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Marcus Williams to GS for a first round pick…Why can’t the Knicks trade anyone for a first round pick?

by Tommy Dee on July 22nd, 2008 at 3:09 pm

Having just acquired Keyon Dooling, the Nets have shipped guard Marcus Williams to Golden State for a future first round pick, the New York Post is reporting.

In a move that may anger some Knick fans, there is a simple explaination as to why the Knicks can’t “just move” players for picks. Often times in making one-on-one deals, and obviously there are exceptions, but more often that not 1st round picks are trade for players still on their first contract. That said, a player like David Lee has more of a chance to get a first round pick than a Jamal Crawford, Zach Randolph or Eddy Curry because of their bloated contracts. The overlying idea is that the team taking a chance on a player like Williams, who may be productive, and the team getting the pick each consider it an equal gamble, hence a deal gets made.

So those fans who think Nate Robinson, or Balkman would garner a first rounder in return need to understand that other teams may not think so. If they did, Walsh would surely leverage one or both of them to get picks and use another pick to drop Zach Randolph.

Unless, of course, you are of the mind that they are going to “blossom” under D’Antoni. Walsh has been patient thus far, and will continue to be, but my money is on the fact that he’s asked for picks for both of them and has been turned down.