan Hahn’s account and Donnie Walsh’s reaction to the snub thus far.
Marc Berman is reporting in the Post that Suns coach 
could enter the Knicks coaching equation should the Suns get bounced in round 1.
Mitch Lawrence notes that Walsh indeed has interest in Tom Thibodeau who has his hands full trying to stop the suddenly explosive Atlanta Hawks, who evened their series with the Celtics at 2-2 with a 97-92 victory last night behind 35 points from Joe Johnson.
Miami Heat president and Knicks turncoat Pat Riley (hold on to your hats folks!) stepped down as head coach and turned the reigns over to assistant Erik Spoelstra, who instantly becomes the youngest head coach in the NBA (37 years).
“While we are always looking for NBA talent to perform on the court, the most important talent that you may find has to perform on the bench, in the locker room, late at night, watching
film, motivating and executing all the responsibilities of a head coach,” Riley said. “I believe Erik Spoelstra is one of the most talented young coaches to come around in a long time.”
What bothers me most about Riley’s antics is that he’s the Bill Parcells of the NBA. He’s such a damn good coach, but is just way too antsy to be taken seriously. Still can’t get over him faxing in his resignation though.
….Andrew Smith writes….
And in 2011, when Michael Beasley proves to be primed for a playoff run, Riley will discover that “burning itch” to coach again, and Spoelstra will be demoted back to his position of watching videotape and shining Riley’s championship rings.
Frank Isola reports that Kenny Smith will interview with the Knicks this week.
Meanwhile, Marc Berman says that Raptors coach Sam Mitchell, who played in Indiana for three years during his NBA career, may factor in the Knicks coaching plan should the Raptors lose in the first round of the playoffs. Mark Jackson is also expected to talk to the Bulls on Wednesday.
It figures Bryan Colangelo may reach out to Mike D’Antoni should the Suns fall to the Spurs, which should happen soon, but Mitchell to the Knicks seems a longshot at best. Jackson to the Bulls is an equal long shot, as the Bulls need an experienced leader to resolved their locker room issues.
Mike Dougherty wonders if Patrick Ewing has been typecast, hence why the Knicks have not mentioned him as a possible candidate.
This is a conversation we at TKB have been having, the idea that guards are more suited to coach than big men. Look around the league as past floor generals seem to have the edge in getting the head coaching nod. Funny though, I don’t remember Big Chief Triangle handling the rock much during his playing tenure, nor do I remember Gregg Popovich even playing in the league, Warriors?. Oh and wasn’t our last coach a point guard?
Here’s your list of NBA head coaches and their positions as players and it seems that this is a guards game.
Mike Woodson (Hawks) SG-SF
Doc Rivers (Celtics) PG
Mike Brown (Cavs) College Guard/Forward?
Avery Johnson (Mavs) PG
George Karl (Nuggets) Guard
Flip Saunders (Pistons) College Guard
Don Nelson (Warriors) Forward
Rick Adelman (Rockets) Guard
Jim O’Brien (Pacers) College Guard
Mike Dunleavy (Clippers) PG
Big Chief Triangle (Lakers) Goon/Forward
Marc Iavaroni (Grizzlies) Forward
Pat Riley (Heat) Guard
Scott Skiles (Bucks) PG
Randy Whittman (Timberwolves) SG
Lawrence Frank (Nets) Manager
Byron Scott (Hornets) SG
Stan Van Gundy (Magic) College Guard
Mo Cheeks (76ers) PG
Mike D’Antoni (Suns) PG
Nate McMillan (Blazers) Guard
Reggie Theus (Kings) Guard
Gregg Popovich (Spurs) PG
P.J. Carlesimo (Sonics) Guard Fordham University
Sam Mitchell (Raptors) SF
Jerry Sloan (Jazz) Forward
Eddie Jordan (Wizards) Guard
Every day we at TKB will scour the earth (well, the Internet) to come up with the best debate raging right now between loyal K
nick enthusiasts. Here’s your chance to ring in.
An active forum headed by the watcher on nykfp.com asks “Should the Knicks trade down in the draft“?
#1KnicksFan from RealGM asks “would you trade David Lee and the 5th pick to move up to 3“?
anji on Prosportsdaily.com would like to see the Knicks take this route towards rebuilding.
Did we miss one? Let us know in the comments section.
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