The Checklist

by Tommy Dee on June 30th, 2008 at 9:51 am

Ok, so this team has plenty of needs, and the pick of Gallinari may not plug that many holes. Obviously, the next step is to snag a point guard. But there are plenty of other glaring needs before this team can consider competing night in and night out.

POINT GUARD- This is coming, and David Lee is going, that much seems to be clear. I believe that Walsh will acquire the “engine” at some point before the summer league.

ON BALL DEFENDER- The key to any great defensive team lies in the pressure a guard can place on the other team’s PG. See Rajon Rondo, he’s a terror. This is where acquiring a solid PG is essential, but I also see this as a role that the pesky Nate Robinson can grow into -an energetic 20-25 minute a night pest.

PERIMETER DEFENDER- Gallinari is not at the NBA level defensively, but Wilson Chandler is. I feel that D’Antoni should scrap the Q-Rich at SF experiment, and start Chandler, who has the athleticism, size, strength and shot-blocking skill to be an elite defender.

PROTECT THE HOOP- Should Walsh move Lee, he’ll need to bring in a defender at the 4/5 to make up for the rebounding and hopefully reek some havoc as a shot blocker. Slim pickin’s, but I want Stromile Swift (player option at 5 mill), or  the Sonics’ Robert Swift, who was just given a qualifying offer, meaning should the Knicks offer the MLE, the Sonics can match, however, it’s a risk, considering the last Sonics big man we signed.

CATCH AND SHOOTER- I think Gallinari is a great fit here as someone who is long and can get his shot off in the half court with ease. I also think with Q at the two for a few minutes, he’s a option to knock down threes. Most importantly, the team will need someone who can alleviate double teams that will hopefully surround the Knicks big men.

Walsh has his blueprint of wants, we have ours. Let’s see what happens.
  • vino

    Tommy- I like this kind of thread because it tries to bring perspective to this team as a whole.

    Let’s not get too caught up in the Gallinari talks because I also think that Wilson Chandler is going to be our starting SF and either Zach or whoever we get in a trade for Zach will be our starting PF. Chandler played extremely well at the end of the season when he finally got minutes. I also agree with you on Q. He should be a backup guard, not a starting SF. I think coming off the bench will alleviate some of the pressures on him and maybe Coach Mike will light a fire under his ass that will help him regain some form.

    I like Stro Swift too, but there’s no way we he declines that option (he would only make 1-2 mill if he opted out), and I do not want to deal with Thorn. He makes too good of a deal for my liking. Knowing Thorn, we’d walk away with Swift and he’d walk away with our 1st round pick next year. Robert Swift is always hurt. I wouldn’t offer him more than one million. He has talent, but injuries have kept him from really producing at all.

    I would like to see us go after Shelden Williams on the cheap. I wrote out a list of potential big men that we might be able to nab cheaply. Shelden, to me, would be a perfect bench player because of his ability to defend and to play both big man spots. I think that his early career struggles (only 2 years) will turn around eventually. He was drafted number 6 overall, but he’s really only mid-1st round potential. Once he settles into a bench role, I believe that he can be better. What about a Balkman for Williams swap? This migt work if Artest gets traded, as they do not have a ton of depth at the 3 right now.

    In terms of getting another shooter in here, I would not mind trying to look into Adam Morrison if a Lee/ Felton deal ever actually comes to surface. The kid had game in college. Why not take a flier on him. He plays hard and might be able to thrive with D’Antoni.

    By the way, don’t we have our Veteran Exception this year? I think that it is for 1-2 million for a year. The Knicks can try to bring in a vet to be a stop gap for a year. I think Jason WIlliams would be a nice pickup to play some backup point. He has a Nash-like game (about 8 notches down the ladder though), and could play well for D’Antoni. I am not sure if his knees would hold up for Mike, but his passing skills would fit right in.

  • vino

    Maybe the Nets will just buy him out. If so, then we can definitely get him on the cheap. The Knicks will most likely split up their MLE because outside of the elite FA’s that we would have to sign and trade for, no one is worth receiving the full MLE.

  • GoWrightGo

    Its really hard to try to make up a rotation for this team now that we are committed to a new system and new coaching staff and a future beginning with the 2010 free agency period.

    Everything is up for grabs.

    Suffice it to say I agree on the on ball defender and Nate being able to serve that role if asked. I think Q to backup SG is a decent idea but I’d prefer to rid ourselves of him altogether. I think Chandler may not be ready to be the SF starter and but he needs some burn there for sure – 20 – 25 regular minutes per night.

    Zach needs to go and if Lee turns into a starting PG, Marbury should be waived, bought out or just traded for a pick to a team who wants that cap relief. DO NOT TRADE MARBURY FOR ANY PLAYER WITH LENGTH TO A CONTRACT

  • vino

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=FreeAgents-080629

    Here, Chad Ford gives a good outline as to how the FA class might shape up this year. The restricted FA’s are pretty enticing, but I do not want to kill our Cap space. As Ford mentions, Monta Ellis, a Knicksblog favorite, might accept GS’s qualifying offer and hit the market next year.

    He hates on Ben Gordon a bit. Gordon is overrated, but I have always liked his toughness. If his value drops significatly, then maybe we can work out a deal for him.

    Actually, while I say that, it would not be a smart move for the Knicks to make. Gordon would bring energy and excitement to the Garden and to D’Antoni’s fast break, but he just might not fit. We need a lead guard, and Gordon would bring more of the same to the Knicks. It just sucks that a Mount Vernon kid with star power has low value at a time when we don’t need him.

  • vino

    I can’t believe that I am actually writing this, but what about Telfair to the Knicks for 2-3 mill? I do not think that he is worth the full mid-level, but he can run a good point off the bench or even as a starter. He’s lightning quick and only 23. Maybe he can thrive in his home town.

    Also, why not try and bring in Shaun Livinigston and see if he can recoup for us.

    I think that the Knicks should look to bring in young players on the cheap if they can. They do not want to get bogged down with excessive contracts (unless it is for Monta Ellis who is an all-star in the making). They really should be looking to try and bring in some young talent and try to mold a team out of it. Individually, some of these players might have had a rocky start to their career, but with a great coach, bringing in a few hungry youths might spark up something exciting in the Garden. That said, they should also try to bring in one veteran to try and teach and stabalize the team.

  • theghostofwillisreed

    there’s no way we can have telfair on the team unless marbury is gone. can you imagine the drama if marbury is still around.

    besides don’t we want a point who can actually shoot?

  • vino

    Yeah well I kind of figure/ really hope that Marbury is gone. Telfair would not be able to coexist with Marbury, but then again, who can?

    Yeah I would like to have a PG who can shoot, but I’d rather have one that can pass!!!!!

    Telfair would be a low-risk/ higher-reward type of signing. He could help, but would not be heavily relied upon. He had a decent year last year and he played well against the Knicks. As an unrestricted FA, maybe the lure of MSG can get him here on a cheap and short deal. I’d rather have him than bogg myself down with a Beno Udrih type of player.

  • theghostofwillisreed

    i see where you’re going.

  • TrentMotherTucker

    I basically gave up on the Knicks the day they got rid of Ewing earlier this decade. It was a stupid trade for Glen Rice that yielded more stupid trades and even more stupid trades.

    That being said.

    Trading is never the solution unless you’re the Lakers and the Celtics and the commish needs to inject some interest in the league. If those trades weren’t rigged then all I have to say is Kevin McHale and Sam Presti are clowns.

    They need to keep David Lee and get Kirk Hinrich.

    Lee-Gallinari-Hinrich will soon make Knick fans forget Curry-Marburied-Randolph

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