Keeping an Eye Across the River

by Tommy Dee on July 25th, 2008 at 12:38 pm

The Nets are an intriguing situation and apparently are willing to move Stromile Swift and/or Sean Williams as the team continues to move into the future.

As we have stated the team’s impending move to Brooklyn is in question, but there are several  telltale signs about where the team is headed as an organization, and the Knicks are surely paying attention.

On the surface the Richard Jefferson-Yi trade seemed a bit odd, but from an international standpoint, it seems to make sense. Which will sell more in China, a Yi Nets jersey or Jefferson’s? Also, how many Nets Eduardo Najera jerseys will move in Mexico? Indeed, Ratner’s group is taking a page right from George Steinbrenner’s Yankees, who went hard after Hideki Matsui, in an attempt to build revenue outside the United States.

What does that mean for the Knicks? Well, they could capitalize on acquiring a much-needed  shot blocker in Swift or Williams, as the Nets are loaded up front with big men. Robin Lopez, Ryan Anderson, and Josh Boone join Williams, Swift and Nenad Kristic, and clearly there is no room for all of them.

What would the asking price be for WIlliams, the most talented defender of the bunch? A first round pick? Well, Walsh may not be willing to give that up seeing that he will lose one of the next two thanks to the Marbury deal. What else do the Knicks have to give? It’s doubtful that Balkman or Nate Robinson along with the expiring contract of Malik Rose would entice Rod Thorn, but why wouldn’t a Rose for Swift deal work?

Swift is on the hook for just one year, and could find some time under D’Antoni, especially if Walsh moves Randolph or D’Antoni grows tired of Eddy Curry.

We’ll see what happens, but there is a marketing strategy going on across the river that the Knicks may be able to benefit from.
  • Chris Alvino

    Tommy- I have written much on this exact topic over the last fews days, and I have to disagree with you on one point. I do in fact think that Nate Robinson would be an ideal fit for the Nets. Recently I thought that Nate for Sean and Marcus Williams would work, with the idea being for the Knicks to come away with at least Sean Williams. Obviously that deal won’t go down, but I still think a Nate for Sean swap would not be a terrible idea. The Nets need another guard who can shoot, and Nate would be a great fit. The Knicks need a shot-blocker and Sean would be a good fit.

    If Walsh decides to take a less risky route, I also think that Malik for Swift would work. Swift clearly is better, but Swift won’t find time in NJ and Malik has a better presence in the locker room than Stro. For the last player on your bench, I’d rather have a good team guy in Malik than Stro (I don’t mean for that to be negative towards Stro, but Malik might have a better teaching/ influential effect on the younger players.)