Weighing in on Tommy’s Insight
First off, Tommy was on a roll today with interesting ideas regarding a lot of different scenarios and players. Hats off to you Tommy! But instead if commenting on each of them individually under their respective comments sections, I will try to hit all of them here.
Let me start from the beginning with the idea that the Knicks are not a match for Emeka Okafor. Last winter while I was home from school, I talked with my friend and fellow Knicks fanatic about the prospect of landing Okafor in a deal that would include Eddy Curry. This was before Curry went out for the season with an injury. Okafor, while still young, has not lived up to the billing as a pure force on the block. He has been very good, but he is what he is: a 6”10 4/5 that rebounds, defends (although he is softer than I would have anticipated), and can block shots. He is not a go-to on the offensive block, and I am not sure if he ever really will be.
Earlier in the spring, I even commented on this blog (I am not going to look back for it, so please take my word for it) that I would love to see the Knicks land Okafor. He is a good guy and seems like a winning type player, despite his inability to land his Bobcats into the playoffs thus far. That said, the thought of him making $14 million is ludicrous. Walsh has to steer clear of that at all costs……. unless of course they can ship Randolph in a deal for him. Then I am absolutely onboard.
Next, Al Harrington is a very good player, and can be a good starting forward in this league. But comparisons to Amare? They are not that similar. Amare is more explosive, a better rebounder, and is a better scorer going to the basket. Harrington has the better outside jump shot. That might be about it.
This next one hurts. I have been warning Knicks’ fans to keep their eyes peeled to the Nets situation because they had an overload of talent and not enough spots to keep it all. So today the Nets alleviated their roster problem. Guard Marcus Williams was sent packing, handing off the baton to a future first round pick en route to New Jersey. My liking for Williams has been well documented on this site, and therefore I will simply wish him luck in California and congratulate Warriors fans on bringing in a guy who can develop into a stud lead guard.
But I have one problem with what Tommy said about the Knicks inability to trade players for future number one picks. I understand that you have a negative view of our players, and I can see why on many levels. However, to place higher trade value on Marcus Williams, who has not proven anything yet, than Nate Robinson is foolish. Nate can be a big-time scorer in this league. He has a 40-point game already under his belt and has on many occasions provided instant offense for the Knicks. I know why Donnie will not deal Nate for a 1st round pick, and it is not because no team would have interest. Rather it is because Walsh would be a fool to deal him for a probable late 1st rounder.
As for Deng, I thought the idea this off-season was for the Knicks to save money for 2010. As good as Deng will be, the only way the Knicks could make this move would be to deal Randolph and Lee. And I think the Bulls will find a more attractive offer than that. I do not want to deal anymore future picks. We cannot keep falling into that trap.
Last but not least, Crawford for Crittenton and Bucker? I am all for trying to get Crittenton, but Crawford? Please. Crittenton is a third string point guard and Buckner should never be on the Knicks radar. Why would Walsh trade our best player for a package of them?
Tommy Dee says… Let me first respond by welcoming Chris to the staff, his posts were very insightful and his passion is inspiring. But he needs a little education, and one that I have no problem helping him with.
That said, any discussions regarding dealing for Okafor ends here. And for Curry? It ended there.
Secondly, Harrington was compared to a “lite” version of Amare. I understand that the comparisons may not be that close, my point, which I thought was clear, was that Harrington is the prototype big in D’Antoni’s offense. He’s big, agile, can shoot in the pick and roll and runs the floor and finishes at the rim. He settles for Js but is a good athlete. Not on Amare’s level. Okay let’s stop mentioning that name.
Who on earth would trade an early first round pick for Nate Robinson? Honestly, name one lottery team that needs a combo guard that hasn’t found a niche and wants big money.
Lastly, the Crittenton deal was one that struck me because Andrew Smith and I discussed his game all day. Talk about a kid with upside. Third stringer? Maybe, but we’re still waiting for Crawford to prove that he can be a winning player. And we’re not alone. I’ve never seen such a love/hate relationship with a player. If you love streetball, you love Crawford, if you understand winning basketball, you know that he’s been a major part of the problem. High volume shooting ball dominating guards are half court offense killers, which is where close games are won and lost.
Can D’Antoni make Crawford and All-Star? Maybe. Will teams ever want to deal for him? Big question.
Which is why Crittenton and a defender in Buckner is a solid, cheap value in exchange for Crawford. So he and Mayo can score a million points and lose.
I like Crawford as a person, I really do. And I’m excited about the possibility of him becoming a complete player, I’m just very doubtful.
Sick crossovers don’t mean anything if we ain’t getting Ws.
